AC grade 2 recovery time

[spikenet]

hey gang, had big otb yesterday and have a grade 2 ac disruption. Never had a shouldr injury before, any tips or words of wisdom.. was heading to derby next week so pretty bummed about it all

 

[pineapplehead]

I've done mine twice in the last 5 years, including snapping my shoulder blade.

You're stuffed. Expect to lose lots of strength and range of motion.

Get on the theraband and see a physio. Better yet, date a hot one. That will help with the motivation.

 

[pink poodle]

hey gang, had big otb yesterday and have a grade 2 ac disruption. Never had a shouldr injury before, any tips or words of wisdom.. was heading to derby next week so pretty bummed about it all

Crunch a shit load of ibuprofen, codeine, and speed. You'll be ripping Derby like a boss. Not actually good medical advice!

Be patient and don't rush the recovery. Wear the annoying sling like they tell you too. I've done grade 3 on both shoulders, which is quite different to grade 2. One is awesome as that shoulder had to be rebuilt. The other is good enough but looks funny. Expect push-ups and chin-ups to be wierd from now on.

For recovery learn to sleep on your back and support the arm with a pillow or something so that it doesn't pull on the injury while you're asleep.

 

[pineapplehead]

Be patient and don't rush the recovery.

This......

 

[spikenet]

Crunch a shit load of ibuprofen, codeine, and speed. You'll be ripping Derby like a boss. Not actually good medical advice!

Be patient and don't rush the recovery. Wear the annoying sling like they tell you too. I've done grade 3 on both shoulders, which is quite different to grade 2. One is awesome as that shoulder had to be rebuilt. The other is good enough but looks funny. Expect push-ups and chin-ups to be wierd from now on.

For recovery learn to sleep on your back and support the arm with a pillow or something so that it doesn't pull on the injury while you're asleep.

OK, good advice. The hospital really told me very little. Put the xray on for your viewing pleasure.

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[Beej1]

Be patient, as said above. But at the same time ... do your rehab. Do it as often as the physio says.

For me, the rehab hurts. But it makes it hurt less a tiny bit after. But the hurty part during the rehab puts me off when I'm already tired and stressed anyway, and not doing it is worse than doing it in the long run.

Disclaimer: my injury wasn't the same, but it was a big surgery and I was told 12 months till I'm as good as I'll be. Also, if you're going the surgery route and going private, you'll only get about 1100 bucks for it regardless of who you're with - the rest is on you.

 

[redbruce]

Be patient, as said above. But at the same time ... do your rehab. Do it as often as the physio says.

For me, the rehab hurts. But it makes it hurt less a tiny bit after. But the hurty part during the rehab puts me off when I'm already tired and stressed anyway, and not doing it is worse than doing it in the long run.

Disclaimer: my injury wasn't the same, but it was a big surgery and I was told 12 months till I'm as good as I'll be. Also, if you're going the surgery route and going private, you'll only get about 1100 bucks for it regardless of who you're with - the rest is on you.

I did grade 3 AC in early 2014.

Had surgery (hook plate put in, taken back out 3 months later).

With top hospital was around $2000 out of pocket. I think specialist said actual cost is like $8500 ish.

Have BNV (used to be Bicycle Network in Victoria) membership and that covered the physio ($1600).

Was back on bike (bike paths) 6 months after surgery, back on MTB 3 months after that - ie followed physio instruction to letter.

To OP, all the best with recovery.

 

[pink poodle]

OK, good advice. The hospital really told me very little.

That is how hospitals tend to roll. I've not often received good post treatment advice from them.

In contrast to Red Bruce, I also did a grade 3 on my left. It wasn't operated on (was told it would heal fine etc by doctors in New Zealand and Australia), I did no physiotherapy, attended no follow up, and was back on the dh bike in about 12 weeks. Then I hit a pole and broke my left collar bone. Anyway like I said it all functions just fine and the only weaknesses I notice are from me being lazy (not stretching as much as I should) or weak (I mean who does push ups anyway?). I had a very brief check up by an American orthopaedic surgeon when I was in Chile. He was one of the ski field doctors and I trod on a piece of glass at the pool. Anyway he suggested I let him give me a head to toe while I was in his office because it was all part of the service...anyway he too said surgery was rarely needed on a grade 3 separation and liked the way both my shoulders worked (by that stage of my life I had dislocated both a few times, torn both ACs, and broken both collar bones).

