Shoulder up date.

[70 marlin]

Shoulder up date. I laid the Berg down at the end of October, ended up getting a ride bike to the truck. I thought it was a simple injury. Went to ER had an X-ray it showed a 2 degree separation. I’m having a lot of pain and 40% use of my right arm. My doctor said I have a separated shoulder and maybe a torn rotator cuff, but she wants to have more tests. I go in for an ultra sound this week for starters. If it shows that it's not torn I get physical therapy. If it torn, surgery? I wish she'd make up her mind in a hurry I'd like to have the winter to get the shoulder back in shape! Have any of you fellows been through a separated shoulder or torn rotator cuff injury and surgery what’s involved?

 

[KiwiBird]

Shoulder surgery sucks but recovery seems to near 100%.

Do a google search on "shoulder horn" - heard a lot of good experiences with it.

 

[Ward]

I had a 4th degree separation and had surgery. I have dicron holding my shoulder together. Dupont makes good things for living. Recovery time was long six months, but was 95%. I can't really do pull-ups and my shoulders cooked by the third game of bowling.

Other friends who have had similar injuries report the same thing, longer recovery time than from a broken bone, but do the physical therapy and your okay.

 

[bbarel]

Yeah I had my 3rd! shoulder surgery on 9/22 after dislocating it again. I don't know about separations, but for dislocations usually the only way to get stability back is surgery. You can work it out and make it strong, but when muscle fatigue happens in an enduro then bad things can happen. Even after you get it back in shape keep doing the PT excercises indefinately to keep it strong. Who/Where is your DR?

 

[MXGirl230]

Good luck...I know how you feel. I have been fighting my shoulder injury since the beginning of September. Mine isn't separated (luckily) just irritated my rotator cuff.

 

[Smit-Dog]

I had a torn rotator cuff (downhill skiing), but didn't get it checked out and thought it would heal on its own. Basically lost range of motion for a few months (couldn't lift elbow above waist level), and lots of scar tissue developed. Took a couple more months to break up scar tissue and eventually / slowly get range of motion back. It was a very painful and limiting injury.

Listen to your doc and physical therapist. I think it would have healed faster and easier if I'd gone to a physical therapist, but I was pretty ignorant, and didn't understand how to help it heal. Probably did more harm than good in letting the scar tissue build up.

Good luck with it Marlin!

 

[salgeek]

Used big elastic bands and very light weights as directed by Doc to rehabilitate my shoulder injury. It took many months to correct the situation. Heal fast. :cool:

 

[bruno670]

Had a broken collar bone and a separated AC. went through surgery, they plated the clavical and reset the AC. No problem easy surgery and little pain in most cases. Except mine. The d*mn plate broke and had to have another surgery. That one hurt!!!

 

[70 marlin]

Had a broken collar bone and a separated AC. went through surgery, they plated the clavical and reset the AC. No problem easy surgery and little pain in most cases. Except mine. The d*mn plate broke and had to have another surgery. That one hurt!!!

What was the down time for being out of work for the surgery & pt?

Who/Where is your DR?

U/M med sports doctor "specializing shoulders injuries"

 

[bruno670]

The first one was just about 4 days. The re-brake was 4 weeks!!

 

[woodsy]

Hey Pat, back when I crunched my back I also had some major neck-shoulder trama too. I went to a Shoulder specialist here in Muskegon who sent me for an MRI. Came back with no tear (tare, tair, teer how the heck do ya spell that little word anyway). The doctor told me that IF it would have been torn the best time to repair it is ASAP. Something about there not being alot of blood in that area and that scarring can cause alot of problems for re-repairing.. You might wanna not wait real long to get on top of it buddy!
Woodsy

 

[70 marlin]

Hey Pat, back when I crunched my back I also had some major neck-shoulder trama too. I went to a Shoulder specialist here in Muskegon who sent me for an MRI. Came back with no tear (tare, tair, teer how the heck do ya spell that little word anyway). The doctor told me that IF it would have been torn the best time to repair it is ASAP. Something about there not being alot of blood in that area and that scarring can cause alot of problems for re-repairing.. You might wanna not wait real long to get on top of it buddy!
Woodsy

I hear you old buddy! I had the test yesterday and they said no rotator cuff tear : :cool: but they said I might have knocked a little bit of the joint off the socket because she seen a little bit of debris and a lot of movement in the joint?

 

[Smit-Dog]

Marlin - What was the final diagnosis, treatment, and recovery time on your shoulder injury? I have a class II-III separated shoulder, and am looking for what to expect and when it will be 100%. Ortho says 6 weeks to heal, or risk surgery if I fall on it before then.

 

[woodsy]

Hi Pat:
Tell ya what buddy, you need to get into a specialist and get going on that puppy. I injured my shoulder/neck same time I destroyed my back and my neuro surgeon sent me to one.. That guy sent me for an MRI, told me they are the ONLY way to go for dianosis, and found that the rotator cuff was not torn.. He then said that because of the lack of blood in that area (shoulder) it is ALWAYS best if you get in and get it taken care of right away...
DOnt fool with it Mar - get er done bro!!!
Praying for ya
Woods

 

[70 marlin]

Smit-Dog
Marlin - What was the final diagnosis, treatment, and recovery time on your shoulder injury? I have a class II-III separated shoulder, and am looking for what to expect and when it will be 100%. Ortho says 6 weeks to heal, or risk surgery if I fall on it before then.
woodsy
Hi Pat:
Tell ya what buddy, you need to get into a specialist and get going on that puppy. I injured my shoulder/neck same time I destroyed my back and my neuro surgeon sent me to one.. That guy sent me for an MRI, told me they are the ONLY way to go for diagnosis, and found that the rotator cuff was not torn.. He then said that because of the lack of blood in that area (shoulder) it is ALWAYS best if you get in and get it taken care of right away...
Bill & Woodsy
Physical therapy people said it was only a number one separation? And that I only needed to strengthen the muscles around the joint. After 16 week of PT and five months of doing there exercises my shoulder is still very weak and still has a lot of loose type of movement, but is mostly pain free. They wouldn’t do a MRI on my shoulder. “They said it wasn’t damaged enough & I didn’t have enough pain” Bill for what’s it worth I never missed a day of work and most of what I do is very shoulder intensive. My Primary care MD said that it actually helped my shoulder from tightening up. With a #3 separation it sounds like your season is finished for the year? I’ve only rode once this year, mostly because the U/M has cut all hospital maintenance OT so there went all my fun money. Good luck Bill!

 

[Smit-Dog]

I did not have an MRI so it's not an exact diagnosis.... Just based on review of x-rays and pain / displacement of the collarbone. It's feeling better doing normal stuff as long as I don't move or lift anything heavy with it.... then I get a big reminder!

 

[GregB]

I high sided a turn and had a hard landing on my shoulder, final diagnosis was a 3rd degree separation. Painful injury and long healing process. Physical therapy only made it worse...as a result developed bursitis and tendonitis. Cortisone shot masked the pain but didn't heal it. I simply had a choice of leaving it alone (no weights, limited sports) or surgery. I took the "rest it" approach. Now two years after sustaining the injury I am finally back to full exercise and activity...no pain, full movement, full strength.

I do cringe at the thought of landing on it again.

Best of luck

 

[cavy986]

Had surgery for my seperated shoulder on 7/3 this year.Mine was a stage 5 A/C seperation.I had a Weaver-Dunn procedure done to re-attach the clavicle.Had a MRI done on my rotator cuff,I had some fluid but no tears.My advice is to find a experienced doctor, it took me 3 tries.Good Luck.

 

[70 marlin]

Drmark on KTMtalk will give you the straight poop!