Grade 5 AC Joint Shoulder Separation with complete CC Ligament Rupture

[steezybomber]

Well ladies and gents, I felt it coming. Got back about two months ago from a DownHill Biking accident that landed me in a cast. Before that, I was coming back from a complete UCL Rupture from last years ski season. I kept pushing trail riding harder and harder trying to get my legs ready for this upcoming ski season.

Came charging down a run ive done dozens of times, tucked a corner super tight, front wheel hit a log covered in leaves. Bike stopped, I went OTB far enough to have time to think about my fall. Tucked the arm under me to avoid hand/wrist/arm, and rotated to tuck my head (I have a bunch of concussions, cant afford another one, but was wearing a helmet). Full force onto shoulder/clavicle/collarbone.

Im 195 lbs so not small, so when I fell I fell hard. Rolled around on the ground for a bit, gathered my thoughts, sat up and all the sudden i felt my should crunch, all the bones move around, a big pop, and i got dizzy and almost passed out. Luckily with the help of a stretchy Arcade belt sling, a few beers, and some good friends, i was able to walk out of the woods.

ER doc said I was completely fine, just a bruise. Ortho specialists diagnosed above. Happened last Saturday and I go under the knife Tuesday. Couple screws, some wire, and new cadaver tendons to hold the bonest together and I should be good to go. Immobilized for 4 weeks then PT. Looks like my ski season is gone to shit, hoping for lots of PT and healthy enough to take some easy backcountry laps in BC come March time. All other trips cancelled. Pretty pissed, down, upset, and mad at myself for this.

Anyone else had this? I saw the collarbone thread, but this differs slightly. Couple months of getting in shape down the drain. Glad I bought 5 new ski movies this year. I see lots of that and beer in my future.

[steezybomber]

anyone had surgery for shoulder separation? I am going with two holes drilled in, and a cadaver hamstring tendon and some kind of cord to pull it all together. recovery time? how bad was PT? have my annual BC trip in march, so hoping to make that and minimize fitness loss. any input is greatly appreciated.

[plugboots]

I had this exact injury and I wore a sling while I went cross-country skate skiing to finish off that season, (the injury happened cycling in March), but it was super important to not have that joint move at all. I didn't do any backcountry or alpine style skiing, because I was way too afraid of falling on it.
I did all the physical therapy and then more, and mostly it was to get the flexibility back.

Funny story: I go in there the first time and the gal just starts bending my arm back and I'm like oh that's good, we're done, and she does it again, and I'm like "Jesus H. Christ how many more of these are you going to do?" I need to know! She's like "eight more" I'm like "thanks, I need to zone out and go to a happy place".

I don't remember when it was fine again, but it certainly didn't bother me the next season for skiing. I remember lifting weights that Thanksgiving, (so seven months later?), and I could do all my normal stuff, I just went really light on weight. I mean, I was lifting weights before that, this is just what I remember.

[steezybomber]

Damn, so injury occured in March and you were back to lifting by Thanksgiving? Thats a long recovery time. I got my other shoulder scpoped, so know how important (having not done it) PT is. I know I am going to lose strength and fitness, just trying to figure out how long until I can get back to an active lifestyle. obviously i wont be conquering any DH circuits but just biking would be nice.

that is funny man. i know the exact feeling. almost feels worse than the injury itself.

did they do a similar procedure with the new tendon?

I have a trip planned in BC in March. Obviously that is pretty quick and falling would be a no go, but I plan on following everything to a T, getting a nice shoulder support brace, and staying away from jumps/bumps and hope to soak in some freshies and apres beers. Thoughts?

Thanks for the input, much appreciated. It seems like everyone i talk to or read about online is a grade 3 or lower.

[plugboots]

The injury was in 2002, so I don't remember how long it took till I could lift hard. I just remember lifting at this gym on our Thanksgiving trip. I was given the rubber bands, and that started to get the strength back. Shoulder presses were really tough at first, it was like a weird balancing act. One arm normal, and the other in pain, no relative strength and less flexibility.

I don't remember the exact procedure my Doc used, but he did cut a part of a bone, and used sutures wrapped around the Scapula to keep the ligament together and immobile so it could regrow.

So, I would bet you'll be OK to ski in March. You'll know what you can and can't do with that arm by then. Mine has healed great, and I'm sure a part of that is because it was kept immobile till it completely bonded. I remember my first fall on it, and I freaked a bit, but was OK.

[wyeaster]

good luck and maybe fall less

[steezybomber]

thats what u keep saying! its not the actual biking, its that im not good enough and need to not fall. damn gravity. should go back to DH then its at least working in my favor haha.

[steezybomber]

quick update and question to all you mags and dentists out there....

So I have been hitting PT HARD 2x a week since Jan. Felt some pain, but never did more weight than the doc or PT said, and never lifted/biked/skied...felt a little pop, lots of pain, and sudden bump on top of my shoulder. I stop everything, go directly to the doc.

X-rays show that my should has dropped 2mm (from 10mm in between collar bone and clavicle to 12mm). The bump on top of my shoulder is one of the screws pressing against the skin. Doc believes one (of the two) dissolvable sutures anchoring the tendon to the bone failed.

He thinks this is my "natural" position after the suture dissolve, and long term it will still be the same outcome. Just causing a lot of inflammation, pain, and discomfort now, barely able to sleep, and the j-hole trip i had been training so hard to be back for is now out of the question indefinitely. Good thing there not having a banger year....

anyway, anyone else had a shoulder suture fail? Long term consequences, outcomes, suggestions, random thoughts? Super bummed, but staying positive for next season.

[CaliBrit]

Mine was the collar bone fracture grade 5.

Doing well now, right after I was allowed to ski I landed on it, and moved it a bit, kind of agree with the Doc, it just put it back where it wanted to be!

[steezybomber]

Thanks, CallBrit ^. Hoping for the same thing. Really dying to ski again. go in tomorrow for another xray.

[plugboots]

Bummer. Funny you posted this, because mine's been bugging me for the last couple weeks, after 15 years of nothing

[steezybomber]

did you ever have it fixed or just pain ? i never realized how limiting shoulder pain can be (same as most injuries I guess). hope it calms down and feels better bro. ive been sticking to ibuprofin and wild turkey 101.

[plugboots]

I had the complete rebuild.
The pain isn't going away, and it's inside, (not muscle), so I have to go and have it looked at. Ugh

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Both my AC joints are fucked from multiple separations. The right is the worst, three separations and a clavicle fracture. The pain isn't going away. Even if you get it fixed you will get arthritis and pain. AC joint resection(Mumford procedure) is the only fix. I'm putting it off as long as I can but shoulder pain is a bitch.

[steezybomber]

AaronWright -- I will have to check out that procedure, never heard of it before. I am trying to do everything possible to avoid having to get cut open again. just too many risks and starting over sounds terrible.

just got back from the doc and essentially he said, yup, the screw is out of the bone, wrapped in scar tissue so it shouldnt move, but will cause pain. start doing PT again, see me in 2 months and we will know if the cadaver tendon healed to the bone or if I need to have it redone. The pain has gone down substantially but it still hurts. ROM is decreased, and feel lots of popping and clicking. this shit sucks, a lot. like you said, pain and arthritis is inevitable.

has me gun shy about any future biking/skiing. looks like this season is a wash.