grade 3 ac seperation

holla

Hi all, I'm new on here so go easy. After 6 months of commuting to work (60 miles a week) I decided to buy myself a second hand tt bike and start doing 10 mile races next year. 8 days ago on the commute back from work I came off my mountain bike and landed on the point of my shoulder!! straight to A&E the bone was sticking up about 2 inches and the first words one of the doctors said to me was "oh that's horrible!!" they said that an operation wasn't necessarily the best option and told me to rest my arm in a sling. I have a follow up appointment in a week.

obviously this puts pay to much winter training, My question is - have any of you had this injury? how long did it take you to get back on the bike again and were there any complications in the months years to follow? any advice would be gratefully received.

many thanks

imposter2.0

Depends on the amount of ligament damage, which will be unique to your injury. So other people's experiences won't really count for much, unfortunately.

jgsi

After my off in March, I was back racing within 2 weeks and didnt stop training as I didnt have any pain from the shoulder just road rash. The clavicle still sticks up but now in the gym twice a week to try and bolster up the upper body.
Its makes a nice party piece to turn into Gollum by protracting the shoulder.. freaks people out.

MikeWW

Had a grade 4 ACJ a couple of years ago.
I had it operated on within a few days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9cNXmHfdhw
Was riding in 10 weeks and lost the lump

If you go for an operation later than 10 days it gets more complicated.

With a grade 3 it may only be a few weeks to recover with nothing but imobilising it but depends on the ligament damage

FatTed

Don't need an operation. (Not sure Cavendish did either) get on the trainer as soon as you feel like it. On the bike when you can completely control the bike.

speshsteve

I've got my op in 2 weeks after a grade 5, in my case the consultant said I needed the op and 3 weeks after the fall I still can't raise my arm above my head.

I'm on the turbo (was able to sit on the bike after 1 week with a sling on), however I won't be back on the bike proper until approx. 3 months after the op

I did a grade 2 a couple of years ago and was back on the bike after 3 weeks although it hurt a bit for months after and took probably a full year before I had any overhead strength again. With a grade 3 you will have torn all the ligaments completely so it will never heal like before however with physio you can gain strength and mobility again.

2 inches is a big shoulder drop....that would usually equate to a grade 5...complete separation and if you do lots of sport then they would recommend an op. Of course there may well be a lot of swelling so see how you get on and get a consultants opinion.