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Separated shoulder - what was your path to recovery?


DoubleJ

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Posted

My binne in my moer geval vanoggend.

 

Separated my shoulder after not respecting my front brake enough. Quite a big bump on my shoulder and some pain, arm in a sling and wife upset. Wanted to get some feedback from others that were in the same position and what you had to do to get back on the bike ASAP?

 

Thanks everyone.

Posted

I crashed about two months ago. Dislocated my right shoulder. I popped it back imediately after I hit the deck. Was in a sling for a week.

 

I've been for physio and such, but I still cannot rotate my arm completely all the way around.

 

I was back on the bike after two weeks though, if that makes you feel any better.

Posted

In most cases you will require more than just physiotherapy. X-Rays and an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon is the way forward from here.

 

I dislocated my shoulder in 2009 in a rather spectacular surfing accident. Tried all sorts of exercises to get strong again to no avail. Required an operation to repair damaged ligaments.

Posted

If you are talking about an AC joint separation, you need a few weeks of rest. Lifting loads is a no-no, but as cycling is a compression sort of load I got back on the bike in about 2 weeks.

 

My GP had said the it could be fixed with a screw and washer. ("One night in bed and a screw" was his words.)

The orthopaedic surgeon he sent me to (who is also a cyclist) said : "Look on the internet and you will find hundreds of ways to fix this joint - if any worked there only be about 3 ways to fix it on the internet."

 

Rest it up and then get on the bike again as soon as its not sore. Just don't fall off again.

Posted

I came off my bike at the end of September and ended up with a type 3 separation of my ac joint. I was advised on either having surgery to reposition my clavicle or just leave it and allow for recovery with full function at the cost of a slight disfigurement. I chose not to have surgery as the recovery time was faster and I could always reassess the need for surgery if I still had pain after six months.

Since the accident I have regained about 80 to 90 percent function and strength with the help of physiotherapy and exercise advise from a biokineticist. I was off the bike for two weeks before getting on my trainer and turning the legs over nice and easy for an hour a day. I was back on my road bike after about 3 weeks and waited another two weeks before riding the mountain bike.

Its important to get advice from a specialist to establish the severity of the injury so you can make an informed decision on what treatment you should have.

I still have a way to go before I reach full recovery but I'm back on my bike and enjoying it. Just a little more cautious than before, another fall may put me on that surgeons table.

Posted

I did my AC a few years back. Do nothing but rest for 2 weeks and then start slowly with physio and exercises. Completed Ironman like that. No need for surgical intervention. The bump is a great talking point. Heal up.

Posted

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. As far as I understand the shoulder didn't dislocate so no amount of pulling would pop it back. It seems like the ligaments are gone according to X-rays, but I'm going to have a specialist look at it. I'm not keen on operating and would like to let it heal naturally.

 

It looks really weird and painful, but the truth is there's not a lot of pain if I keep it still....I'm learning how to use my left hand all over again.

 

Anyways thank you and good luck to the others recovering.

Posted

do get some physio after you've seen the orthopaedic surgeon so you don't end up with frozen shoulder. When I did mine I settled for indoor trainer for 2 weeks with it in a sling and then road for another 2 weeks before it was up to some gentle off-road riding. Full recovery was about 6 months and now there's just a lump 3 years later.

Posted

I just wanna say, I fell off my road bike and the first ride I had after the crash was 2 weeks later on a mountainbike. Yeah, that's how badass I am.

 

I'm glad to read that the recovery time is about 6 months. I was starting to panic that after 2 months I haven't recovered fully yet.

 

Strongs with your arm dude.

Posted

Had a small "tilt" on a Sunday.  By Wednesday, three injections in the shoulder.  A month later had an operation to fix all the old rugby injuries, that is my excuse!  It is now 5 months later, and it is getting better.  Get good medical advice, it can become extremely painful, and then there is those nasty piankillers!

Guest DieBees
Posted

Rest it out, don't rush to get back on the bike. Do whatever the doctor says!

Posted

I had a Grade 2 AC separation about 10 weeks ago in my right shoulder (right handed). I was using my mouse with my elbow supported in 2 days, and started crossfit after 1 week with arm in sling.

My Orthopod gave me exercises to do and my physio worked her magic with her needles.

 

I started light weight training on it after about 4 weeks.

 

Now, I am nearly back to full strength and have almost complete mobility.

The only thing I battle with is that on rides that involve a lot of rocks and jolting, the shoulder gets pretty sore, but hopefully this will get better.

Posted

Ok so i have had 3 ops on my shoulders to due various injuries in sport, all dislocations and the last 2 seem to have done the trick. Have a look below as to exactly what kind of dislocation you had and read through it. I basically had a latarjet done on both shoulders and it's done the trick. 

 

I healed up extremely quickly as the surgeon performing it knows what he is doing.

 

http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article.asp?section=515

 

Your first problem is you being in the Eastern Cape, their are 0 good surgeons who specialize in this type of repair, i'm originally from the EC. The best guys in the country are at Vincent Pallotti, look up Basil Vrettos.

Posted

Like everyone said, go see a doctor that knows what he's doing, and remember a physio is your friend!!! Not just now but for the rest of your life!!

 

I came off the horse in std 9, tore my rotator cuff in the front and back, tore all the muscles and ligaments on both sides stabilizing the shoulder and I stretched the nerve bundle running under the shoulder/armpit. After about 6 months of trying alternative methods that included physio and a biokineticist I went to see a surgeon Thys de Beer (at Little Company of Mary Pta), apparently he's one of the better guys on shoulders. He congratulated me on the extent of the injury as he has never seen something similar.  He operated within about 2 weeks after seeing me, took about 6-8 months to recover, ligaments heal extremely slowly!!!! But after about 4 weeks I started physio, after 8-10 I started with a biokineticist and 8 years down the line my shoulder is still going strong! I do keep it strong with gym training but I can lift, bench etc without any complications and on the bike I can go hooligan without being held back by the shoulder!

Posted

Dislocated my shoulder about 15 years ago. Had a laterjet procedure done a year and a bit ago. Ortho said I'd be back playing rugby after 3 months. He lied. Progress has been slow but steady. No intense rehab... Went to see a physio for a few weeks and then onto a bio. After that it was regular gym work. 

 

It's a lot better but certainly not back to normal (Probably never will be 100% but it's 300% better than what it was). Probably due to the multiple dislocations over a 15 year period... It was so bad that it would dislocate when leaning over to switch off the alarm in the mornings. Literally just fall out the joint...

 

My advice is to go see an ortho that specialises in shoulders. Good luck!

Posted

Ok so i have had 3 ops on my shoulders to due various injuries in sport, all dislocations and the last 2 seem to have done the trick. Have a look below as to exactly what kind of dislocation you had and read through it. I basically had a latarjet done on both shoulders and it's done the trick. 

 

I healed up extremely quickly as the surgeon performing it knows what he is doing.

 

http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article.asp?section=515

 

Your first problem is you being in the Eastern Cape, their are 0 good surgeons who specialize in this type of repair, i'm originally from the EC. The best guys in the country are at Vincent Pallotti, look up Basil Vrettos.

 

Or Dr. Stephen Roche. The extent of treatment depends on the grade of injury. Grade 2/3 or less AC separation can be managed conservatively, from there up, surgery is preferred. A good ortho will help you out no end.

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