Thought I’d revive this and throw another AC separation on the pile. Just as I was coming into some great fitness and had a summer of gravel and ultra plans to look forward to, a lapse in concentration put me shoulder first into the dirt.
I seem to be at the grade where you can find as many people for as against surgery but it’s been useful to read through some specific experiences in here. Thanks for the trainer setup images too @Bikeguy0, stem extender ordered for the turbo bike ready for the comeback.
Appreciate you clarifying. some blokes on here on the trainer (even one handed) seems extremely risky, given that sutures are almost always intact 1-2 weeks out. Am i of base that one should avoid excessive sweating until sutures are removed?
In regards to surgery or not. My update; cashed last August. Fractured my collarbone and turned a grade 3 into a grade 5 separation (100-300% displacement). Had a plate put in the collarbone but didn’t touch the AC joint.
After surgery on the collarbone the AC was the primary source of pain but now don’t really have an issues. I can’t hang from a bar anymore and lost a bit more ROM but the surgical reconstruction of the AC isn’t like a plate.
At my 12 week appointment I told my surgeon it still hurt but at that point I could do a push up and bench press without AC pain and he said he want gonna touch it. I will say I am a PT and did about 1.5 hours of PT a day myself so was able to devote a ton of time to rehabbing it
Bust my ACJ two weeks ago. Hit a pothole and dumped myself on my shoulder. Grade 3A apparently so recommendation is no surgery and reassess at three months. I’ve had the same recommendation from a sports injury doctor and a specialist shoulder surgeon. I’m having physio.
The shoulder now feels more ‘solid’ but my ribs, which I must have cracked in the fall, get this burning pain in a horizontal arc just below the armpit. Feels like my serratus is on fire sometimes. This has only come on over the past week - didn’t have it from the outset.
I’ve done a few indoor rides but nothing outdoor yet. But I’m supposed to be doing the Maratona this weekend. Advice is that if I can bear any discomfort I can do it and won’t damage it any more. So will give it a shot, and may do one of the shorter routes.
I rode a month after my grade 3 separation. Ortho at the time said “you can ride, if you fall it’s gonna hurt like hell.”
So I was back on the bike 4ish weeks after that injury. Difference between 3-4 weeks with non operative management? None really. You could check with your MD. As a PT we have to go by tissue healing at this stage and risk of further injury. But best to get everyone’s opinion and make your own choice .
That’s consistent with the advice of all three of the medically trained folks who’ve looked at me by three weeks in / you can’t do any more harm but it will f-cking hurt if you fall on it again.
What I remember from that first ride back at 4 weeks. EVERY bump and road imperfection hurt. I wasn’t back on the road after my grade 5 injury until 12 weeks and was WAY stronger that time (also before surgery). So didn’t have that feeling (also going to 32mm wheels at 60 PSI from 23mm at 120 PSI aluminum frame probably also made a different).
I had a grade 4, but know a guy who had a 3 and got surgery. I am in Germany however, and from what I’ve heard, it is a lot more common for Americans to recommend against surgery than it is in Europe.
If that has to do with the very different insurance system or something else, idk.
Depends on the doctor, the insurance policy, and state of practice. I know three others with grade 3. Two had surgery and one did not. The two with surgery were much older cases. The grading system used might been different as my friend who is a PA told me he was taught using a 3 grade system (and in practice with the US Army, he retired before COVID).
This is post surgery by the weigh. Worked wonders. After 3 months I was back riding outdoors, after 6 months I was deadlifting 120kg again. This obviously isn’t medical advice - wtf do I know - just saying I am really happy with the result of my tight rope, 2 years later.
I’ve had the pleasure to have grade 3 separations in back to back years. In both cases the doctors recommended against surgery. Not because of insurance, but rather because there was no evidence that surgery would result in a better outcome. I had the option to choose surgery, but since recovery was much quicker without, I chose not to. The only benefit I’ve heard of regarding surgery was they would be able to get rid of the “bump” that is now present. However, since I’ve separated both my left and right, I’m now symmetrical, lol.
Great reduction. I had the same procedure but unfortunately scar tissue prevented me from fully reducing it and still have a grade 2 separation. Did you have the button and a graft?
Also super encouraging to hear you are dead lifting that way at 6 months. That is my goal as well
After a grade five separation I had my AC joint reconstructed 5 weeks ago in late June. Multiple surgeons told me surgery was necessary but unfortunately was only able to reduce it surgically down to a grade two. Used the dog bone button and graft.
It could be that the clavicle fracture was so bad that that needed to be managed surgically as the highest priority.
I will say I have never seen a grade 5 in my practice as a PT (nor have I ever seen someone whose had it reconstructed either) but whatever. I do have a colleague who recently fractured her acromion and separated it and she ended up needing the surgery months later because she still had so much pain and instability (she is also a PT and rehabbed it herself). So who knows.
about 2 months ago. That time misssed clavicle fracture no treatment till date. Now Dr. said first healed leg then clavicle surgery.
I am depressed when time passed. Will it resulted clavicle non union and should I go for surgery. Surgery risks here. Many examples here not opt surgery for 15, 20 and 25 years.