2 friends have had surgery to repair their AC. One had a grade 2 that just kept popping out and caring him grief, the tendon was to stretched. The other was a grade 3 or 4 (I can't remember, but I remember seeing the X-rays...a lot of displacement). Both were treated through the public health system, for free. Neither waited very long. Both received an excellent level of care and had no regrets.

 

[Mywifesirrational]

That is how hospitals tend to roll. I've not often received good post treatment advice from them.

In contrast to Red Bruce, I also did a grade 3 on my left. It wasn't operated on (was told it would heal fine etc by doctors in New Zealand and Australia), I did no physiotherapy, attended no follow up, and was back on the dh bike in about 12 weeks.

So they were pretty spot on?

Back on the bike in 12 weeks i pretty impressive, do you think the fracture following was related to loss of skill or strength?

I've had grade 2's a few times, usually back on bike in 4 weeks for more gentle riding and just gentle ramp it up from there based off symptoms. I do all the rehab, much more than the standard person gets, I am actually not sure if it makes that much of a difference. Its a shitty injury, 6-12 months later still tolerating aches from it now and then.

 

[pink poodle]

So they were pretty spot on?

Back on the bike in 12 weeks i pretty impressive, do you think the fracture following was related to loss of skill or strength?

I've had grade 2's a few times, usually back on bike in 4 weeks for more gentle riding and just gentle ramp it up from there based off symptoms. I do all the rehab, much more than the standard person gets, I am actually not sure if it makes that much of a difference. Its a shitty injury, 6-12 months later still tolerating aches from it now and then.

I'm not sure what you mean? If you mean are the shoulders spot on? Then as per earlier comment the left looks a little odd but but functions well. The right had surgery and other than the large scar it looks and functions fine as well.

Now the fracture to left was weird. The crash itself was me being a dickhead. If my body was at usual strength perhaps it would have bounced better. 12 weeks of not using the upper body does leadto a bit of muscle depletion and I had dropped 2 short sizes. But the collar bone never really has much cover. I rode the penetrator (what else do you call a bike with 9 inches of rear travel?) too fast across a wobbly suspension bridge, the side slightly wider than the bars. Clipped the edge and ouch. Point of impact with pole was about 1/3 and a little bit (but not 1/2 way) along the collar bone from my sternum. It rose up in a lump like 1/2 a golf ball was trying to pop out of me. At first I thought nothing of it. Did a big pedal intensive ride the next day (probably 25km) and it was sore as fuck. Woke up the next morning, reached over to the lady visitor, audible crack. She was like "aaaahhhhhh what the fuck? Eeeeeeewwwww!!!" I broke out in an intense sweat and shivers etc, then laid in the shower for a while. Anyway off to hospital and received most confused treatment ever.

The 2 doctors that were most enthusiastic about getting me for surgery were looking at the wrong X-rays (right shoulder break was 3 breaks and ac separation). Then they looked at the correct X-rays...and decided I had torn the ac. Then I explained I'd done that prior (I had already explained this to them, but I was their first patient for the day and who likes Mondays?). Eventually they decided the crack through the bone was the problem...and I should wear a sling and consume ibuprofen. I followed their instructions.

The rehab/physio question is a strange one. I always ask is there anything I can do? I'm yet to have a doctor say "yes. See a physio asap". Most just say rest and recover. And always ibuprofen...im not convinced that gear works. One (back surgeon for fucked disc) said I could pick whichever witch doctor made me feel better on the inside. I do often wonder if I would have achieved better results through physio.

Shoulder injuries are definitely shit. Every movement aggravates and so much of your daily activities are out of reach. Beware the milk!!! Once I started to use my right shoulder again post surgery and got carried away with how good it felt. I reached down and fuck me 2L of milk has never felt so heavy! The floor of Coles has never felt so comfy to lay on and cry.

 

[spikenet]

thanks for the replies.. being only day 2 and not being good at sitting around doing nothing its good to hear there is hope down the track. I had full wrist reconstruction over 10years ago that had me unable to even work for nearly a year so i'm trying to stay positive! have cancelled derby, thredbo 2 weeks over chrissy, pmbi course and trips to green valley...

