Injured Shoulder

[lukesh40]

Hey everyone, I got a pretty bad shoulder after going over the bars last tuesday. I've been going to a local chiropractor (who I actually ride with sometimes) and he seems to think that my rotator cuff is either torn or just sprained pretty bad. I'm going to see a specialist today. My shoulder has definetly improved over the last week but it is not very strong and i still am experiencing quite a bit of pain when I move it certain ways, although I still have full range of motion.

I understand it'll probably take 4-6 weeks to fully heal depending on if it's torn or not but the trouble is I have a big road trip to Oregon planned that I leave for next Tuesday. I plan on being out there for a solid 4 days of riding, although I almost definetly won't ride that much; might go check out the national at Washougal. So here is my question. Have any of you had a injury like this and how long did it take you to heal or start feeling better? Also I'm thinking about getting a shoulder brace to give me some support on the bike. I've been looking into the EVS brace but not sure how well it works. Any advice or stories would be great. Thanks guys!

 

[mg89]

My dad torn his rotator cuff if the military and it took 2 and half months for him to feel better, but it doesn't heal back to normal because my dad still has some pain in his shoulder every once in a while, but he rides fine and says it doesn't bother him that much. But then again he's old so it might be a different story for you.

 

[kstout4life]

i strained and tore my rotator cuff. if u have full mobility then u most likely strained it. unless it pops out of socket at times, then its torn. strained shoulders usually heal in about 3 weeks, but torn ones ull have to get surgery(usually takes about 8-12 weeks along with physical therapy). ive gone through surgery and all the other fun stuff, and im only 17. let us know how it goes with ur specialist

 

[hks308]

man that sucks bud

 

[xracer77]

good luck man

 

[lukesh40]

Alright, well it turns out that my AC joint was sprained and the recovery would only take 6-12 weeks. So, like the idiot I am sometimes, I decided to go on with my trip out west and ride with only three weeks of recovery time. My shoulder was actually feeling really good and I was able to do some push ups again (no problem right)? After a couple days of riding trails and sand my buddy and I headed up to Longview MX track in southern Washington. After about an hour on the track I had one of the most random crashes of my life, which left me with a concussion and now a seperated shoulder. My collarbone is completely popped out where it meets the shoulder. I don't think I could have had worse luck then I did this summer. Moral of the story: Don't be a tuff guy and try to ride it out. I have to go back to the specialist again and may require surgery down the road.
Any way thanks for all your feedback. Oh and by the way, any seperated shoulder stories would be great. Thanks guys.

 

[tnrider]

Your specialist is going to tell you what my ortho doc said to me. "Why don't you take up sky diving - that way I will not have to clean up after your next accident."

 

[lukesh40]

Haha that's pretty funny man. Yeah I go into tomorrow morning so we'll see what she says!

 

[lukesh40]

Yup, turns out I have a Grade 3 shoulder separation. Looks like I'll be on the couch for the next week or so until I can start rehabing my shoulder. What a crappy way to end the summer but that's the reality of our sport and it's all worth it.

 

[2-Strokes 4-ever]

I have a grade 3 also, did it a year ago. It feels "different", and some positions like sleeping on it are uncomfortable.........but it WILL get better, give it time. It was more painful than my 2 broken wrists.........yeah, I did it all at once! Cross-rutted and high-sided at speed.

 

[lukesh40]

Wow that sounds pretty ruff dude. Does your shoulder feel as strong as it once was or is it not quite the same? I'm worried when it heals I'm going to fall on it again and reinjure it. I keep saying to myself I gotta learn to go over the bars towards the right. Every time I've gone over it's been towards the left hand side haha. Maybe its just bad luck.