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Writing this left handed as right arm is in a sling after stacking the mini slab at Mabie 'skills area'. I have a severed / separated a-c joint or clavical in my shoulder . Going to see specialist on Tuesday to see about best way of repairing. What experiences have you had on recovery times , i understand there are grades of separations which i might find out on tues. If the joint repairs naturally in a sling is it more prone to dropping out therefore would surgery be best. T|he doctor will know best but i would be interested to get peoples experiences. I can rule out the Settle weekend with the lads in 3 weeks time for sure. going anyway just for the craick.
I've had a 2 grade 2's in the last year or so.
Both of mine have healed completely without the need for surgery. It depends how bad the seperation is. I think a 4 or 5 and they do keyhole to re-attach everything.
If you don't need surgery you'll be off the bike for a month I'd say then gentle pottering for a month or so after which you should be fine.
Bloody painful hope it gets better soon.
Had a [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver-Dunn_procedure ]Weaver & Dunn [/url] to sort mine out back in 1998.
Left collar bone is a bit shorter than the right so I look a little lob sided and the scar is about 6" long.
The joint is fine and I was back on the bike after about 6 weeks IIRC. Prior to the op my shoulder would dislocate in my sleep which was a little unpleasant.
Had a grade 4 this time last year. Operation inside 2 weeks then 6 weeks before I could drive and 9 weeks off the bike. Still not 100% now but not stopping me riding.
If its minor(ish) i.e grade 1-3 then you should be OK in a few weeks and no surgery necessary. Above that then its a long process and there are no short cuts-believe me I looked at everything.
I wasn't given a grade for mine, but I ended up spending the evening in A&E in April. I spent about three weeks intermittently relying on a sling and managed to get back on the bike within two... It's still very painful though.
My right shoulder still looks very wonky, but I'm assured that it'll completely mend itself.
I had a grade 3 a couple of winters ago - I face-planted into a frozen drift whilst teleing in poor vis. The noise as I did it was awful, like someone crushing a cabbage. At first I thought I'd shattered the shoulder joint as it hurt like hell and I couldn't move it. I managed to ski down, gingerly at first, but managed a few pole-plants. Then the pain started...
A&E, then specialist. Conservative treatment - off work for a week. Managed ski touring next w/e, but 2 mouthfuls of vomit when lost traction and did 'whole body tense' to regain balance/grip. Crucially didn't fall on ski down.
Still hurts, mainly in bed if I lie on it, or when climbing hard on ski or bike and in slight oxygen debt.
I took an off and spannered my left shoulder about 3 years ago, cant remember how bad the separation was but i didn't need an opp. Took 3 weeks to get back on the bike and within 6 I had forgotten i ever did it. I was more worried about the harm to the climbing i did but it had never affected me and the only reminder is a lumpy shoulder.
Ouch!
Did mine last year at a training seminar two days before I was due to do my black belt test!
It was only a grade one but it took about 6 months to really get back on form and I'm only now starting to feel like I'm fully over it.
In terms of recovery, I was told to ice it, a lot. Then ice it some more. I was given exercises by one physio and then told not to do those by another. The difference was between mobility and strength. I have full mobility but no strength so I didn't need to be swinging my arm around in the breeze.
I was also told (before we knew it was only a grade 1) to avoid surgery at all costs if I could. Fine for putting granny back together after a trip but an op never seems to sit well with anyone who actually uses the shoulder.
Thanks folks, seeing specialist tomorrow doesn't feel that bad today but I have been keeping it strapped up as instructed . Fingers crossed its a low grade separation . Will be back to riding as quick as I can.
Update - been to see specialist , says its a grade 2-3ish , told me not to wear the sling unless its sore , gave me some excercises for three weeks as I could move my arm equally with my other arm and to carefully keep moving it. Sounds like I have been awfy lucky for such a hard landing , only to go back in 3 weeks if still painful , hopefully will get back out for a wee tootle about after then.