Thanks Dave, but I've got PLENTY of Tbands! Think I'm gonna make a sex swing out of them this winter! Of course... I'd prob just fall and hurt myself... dislocate a BONE or something... 
Who's had 3rd degree separation of their shoulder, how to heal it fast/well?
- Thread starter DirtEveryDay
- Start date
I did mine beyond 3rd degree, bad enough that surgery was necessary. 5 months out I was cleared for all activity and well it was winter. Felt great skiing and snowboarding though. Perfectly fine riding the next season. Feels great now, much stronger than the other one. No stiffness or popping.
Pic pre-surgery.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/ShepherdWong/CIMG0511.jpg
Still has a pretty big bump after surgery but doesn't seem to hang low or anything.
Pic pre-surgery.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/ShepherdWong/CIMG0511.jpg
Still has a pretty big bump after surgery but doesn't seem to hang low or anything.
So that pic was fresh after the impact, I assume, right? How long did you wait to have the surgery and did the bump "shrink" at all before surgery??
Mine looked really bad at first, now it's pretty thick and swollen so it doesn't look too terrible(?), just wondering if the ligament will tighten up a little if I keep it immobile...
Mine looked really bad at first, now it's pretty thick and swollen so it doesn't look too terrible(?), just wondering if the ligament will tighten up a little if I keep it immobile...
Yeah that was a day or two after wiping out. I saw 3 different doctors and they all were pretty adamant about surgery. I had surgery about 2 weeks later and it looked pretty much the same the whole time leading up. I don't know if the picture shows it but I would guess my lump was pretty close to 1.5 or 2 inches above where it should be. I did a degree 1 or 2 on the other one(didn't even bother with a doctor) and just jumped right into doing the same exercises I did on the repaired one. That one feels great now too(but I could feel improvement after about 4 days or so-riding almost normal by 3-4 weeks). I probably wouldn't do surgery unless the doctor is pretty sure you need it.
Unless it will affect my ability to USE the arm later, F*ck surgery. I'm sexy enough the way it is, I can still roll with a second head on my right! Actually, I'm married so it really doesn't matter anymore!
Yeah, I got a preveiw of this "not broken but painful" thing a year ago when I smashed my left side in. Don't know how bad, but took me off the bike for 2 weeks and left a 1" bump. Didn't even think to see the doctor as it all worked just fine, just hurt. So atleast I'm not TOTALLY off balanced!
Yeah, I got a preveiw of this "not broken but painful" thing a year ago when I smashed my left side in. Don't know how bad, but took me off the bike for 2 weeks and left a 1" bump. Didn't even think to see the doctor as it all worked just fine, just hurt. So atleast I'm not TOTALLY off balanced!
Well, quick update on myself...gotta share my joy with someone, my wife thinks I'm an idiot!
It took a week after my crash to even see my bone doctor, so I really had no idea what to think. The ER doc told me it was a 2nd/3rd degree separation.
So I got to my doctor one week after. He didn't really say much one way or the other(he knows I'm not gonna quit and likes my money, I'm sure!) other than strap me into a cross-your-heart bra and shove some pads under the strap over the offending collarbone. He said I actually had more positives to this injury than I did negatives! I already had some rotator cuff/internal damage prior to this, he said that's history! AWESOME! It's been 4 years since I could sleep on my right side without waking up cringing. Arthritis also thrives pretty well in my bloodline, and he said that won't be an issue with this shoulder and I should do the other! I told him it would prob not take too long.
I was def fearing the worst after hearing all of your stories. Since I couldn't talk to my doctor for a week(a little pissed about that) I didn't know if I was supposed to be moving it around at all, or keeping it imobilized. He put that stupid brace on me that makes you walk around like some WWF douche and whaddaya know... within the hour I can lift my arm over my head!? 2-3 hours later I can rotate it around. Called my doc back and he had me come in to check it out. He then told me to forget about the 3 times weekly therapy sessions and we'll see how it does in one month! It took me two weeks to get back on the bike! However, it's going to be awhile till I'm truly riding. The most painful thing for me is basically lifting. So that rules out manuals(obviously), but also pumping, no small jumps even, and washes and cross ruts are f*cking murder! So, I just backed off a bit, gonna just XC it up for awhile, get all my basics back and then start working up. It's amazing what I'm scared of right now! Feels like every tree is reaching out for my shoulder. My front tire feels like it's about to washout at any second, sending me bouncing down every hill on my shoulder. And I can't even think about crashing on a big jump with this thing! Dunno what to do about it later, either. That's my tuck-and-roll side! SH!T!
