AC Disruption Deg3

[Rem]

Well, from my experience working with surgeons, they always have time / will make time if the surgery is clearly needed.

The conundrum is in your case it sounds like your right in the middle, with it currently unclear if you need the surgery or will heal successfully without it. From my limited view on the matter it seems a good thing you have two surgeons consulting with the head of ortho, you going to get a answer from their combined experience and expertise.

Nothing unusual about asking about your views about having the OP, they always ask for the patients view on elective surgery, as some people really do or don't want to go through with it and it gives you the patient 'control' over the situation so to speak.

I would ask the surgeon/specialist if I was you if it hasn't been mentioned yet, if waiting to have the surgery (and see how it heals conservatively) will have any negative impact over having it ASAP. ultimately, it's your shoulder and your choice to have the OP, the surgeons are probably just trying to work out the best and safest outcome for you and give you enough info to make an informed decision.

I personally will never have surgery if it's not absolutely needed due to the risks of death, complications, infections... especially on a shoulder, seen to many that weren't ever going to get close to 100% (not that that may be a realistic goal in your case). It's definitely a stressful time, with the uncertainty hanging over you.

Just my ramblings while I wait for the lab to 'boot' up.

Ok I know what you mean, but I don't think you can wait that much for surgery because my body will built up scar tissue to fill up the gap, and when it done I think it is too late for the op.
Or actually this is what I don't understand about waiting 6 weeks and see how it goes....
I'm not very much for the op too, but I think sometimes you've got no choice.
The think is I want to make sure I will find back my living still and sport life as it was before.
May be not 100%, but I definitely don't want to try with a wick shoulder.
+ my work is quite physical, and what is the percentage risk of an op today. Regarding we driving cars everyday, I do spearfishing as well, and downhill of course.

Cheers

 

[Rem]

news

Alright, here are the news from the clinic.
The head surgeon wants me to wait an other week and a half and see what the shoulder looks like thru more X ray end of next week. :mad2:
I have been reading many different comments and medical statement about grade 3 AC disruption, and obviously both ways are good.
Even for someone very active and sporty, nonoperative way with good PT will do as good as surgery.
The only few cases of straight surgery are from guys with intense overhead working.
In term of arthritis, obviously you can get some even with the op, but basically more chance to get arthritis without the op.
An other interested thing I read yesterday is in the 1970's, surgeon use to treat grade 3 with surgery all the time.
Since 1990 they slowly change their mind about the surgery and thought conservative in most cases is the best.

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/acromioclavicular.html

Anyway because I'm not surgeon and this is not my job, I'm gonna wait some extra time, just a bit deposited that I don't really know what to do during this time.
The surgeon said keep you arm in the sling as much as possible because it is still a fresh injury, but I can start moving my arm a bit.

 

[pharmaboy]

Alright, here are the news from the clinic.
The head surgeon wants me to wait an other week and a half and see what the shoulder looks like thru more X ray end of next week. :mad2:
.

The Internet being what it is, you ve been able to get an idea of why the surgeon says what he says , but you have used an angry moticon?

Are you angry with him her, or just the situation?

Just a punt, but I find its not uncommon for patients to want a black and white decision and world, but the reality is that medicine is often a whole lot of grey. ( and lawyers have sure added to that grey I must say)

 

[Rem]

The Internet being what it is, you ve been able to get an idea of why the surgeon says what he says , but you have used an angry moticon?

Are you angry with him her, or just the situation?

Just a punt, but I find its not uncommon for patients to want a black and white decision and world, but the reality is that medicine is often a whole lot of grey. ( and lawyers have sure added to that grey I must say)

Yeah I know what you mean, I think I'm very frustrated of the injury and to don't know what the future will be.
I'll probably try to get a second opinion from a private clinic, because with my work I need to make sure to take the right decision right now.
But I understood it is not black and white.
I guess I have to be patient and cross my finger that the nonoperative way will be the good choice.

Cheers.

 

[ringburner]

I would go with this guy...

Nice pic, that's a big step defect, if you could take one from the front to show the shoulder drop the morbid person in me would be very happy to see that.

I did a grade 2 about 4 months ago, no need for surgery luckily. I couldn't move or lift my arm at all for the first week, then from weeks 2-4 it slowly got better, but any rapid loading (like swing the arm or throwing something) was still very painful. Grade three will take a lot longer as from memory the coracoclavical ligamnet is completely torn (?) can't be arse reaching for the anatomy book. 16 weeks later it's pretty good, I still have a small step defect, strength is about 20% less still, but it only gives me trouble now with dip like movements.

My rehab went well, I do some work for a orthopeadic surgeon and am doing a PhD in rehab following joint injury + have a lab full of useful equipment to scan and test as I went along. So I had the absolute best rehab possible.

My professional advice would be to do as the surgeon says (obviously) take it really easy with the shoulder - have they allocated some rehab for you yet - mot a bad idea to start a week or so post? if not it may well be worth asking the Surgeon, GP or see a orthopaedic focused physio/EP.

You need to think about the big picture currently, you will lose a lot of strength around the shoulder and also overall. It's an important time to eat well and get on the wind trainer and clock up some miles in front of the telly. Less obviously it is very important to strength train the other shoulder - this will limit strength loss in the affected shoulder, reducing the rehab time - especially if you do need surgery.

It's a pretty shitty injury, a lot worse than a simple clavicle fracture (one that requires no surgery) in my experience.

I did similar to this guy - and would agree with just about everything he said (probably except my wife is fairly rational...). Good luck man.

 

[Rem]

Some News

Hi to every one,

First, thanks a lot to every one for answering and sharing about this injury.

The news are pretty good for me, so far no surgery because last clinic appointment I could move my shoulder almost back to normal.
The surgeon had an hesitation. :suspicious: "When did you crash?????" "Is it a grade III?????????".
3 weeks ago, yep grade 3.

After X ray check, it is still a grade III, but obviously I'm on a good and fast recover way.
But hang on, it is still sore, and I can feel that any bad move or heavy load are super painful.
So I already started a bit of rehab last week, lot of cardio at the beginning and now I started some small shoulder move unloaded.
Hope this will improve on the same way, I'm sore as well on the shoulder muscle, witch make sense because they haven't worked for a while.

Finally I fixed my bike so I'm ready to go again. :bounce:

I think I will XC a couple of weeks before getting back to the business.

Cheers.

 

[haydenw]

I did a grade 3 at the start of the year and was in the same boat as you in terms of sitting and waiting or getting the surgery. I went with the surgery privately with Dr. Andrew Ryan here in Brisbane.. Luckily enough due to the way I did it and how quickly I saw him I managed to get the surgery laparoscopically. The recovery was slow and a bit tedious but I was feeling good within a few months. Unfortunately at the beginning of July (after four solid weeks back training / racing BMX) I did my wrist in three spots which really put a halt on my physio for the shoulder etc. Finally back in the gym lifting weights etc now and pretty happy with it, no pain issues besides when I do certain exercises at the gym. Obviously one of the benifits of getting the surgery is that you have the decrease in the visual evidence of the seperation (mine is only slightly stepped now) along with a few other things. The only real lingering thing I am having at the moment is muscle soreness around the shoulder I injured, but I assume this is due to it being weaker than my other side and taking more of a toll from the light weight training I have started doing.... expecting that to go away in a few months.

Best of luck