What sort of period did you guys have to isolate the joint before physio began? shoulder is achng from not moving it! also, is there any info on the exrecises? I'm type A personality, if anything, i'll overdo the physio


cheers

ps: getting good at left hand - hunt and peck typing.. haha

 

[Beej1]

What sort of period did you guys have to isolate the joint before physio began? shoulder is achng from not moving it!

Post surgery I was in the donjoy sling for 6 weeks, days and nights. Only very minor movement exercises in that time. Actual ROM exercises started after that. My surgery required the gunslinger position for the sling - arm bent at 90 deg pointing forwards, forearm resting on pad resting on hip. Essentially to keep the scapula from hunching forwards as most of the damage and repair was on the rear.

I hated the sling. I hated it so much. But it was such a relief to put it back on post-shower in those early days.

Worst injury I had since then was stopping the kid from running into the path of a train of shopping trolleys. Stuck my right arm out to catch her running past at full tilt. Realised what I was doing about half way into her bending my arm and it's re-tightened tendons, labrum etc back behind me, and started twisting with the movement. Passed out for a second from the most pain I feel like I've ever felt before.

Since then, she does that again, she's on her own. Unless it's a road with cars and stuff ... in which case I'll just body block.

 

[Psimpson7]

I did grade 3 or 4 (cant recall) back in 2014. Basically broke the ACL. Shoulder dropped about 10mm. I went to see a specialist surgeon and he said the didn't want to operate at that stage and it should heal ok, and if it didn't, they would operate at that time.

Hospital said 8 weeks before I could ride. Surgeon said I could ride when I could handle the pain. When I said how about 2 weeks?, he said I couldn't make it any worse so I bought a road bike and started on that pretty much straight away.

It isn't 100% and I don't think it ever will be tbh. It clicks sometimes and I can feel its not quite right. I also cannot sleep on my right hand side, but I don't feel I have lost any strength or range of movement. It also doesn't affect my cycling really. I did about 10k km in the year after in happened and over 13k the next year.

 

[spikenet]

I've booked into sport specialist tomorrow to get an assessment, they were keen to see me sooner than latter. See what happens from there, your shared experiences have given me confidence that there is a road back from this accident. Will update when i know more

 

[pink poodle]

This recovery period is also a great opportunity to research and make those next bike purchases. Part of my haste back on the dh rig was I built a fresh stead while recovering.

 

[nakedape]

Get the surgery - I didn't and two years later still ride my mtb less than 20% of the time I was and at 60% the intensity (I mostly ride road cause it hurts less)

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[sutts]

I think its different for everyone, get a couple of opinions and see what they have to say.
Also depends on what sports / activities you want to be able to do post surgery etc

I did mine over 10 years ago playing AFL. Managed to play again in 4 weeks (finals), but sore as fk and not close to 100%
Shoulder dropped a lot and AC sticks up 10-20mm.
Gave me grief for a long time (year +), not being able to lean on it for any more than a minute etc

I went and saw a surgeon probably 1-3 years after it happened - he told me that if I wanted to play contact sport again not to do it.
By that stage there was enough scar tissue and ligaments that it was stronger then getting collarbone cut and pulled into shoulder.,

So i left it and now it still sticks out like dogs balls, but full range of motion and no loss of strength. Shoulder just moves in a different plane to the other one.
But played football for years, trained in MMA etc and gives me no problems.

 

[spikenet]

Very positive visit to the sports medicine clinic. Did some muscle release and taped up my shoulder, made amazing difference. They didnt see a need for sugery with the injury I have and has got me doing some mobility work already within the limites of my pain threshold. I'm not keen on any surgery unless absolutely necessary, had to many hours under and want to limit it. They also said I have damaged a nerve in my back that is causing my scapular to wing, however that should grow back within 6 months..
I'll be heading to Derby still, sans bike. Not sure what is around but I'll be a tourist and take some pictures of the boys riding and checkout some sights.. any tips of places worth checking out?

 

[spikenet]

This recovery period is also a great opportunity to research and make those next bike purchases. Part of my haste back on the dh rig was I built a fresh stead while recovering.

Yeah its odd, i have been looking at new bikes, new genius, or capra... Maybe slayer.. Hmm so many awesome bikes!

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[pink poodle]

A fellow around here has a slayer. It looks freaking sexy.