It took a week after my crash to even see my bone doctor, so I really had no idea what to think. The ER doc told me it was a 2nd/3rd degree separation.
So I got to my doctor one week after. He didn't really say much one way or the other(he knows I'm not gonna quit and likes my money, I'm sure!) other than strap me into a cross-your-heart bra and shove some pads under the strap over the offending collarbone. He said I actually had more positives to this injury than I did negatives! I already had some rotator cuff/internal damage prior to this, he said that's history! AWESOME! It's been 4 years since I could sleep on my right side without waking up cringing. Arthritis also thrives pretty well in my bloodline, and he said that won't be an issue with this shoulder and I should do the other! I told him it would prob not take too long.
I was def fearing the worst after hearing all of your stories. Since I couldn't talk to my doctor for a week(a little pissed about that) I didn't know if I was supposed to be moving it around at all, or keeping it imobilized. He put that stupid brace on me that makes you walk around like some WWF douche and whaddaya know... within the hour I can lift my arm over my head!? 2-3 hours later I can rotate it around. Called my doc back and he had me come in to check it out. He then told me to forget about the 3 times weekly therapy sessions and we'll see how it does in one month! It took me two weeks to get back on the bike! However, it's going to be awhile till I'm truly riding. The most painful thing for me is basically lifting. So that rules out manuals(obviously), but also pumping, no small jumps even, and washes and cross ruts are f*cking murder! So, I just backed off a bit, gonna just XC it up for awhile, get all my basics back and then start working up. It's amazing what I'm scared of right now! Feels like every tree is reaching out for my shoulder. My front tire feels like it's about to washout at any second, sending me bouncing down every hill on my shoulder. And I can't even think about crashing on a big jump with this thing! Dunno what to do about it later, either. That's my tuck-and-roll side! SH!T!
Oh, and I'm a bit dissappointed in myself, but the brace stayed on for maybe 3 hours after I got back to work. I'm a welder so the sweat alone was enough to make me ditch it, but I'm also bent over a table moving hot, heavy parts around and the thing made both armpits and the middle of my back BLEED. Lemme just say that sweat in rashed out armpits will bring down the strongest of men. So I'm pretty sure that I could have lessened the appearance of this thing if I could have kept the brace on, but I gave up on it. I tried sleeping in it atleast, but kept waking up with my arms over my head, so it was just pointless.
wait, do those knobs mean you've messed up your shoulder? i definitely messed up my right shoulder at the us open this year, but i have that knob on both my shoulders, but have only hurt 1 shoulder (to my knowledge). the one on my left shoulder is about 1/2" higher.Wel, i guess that's one good thing about the new rig and the fat monthly payment... I just traded my 5-spd Toyota in on it!
Since threads are worthless without pics, here's a quicky. I'm leaning on the sink as it REALLY grosses me out when the thing pops and drops. Yuck! Wish I would have just snapped the CB, my bones apparently heal quickly, but I have some issues with tendond and other things that AREN'T suuposed tp stretch!
a buddy of mine dislocated his shoulder pretty bad yesterday during some local shuttles, he was hurting pretty bad.
Uh...actually the knobs are just an ugly side effect... the incredible amount of pain that lasts about 3 weeks mean you've messed up your shoulder.
And read the thread when you get time, there's a major difference between a separated shoulder and a dislocated shoulder.
And read the thread when you get time, there's a major difference between a separated shoulder and a dislocated shoulder.
Yup, I feel ya. I still hurt and cant lay on my right side. I did however ride SJT last week and managed to crash on my left side. (Twice 
)
Freaking growl real load, smack yourself in the face real hard, and krank the Korn up on the IPOD and all your pains go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It works!
)Freaking growl real load, smack yourself in the face real hard, and krank the Korn up on the IPOD and all your pains go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It works!
