Shoulder AC separation - where my people!?!?

[SpokaneCY]

I was recently dominating several 80 year-olds on the pickle ball court (I'm 53) and with the wind in my hair, the sun glinting off my white teeth, abs rippling in the midday sun with hot sweaty muscles flexing in slo-motion, my 53 year-old legs were out-of-synch with my 25 year-old brain and I fell on a shoulder resulting in a stage 3 AC separation. VERY common injury for contact sports like MMA, gang fights, rugby and now apparently pickle ball with 80 year olds.

Any experiences?

Bone sticking out (under the skin) of my shoulder and in a sling for as long as it takes. No surgery yet and this may be one a guy has to wait out.

 

[chuckd4735]

Had the same exact thing about 14 years ago (alcohol related injury). I had the surgery not long there after. Doctor told me it was mainly a cosmetic surgery, but you would be without some range of motion in your shoulder without it. Since I was young and still under my parents insurance I went with it.

Nothing horrible; lots of pain after waking up from the surgery, pin in the shoulder for about 3 months, but I was able to use the shoulder again within a month or 2. It was my right shoulder so that sucked a lot being right handed. The worst thing was whiping your ass with your left hand, but I also had a stick shift at the time so I was unable to drive for about a month.

 

[VeloClone]

I played rugby with some of the ISU old boys several years ago. While going in for a try one guy put his shoulder out. We were without any subs so he hollered a little and jammed it back in and continued to play. I don't know if it was a separation but certainly something wasn't right. Apparently it happens to him occasionally.

With that precedent set when I took a knee to the nose and started spraying blood I couldn't go out so with the time the referee gave me I managed to stick a tampon up my nose and continue playing.

 

[chuckd4735]

I played rugby with some of the ISU old boys several years ago. While going in for a try one guy put his shoulder out. We were without any subs so he hollered a little and jammed it back in and continued to play. I don't know if it was a separation but certainly something wasn't right. Apparently it happens to him occasionally.

With that precedent set when I took a knee to the nose and started spraying blood I couldn't go out so with the time the referee gave me I managed to stick a tampon up my nose and continue playing.

No, an AC separation is essentially a tearing of ligaments that hold your collar bone to your shoulder blade. Grade 3 pretty much means your tore them all. Its not the same thing as separation your shoulder joint.

 

[2ndCyCE]

I separated my shoulder (Type II or III) in a bike crash, and it took 8 weeks or more before the pain went away. Never had a sling or surgery; just did my best to limit usage of my left arm. Still have a bump on that shoulder as a reminder.

 

[no2cyclones]

No, an AC separation is essentially a tearing of ligaments that hold your collar bone to your shoulder blade. Grade 3 pretty much means your tore them all. Its not the same thing as separation your shoulder joint.

You're correct on this. Though with as stable a joint as that is, they may wait to see how much healing takes place in the first 4-6 weeks.

P.S. Are you in a medical field? PT here.

 

[sunset]

I don't recall which degree I had but I had an AC sprain/separation playing hurling a few years ago. I was back playing in a month but it hurt like hell. It will take forever to heal and will continue to hurt if you don't do your therapy.

 

[clonehenge]

Did basically the same thing about 8 years ago...playing work league flag football and dove for an INT landing square on my left shoulder (I failed to make the catch). Felt something pop and thought I broke my collar bone...turns out just completely tore the ligaments that connect my collar bone to my shoulder.

Is your bone actually sticking out? My collar bone looks like it's sticking out but it's just that my shoulder sits lower now so my collar bone is more prominent.

Pain actually went away after a few days (for the most part)...It was just a little difficult to raise my arm. I even wanted to play the next week (QB only) but the head league dude wouldn't let me.

Anyway, went to a specialist and she said that she could do surgery but it had a 50/50 shot of staying attached or tearing again so as long as the pain wasn't too bad she suggested avoiding surgery. So I did.

It gets a little stiff and sore when I use it a lot but if I were you I'd wait and see how it heals up. See how much pain you're in and if it's mostly functional after a few weeks I'd skip surgery.

 

[RVD4]

Had one last sept. Bone stuck up about a inch. DONT do surgery unless absolutely last resort.
take it easy for about a month, then be smart. Mine took about 2-3 months before bump went down, sometimes they never do.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Is your bone actually sticking out? My collar bone looks like it's sticking out but it's just that my shoulder sits lower now so my collar bone is more prominent.

.

"Sticking out" but under the skin. I have the tell-tale bone bump and the drooping shoulder. Sounds like this is one of the "nut up" and deal with it types of injuries. I hate getting old but I RULED those 80 year-olds (for a bit).

 

[SpokaneCY]

Had one last sept. Bone stuck up about a inch. DONT do surgery unless absolutely last resort.
take it easy for about a month, then be smart. Mine took about 2-3 months before bump went down, sometimes they never do.

Thanks... Patience is tough as I just lost most of my summer with this.

 

[SpokaneCY]

The worst thing was whiping your ass with your left hand, but I also had a stick shift at the time so I was unable to drive for about a month.

I'll echo your wiping comment! You find your true friends as soon as you ask for help with that.

 

[clonehenge]

"Sticking out" but under the skin. I have the tell-tale bone bump and the drooping shoulder. Sounds like this is one of the "nut up" and deal with it types of injuries. I hate getting old but I RULED those 80 year-olds (for a bit).

Hey my man, don't blame it on age (I was 39 when I did mine)...it's just a result of giving maximum effort all the time. That's what we supreme athletes do...we throw our bodies around with no caution just for one single purpose...victory.

Give it a month and you'll be back dominating those geezers again.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Hey my man, don't blame it on age (I was 39 when I did mine)...it's just a result of giving maximum effort all the time. That's what we supreme athletes do...we throw our bodies around with no caution just for one single purpose...victory.

Give it a month and you'll be back dominating those geezers again.

That's what I said to my wife - NO easy points! Make 'em work for every one of them.

 

[chuckd4735]

You're correct on this. Though with as stable a joint as that is, they may wait to see how much healing takes place in the first 4-6 weeks.

P.S. Are you in a medical field? PT here.

Not in the medical field... Just experience with the injury.

Also OP, I'm not sure I would of done the surgery had my parents not paid for it (mine happened the summer between Freshman and Sophmore year at ISU). However in hindsight I'm glad I did. I have zero problems with it today.

 

[Rabbuk]

If it helps I learned to drive stick with my left hand going across my body to shift. Mostly because I enjoy eating pizza with my right hand and driving.