Shoulder separation

[Sods_Laur]

Yeah it's sort of ok. Day to day stuff is fine, no loss of range of movement and physio sorted out the pain in my shoulder from my arm pulling down my neck muscles. But I can't sleep on the affected side, and it grinds unpleasantly (no pain just a very unsettling sensation) doing the most random movements - sitting up in bed often makes it crunch oddly. My physio was going to refer me back to the surgeon because of the movement of my clavicle - is not gummed down like it should be apparently and I am banned from push ups because of it. I complained to him about the strange sensations and he got me to do some with his hand on my shoulder, well he put a stop to that pretty quickly. But as it's not causing pain they won't operate. However I can't go climbing (I'm restricted to the baby walls and that's no fun) and swimming is just a crunch-fest. Running makes my shoulder ache but I think that will improve in time and cycling is mostly ok except I have two bikes in pieces in my shed and I haven't got the motivation to build them. So a mixed picture really. I have my apt with the independent medical dude for my insurance claim in a couple of weeks. Have been avoiding this place for a bit, I don't really have much to contribute lately

 

[Sods_Laur]

Not heard from Sods for a while. Miy left shoulder is still fine ! Landed on my right sholder 7 weeks ago - fortunately my helmet and my ribs (broke) took the impact. Just about recovered on the ribs front.

Eeesh. Don't much fancy broken ribs. Extremely painful I imagine. Heal up soon.

 

[Sods_Laur]

Hi @Sods_Laur After having an off a week and a half ago, I was searching AC/shoulder separations on here and came across your thread. Hope I'm not bringing up old demons but was wondering how you were getting on? To be honest, I was so worried about missing my holiday (it happened a couple of days before) I didn't ask as many questions as I should have but I have at least been referred to a specialist.

At least you got the opportunity to ask questions. The guy I saw spent about 30 seconds with me and I ended up paying for a private appt with someone else just to get some answers. Not that he really had any, but at least he was willing to try and reply to my inane questions. What sort of ac injury do you have?

 

[Diggs]

At least you got the opportunity to ask questions. The guy I saw spent about 30 seconds with me and I ended up paying for a private appt with someone else just to get some answers. Not that he really had any, but at least he was willing to try and reply to my inane questions. What sort of ac injury do you have?

Sorry to hear you are still having problems. I saw a fracture consultant last week but they have now referred me to "The shoulder specialist" next week so I'm hoping to find out more details then. Saw physio on Thursday who gave me some exercises. My questions were initially a little general: "Can I still go on holiday?" has at least been resolved, plus they have suggested that it will be as mobile and as strong as before but I suspect that given the bone is causing a lump on top of my shoulder, this makes my 10 year rugby sabbatical officially retirement. Took another bike for a quick spin round the block yesterday (to see if phyically able) and it just felt uncomfortable but I've no idea how that will correspond to a real ride.

 

[Sods_Laur]

I'm assuming they gave you the all clear to go riding? I was allowed exercises for mobility but nothing strenuous (ie nothing I would normally do allowed) or weight bearing on that arm inc cycling. Wait until you see a physio before doing anything of that nature. I am pretty convinced my gung go attitude caused at least some of the crunching I have now. Keep it mobile and use as normally as possible but hold fire on weights, if you must go cycling do it one handed! It's 3 months before you're really supposed to get back to your normal exercise activity. I had 3 weeks off work and just using a mouse with that hand when I went back caused me so much pain they had to order me one of those tracker ball things.

 

[Diggs]

I'm assuming they gave you the all clear to go riding?.

Errrr.............
The physio gave me the go ahead to exercise, stating limitations would be pain rather than any damage concerns, although cycling wasn't mentioned. I have no real intentions in cycling any distance at the moment, was just curious (given my extent of movement) if the positions would cause any problems, primarily to give me something to discuss with consultant on Tuesday.
I have just tried to change a lightbulb (insert joke here) which caused a lot of aching but nothing more.

 

[Sods_Laur]

Keep us updated, I'd be interested to see how you get on.

 

[thefollen]

I had a grade 3 little over 3 years back. I was fortunate in that the clavicle was still contacting the shoulder by what appeared on the xray about a millimetre. At the time the hospital mentioned it was 50/50 whether I'd need an operation depending on how it settled.

Luckily things seemed to settle ok. It was around 5 months before I was lifting similar weights to before and I'd say it was occasionally a little 'twingy' for around a year or more. It was quite a hard road to recovery however, and very much baby steps. If you're interested I can dig out the recovery diary and notes.

During the first month I used the recumbent stationary bikes down the gym to keep my legs strong - definitely recommend this. Important also when working at the gym (or home exercises) to use your mirrors to ensure everything's level. Try to correct yourself also if you feel that you're holding the shoulder a little high. Nowadays my bump has reduced significantly and is barely noticeable.

There was no grinding sensation, but I know the shoulder's a very complex junction of bones, tendons and ligaments - guess every case is potentially quite different.

Wishing both of you a decent recovery- can be a long one, but keep at it!

 

[Sods_Laur]

Went to see the independent consultant today for my claim, nice man. Apparently he could tell I was a very honest person as I didn't do any fake wincing when he was examining my shoulder. I am horrified by people sometimes, would never have occurred to me to do such a thing

Anyway he's going to say there's a permanent injury with disfigurement in the report, which I suppose is true! We had a good chat about the frankly offputting grinding in my shoulder. Told him I've not been climbing since the accident because my shoulder feels too unstable and the crunching has put me off swimming, so we will see what he says in the report when it is done.

 

[vickster]

Glad it went well. Did he recommend any treatment such as physio, injections, even surgery?

 

[Sods_Laur]

Nope! It has been six months and otherwise functionally it's ok. He definitely doesn't recommend surgery and the crunching is just something I will have to live with. He feels it is unlikely it will cause any issues.

 

[albion]

Vertical movements are fine, I just tried some of the exercises my physio gave me before I saw your comment! No grinding at all from those. It seems to be movements involving some sort of rotation that are the issue
..

Been at least 3 months with mine. I tried to warn an oncoming driver of an obstruction further behind me by rotating my arm, and not allowing for the inflexibility of age.

I now try to use my left arm for certain movements such as reaching. If it is anything like my achilles ithe pain may will take 12 months to subside.