I understand your pain because i'm pretty sure i had a partial ac separation last year. I'm not quite sure to what extent because i didnt want to cost my parents the xray bills and then a week later they wanted an mri.. i found out that was $$$ so i toughed it out. (possibly a dumb move on my part but why pay someone to tell you "you'll be fine, just take it easy and dont put any pressure on it") It kept me off my bike for about a month seriously but as far as working out and stuff, i had to build up my shoulder again for a long time at a gradual pace after the injury.
so what kind of adjustmentes have all u guys made to your sexual positions. I just had a dislocation of one shoulder (tree after road gap) and then a sublax on the other while lifting weights to rehad the first one. Anyways, it didn't affect me much, they feel fine more less now (1 year later). But have you guys had to make the lady get on top? from behind only? no more missionary?
THERE EXISTS NO PAIN DURING SEX. I think it's the Marines that say adjust, and overcome! I use it for therapy, just get ahold of her ankles and use her legs to build your pecs and stretch those shoulders!
But yeah, I made her do all the work(for a change) for a week or 2.
BULLCREW, empty your PM box, fugger!
Wodie, there is no part of me relieved that I went to the ER or even to the Bone doc. It accomplished nothing. I just didn't know there were degrees of this injury. I just knew it was 50 times more painfull and more drastic looking than any other shoulder hits I've taken, so I was SURE it was a broken collar bone and it sure felt like it was about to come through the skin! Once they told me what it was I was so pissed I came there!
But yeah, I made her do all the work(for a change) for a week or 2.
BULLCREW, empty your PM box, fugger!
Wodie, there is no part of me relieved that I went to the ER or even to the Bone doc. It accomplished nothing. I just didn't know there were degrees of this injury. I just knew it was 50 times more painfull and more drastic looking than any other shoulder hits I've taken, so I was SURE it was a broken collar bone and it sure felt like it was about to come through the skin! Once they told me what it was I was so pissed I came there!
I had a type 3 separation of my collarbone (acj) 4 weeks ago. I read this thread during that first week and it's fair to say that you guys freaked me out big time!
4 weeks on I've got full ROM (range of motion), a good 1/2" bump on my shoulder and about 40-50% of my initial strength. I can lie on that side in bed but it feels horrible and ends up being sore in the morning. Bike riding is still a no-no as Thrillseeka said. Sharp lifting motions suck and I was super paranoid of falling even though I was on the road!
I went to see the physio yesterday and he fixed my hip (which stiffened up on account of the shoulder) and he's okay'd me to start weight training on it again (starting on low weight of course).
I can run, play golf(!) and generally don't notice it too much unless I'm pushing open heavy doors etc.
I must say I'm pretty relieved. Anyone else with the same injury - get some ice on it for 10 mins (no longer as the joint is v close to the surface of the skin) every 30 mins in the first two weeks and it gets better much quicker. Use a sling for 2-3 days or until you can handle the pain and start using it as normal. After 2 weeks go see a physio (having been to hospital first obviously) who'll loosen up the shoulder in other areas as much as possible and it'll speed the recovery process.
4 weeks on I've got full ROM (range of motion), a good 1/2" bump on my shoulder and about 40-50% of my initial strength. I can lie on that side in bed but it feels horrible and ends up being sore in the morning. Bike riding is still a no-no as Thrillseeka said. Sharp lifting motions suck and I was super paranoid of falling even though I was on the road!
I went to see the physio yesterday and he fixed my hip (which stiffened up on account of the shoulder) and he's okay'd me to start weight training on it again (starting on low weight of course).
I can run, play golf(!) and generally don't notice it too much unless I'm pushing open heavy doors etc.
I must say I'm pretty relieved. Anyone else with the same injury - get some ice on it for 10 mins (no longer as the joint is v close to the surface of the skin) every 30 mins in the first two weeks and it gets better much quicker. Use a sling for 2-3 days or until you can handle the pain and start using it as normal. After 2 weeks go see a physio (having been to hospital first obviously) who'll loosen up the shoulder in other areas as much as possible and it'll speed the recovery process.
LMAO! Emptied.....
