A Separated Shoulder

[zoohoot393]

DCox...sorry to hear it man! Let us know what the specialist says and heal up quick man!

[mtk]

Darrel,

Bummer to hear about your get-off.

I've separated both shoulders over the years, either skiing or roadracing. Yes, they do suck and it will hurt for a bit. You'll be doing lots of PT to strengthen the surrounding muscles because ligaments do not heal. Once they're broken, they're broken for good. But life goes on and all that.

I started riding dirt bikes well after doing both shoulders. It's no biggie, once they get healed up and you get them strengthened.

Just be sure to get a good orthopaedic surgeon. I have a good one, but he's in Pittsburgh. He's also busy right now, since he's the team surgeon for the Steelers. There are a lot of hacks out there, be sure you get a good one since this is too important to settle for some loser who doesn't know what he's doing. Also, if you can find one who deals with athletes, all the better. Some doctors think that "quit riding" is perfectly a acceptable solution to the problem. Avoid those wankers like the plague. Find one who wants to help you get back in the saddle as quickly as possible and then listen to him and bust your butt in PT and you'll be riding in no time.

And DO listen to your doctor. Frankly, I think folks who ignore their doctors advice are idiots. You pay good money to get the opinion of a medically-trained individual; you've got to be an *** to ignore it.

[Silver_Fox]

DCox, here is the sixsixone shoulder brace. A friend of mine messed up his shoulder and wears one of these, he claims without it he could'nt ride.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[DCox]

Thanks Michael and SFox!

I go to the ortho. in about an hour. We had to pick up the x-rays at the ER to take them down with us. Since this is all new to me, I was up pretty late last night doing searches on this type of injury. I then looked at all the x-rays this morning. It is pretty clear: It appears to be a grade three AC separation. The junction of the clavicle (collar bone) and scapula (top of shoulder blade) is clearly disrupted in the x-ray. It also explains to me why my right arm hangs down lower than my left arm.

My wife refuses to even talk about it (she gets woozy), but it really is quite fascinating. One thing I am grateful for is that she is not fussing at me about the accident itself. Like Michael said, I am going to follow the docs recommendations to the letter (unless he says stop riding for good), and get some support as per SFox's link.

I will shoot a post later this afternoon when I get back from the ortho. that either confirms or denies my own self-dianosis.

[Crazy]

Seperated shoulder.........Itll heal.. Ride on and keep the attitude positive. In my experiences all illnesses or injuries can be healed by keeping a positive state of mind.

Tell you wife what I tell mine "What doesnt kill me will only make me stronger!"

[pragmatic393]

Looks like you have some sound advice already. I can only stress "good" PT and agree with the ligament's "one life to Live" theory.

The pain and rehab are nothing compared to the mental aspect that you'll probably deal with before getting back on the track. Especially if you need surgery. You can't hide your injury then

Hang in there!

[mtk]

I've never worn any kind of brace and I'm not sure I would rely on one to begin with. You really need to stabilize the joint with increased muscle strength. You'll most likely end up in a sling for a month or so, followed by some PT to get it strengthened. The pain comes mostly from general bruising in the area, but there is also pain associated with the broken ligaments.

Oh yeah, the emergency room probably expects you to return the x-rays. I never do. I paid for them; they're mine. I've got a nice collection of them at home. If the hospital wants them back, they'll have to break into my house to get them. It's also never prevented me from getting other x-rays taken at the same facility, so don't worry about that either. In fact, SOP at the hospital for me is to ask for an extra set because I'm going to see my orthopaedic surgeon afterwards. That "you have to return them" bit I conveniently ignore.

Oh yeah, one correction to your plan: if the doc says quit riding, I didn't say to ignore him, I said to find a new doctor. Find one who understands that getting back in the saddle is the 100% most important goal you have in mind. Treating you to ride again is different than treating you to live the average pedestrian life with no physical activity. You want to make sure your doctor is one focused on the former and will tailor your recovery plan to that goal. Getting you pain free sitting at a desk is not the same as pain-free sitting on a CRF450.

You know, this would have never happened on a two-stroke.

[Silver_Fox]

Originally Posted by mtk

You know, this would have never happened on a two-stroke.

I like the way you think!