I realize this is a really old thread, but it would be great to get some long term updates from you guys. I had a third degree separation on my left shoulder in 2004. I never had the surgery. Some point later, the end of my collar bone snapped off and is now floating in the shoulder.
After seven years, I have almost full range of motion (good enough that I have never worried about it) but the muscle pain in my back and neck persists.
Do any of you guys have muscles knot up along you spine, between your scapula and spine? I am constantly getting tight from my neck down through my middle back as a result of this injury. It gets better with activity--sitting at a computer is the worst.
I'm planning on having surgery in a month where they will be shortening my collarbone and removing the broken fragments, in the hope that it will take some pressure off of my traps and my neck.
I'll try to post a photo of my x-ray here soon. It still scares my pants off.
After seven years, I have almost full range of motion (good enough that I have never worried about it) but the muscle pain in my back and neck persists.
Do any of you guys have muscles knot up along you spine, between your scapula and spine? I am constantly getting tight from my neck down through my middle back as a result of this injury. It gets better with activity--sitting at a computer is the worst.
I'm planning on having surgery in a month where they will be shortening my collarbone and removing the broken fragments, in the hope that it will take some pressure off of my traps and my neck.
I'll try to post a photo of my x-ray here soon. It still scares my pants off.
I had a separation about 2 years ago that was initially diagnosed as 3rd deg. when I first went to the hospital. They downgraded it to 2nd degree a week later. They told me I was a candidate to try some experimental procedure (plate on collarbone?) at first. I just did all my therapy and then I was deemed to be doing too well to go under the knife. Never did the surgery.
2 years later and I've got a bumpy shoulder, but I also get the tight back/shoulder muscle thing. Only I get it sitting on the couch with my arm around the wife.
It hasn't affected my riding at all. Apart from the fact that I just don't do as much stupid stuff. Showing up to work on Monday is important.
2 years later and I've got a bumpy shoulder, but I also get the tight back/shoulder muscle thing. Only I get it sitting on the couch with my arm around the wife.
It hasn't affected my riding at all. Apart from the fact that I just don't do as much stupid stuff. Showing up to work on Monday is important.
My rom still kinda sucks 1 year later. theres minor pain in big ranges. Riding bikes theres no issues though. At least both my shoulders match now.
Only remaining issues with mine is the friggin gross deformation I have to see every time I brush my teeth, and trying to shoulder a bike or anything else heavy hurts like hell, but only because of the remaining Igor hump, no shoulder/back pains or anything.
Mine actually turned out to be a small "blessing" in disguise. About 10 years prior to the separation I injured my rotator cuff on the job and couldn't raise my arm over my head, sleep on my right side, even hold a phone in my right hand for more than 2-3 minutes. The separation actually pulled a few of the problematic bone contact areas apart and even a month after the separation i could raise my arm higher than I could in ten years! Asked the doc what was up and he said I wont even have to worry about arthritis in that shoulder ever again.
So there was my silver lining! And I just wear a shirt to brush my teeth, what else can ya do!
And for what it's worth to the guys facing the question... I'm absolutely glad I didn't get any surgery. Get a fancy screw in your shoulder(gross) and it breaks the first time you tap it. Then you HAVE to get surgery again to get broken screw parts out.
Mine actually turned out to be a small "blessing" in disguise. About 10 years prior to the separation I injured my rotator cuff on the job and couldn't raise my arm over my head, sleep on my right side, even hold a phone in my right hand for more than 2-3 minutes. The separation actually pulled a few of the problematic bone contact areas apart and even a month after the separation i could raise my arm higher than I could in ten years! Asked the doc what was up and he said I wont even have to worry about arthritis in that shoulder ever again.
So there was my silver lining! And I just wear a shirt to brush my teeth, what else can ya do!
And for what it's worth to the guys facing the question... I'm absolutely glad I didn't get any surgery. Get a fancy screw in your shoulder(gross) and it breaks the first time you tap it. Then you HAVE to get surgery again to get broken screw parts out.
The one thing my doc/pt guy said in regards to having the semi-free floating collarbone was that it'll greatly help to reduce potential instances in the future of breaking the collarbone since the bones now have some free flex at the ends.
The one place I struggle is with doing a variance of the standard sit-up where you lay flat with arms raised above your head and bring your arms over your body to meet your legs (like an a-frame) I have a really hard time getting both arms extended straight over my head on the ground.
The one place I struggle is with doing a variance of the standard sit-up where you lay flat with arms raised above your head and bring your arms over your body to meet your legs (like an a-frame) I have a really hard time getting both arms extended straight over my head on the ground.
If collarbone plates are experimental for your doctors I suggest changing them. There are companies who produce matching titanium plates for most of the bones that would require surgery.
I went under the knife because I didnt want to risk a funky shoulder, random pain, loss of range and risk having to go into surgery, braking my bone and using the plate anyway. At first I went to a regular national doctor (I belive in nationalised medicine but post com one in Poland sucks big time) and they put me into the most uncomfortable cast ever. If hell exists they just put you in one and thats all they have to do. Went to ask a few known super duper doctors and they claimed that its risky since my collarbone will not mend in a straight line but one part over the other which may cause stresses and a weaker bone in the future. Decided to pay for the op the next day in a sports clinic when one of the doctors I know quite well moved. The surgery went flawless. No stress even before they drugged me. I left the hospital after 8 hours from the op. They gave me a ton of codeine but it actually hurt only for 1 day. After that I felt really ok and could even use a knife in that arm. Everything went flawless, maybe with an exception to my skin being a little bit less sensitive to touch in that area.
Moral of the story? Insure yourself (i wasnt so Im a bit broke now), find a SPORTS clinic (if profesional athletes go there they dont only care to make you somewhat ok in the distant future but to make you 100% ASAP - worth the 2500$, though its probably 20x that in the us) and if they tell you to have an op have the friggin op. A friend had a very similar injury to mine didnt do it and he is less than happy about that decision now.
Here is some anodised goodness for proof
[nsfw for gore]
Someone asked for a long term update so here it goes:
Injured back in 2007
Initially thought it was a lvl 2, turned out to be lvl 3
Shredded a bunch tendons, torn rotator cuff, torn labrum, torn supraspinatus and a couple of other thing I don't remember now
Saw an ortho that was also a pro sports team dude (Dr. Tim McAdams at Stanford University)
Said he could put me back together 99%
Scheduled surgery for all repairs
Used a cadaver tendon to replace the one that goes over the clavicle and had that secured with a few screws and what-not
WORST effing pain ever experienced afterwards
A few months of PT
4 years later I can honestly say I'm 95% of where I was before!
Happy camper!
Doc McAdams has also put a plate and 10 screws in my left wrist and performed a patellar bursectomy on my left knee. Dangit I've gotta quit crashing!!
Injured back in 2007
Initially thought it was a lvl 2, turned out to be lvl 3
Shredded a bunch tendons, torn rotator cuff, torn labrum, torn supraspinatus and a couple of other thing I don't remember now
Saw an ortho that was also a pro sports team dude (Dr. Tim McAdams at Stanford University)
Said he could put me back together 99%
Scheduled surgery for all repairs
Used a cadaver tendon to replace the one that goes over the clavicle and had that secured with a few screws and what-not
WORST effing pain ever experienced afterwards
A few months of PT
4 years later I can honestly say I'm 95% of where I was before!
Happy camper!
Doc McAdams has also put a plate and 10 screws in my left wrist and performed a patellar bursectomy on my left knee. Dangit I've gotta quit crashing!!
I misspoke. I was a candidate to be part of a study. Not experimental procedure. I think it was an "operated on" vs. "not operated on" study.
I got the feeling the doc was anti-surgery. Suited me fine!
I go through a lot of doctors and I allways bug the crap out of them and the doctors who are anti surgery mostly come from 2 groups:
1) They dont have the tools - ie. no proper bone specific titanium plates
2) They dont do it often so they have no experiance
My guys do it often and since they even work on Polish best dakar motorbike racers I think I can trust them. Especially since I didnt even know they were broken
Worst case scenario if the surgery is too expensive getting a plane ticket to poland and getting it done here for a fraction of the price is never a bad idea. (just pick the right hospital because the state ones can feel a bit like an unplesant trip to india)