[DCox]

Well, I returned from the orth. doc. and he was very helpful--though that is what he is paid for :.

First, he looked at the x-rays and gave me the good verdict that it was a grade two instead of grade three AC separation. I have that big bump where the end of the clavicle tore loose from the top of the shoulder blade, but to his eyes, there are some tendons that did not fully tear.

Second, this prognosis means that I do not have to be in the arm brace any longer. In fact, I am supposed to try to work my arm (without weight) all around and try to regain as much motion as possible. As counter-intuitive (and painful) as it seems to be using this arm, he actually said there is no further damage that can be done to it simply by using it (with no weight, etc.). I found this somewhat surprising.

Third, I can't ride the motorcycle for three months. While full-range movement cannot hurt it any further (and will actually help it), another fall, however minor, during this period of vulnerability would damage it considerably. I'll take his word for it.

Fourth, the guy didn't get all weird about riding motorcycles. Because he was receptive to our sport, this allowed me to ask the following questions, to which I received the following helpful responses:


Q. "Was there any type of protection that I could have worn to prevent this type of injury?"

A. In his experience, there is no padding or protection that keeps this particular type of injury from happening. I quizzed him about hockey and football type shoulder protection--same answer. The injury is simply the result of how one lands on their shoulder.

Q. "Theoretically, could something be custom designed to keep this type of separation from occuring?"

A. In his judgment, under these type of circumstances if that portion of the shoulder was supported as a whole, and the lower portion did not yield (resulting in damage), the alternative would be far worse. The nerves that run from your shoulder and run up through your neck would most likely be torn--since something has to give. Yes, I am wincing right now from the thought. . . .

I now understand these kinds of injuries are common in football and even more prevalent in hockey. I see him again in three weeks, at which time he is going to have me begin light weights.

He noted that he can do surgery at any point if it is not progressing along as we expect, but that if it were his shoulder he would take the non-surgical route initially. If later in life I run into arthritic problems that can result from this type of damage, the surgical procedure is still a valid option and would eliminate that problem.

Sorry to be so long-winded, but I thought some of this info. would be of interest to some. I enjoy learning new things, but in this case I would have preferred reading it in an article.

[Shifting]

Darrel I am very sorry to hear this. I feel your pain man. As weird as this sounds my shoulders are double jointed. I can pop them in and out when I want but when they come out on there own It hurts like hell. I have never had a injury to my shoulders like yours but the little pain I have felt I really don't want to go through it. Hope you heel up fast and get out there roosting again!

Ryan-

[Big Maico 393]

Darell:

Sounds like your injury is just what mine was, But I did mine 24 years age & had to ware the shoulder harness for a few months.

I had no problems until the fire hose incident & the torn ligament's.

Sounds like you be just fine with lots of physical therphy, just don't the beer stines on that side for a while & you'll be riding in no time.

[psyklone393]

Originally Posted by DCox

He noted that he can do surgery at any point if it is not progressing along as we expect, but that if it were his shoulder he would take the non-surgical route initially. If later in life I run into arthritic problems that can result from this type of damage, the surgical procedure is still a valid option and would eliminate that problem.

that's exactly what my friends ortho (who is also the same ortho that did my knee, so i trust him!) said about his aforementioned shoulder dislocation. surgery is an option at any point, and it may not be needed depending on how the rehab goes. good luck with it, it sounds like you know what you need to do now and i have no doubt you'll get it done.

-Z

[OLDMXRACER 393]

I say it's good news Big D. No surgery and 3 months no riding........Could be worse!

[OlSchoolFool393]

To Bad on the shoulder D.
glad to hear it's gonna clear up
without sergury,Bummer Your not
gonna be able to ride at the planning meeting
now I guess :
But make the best of it and get healed up before GMB4
Don W.

[mxerncolo]

Yes,
Bummer about the shoulder. I feel for ya.
jim

[mtk]

He's not lying to you about not being able to hurt it further. The ligaments are crunched and that's that.

As for protection, as far as I know the only protection is increasing muscle mass. Muscle acts like a big shock absorber and that's the one and only thing that can hold it together in an impact.

I'm surprised he didn't want it immobilized further. When I did my right shoulder, I was in a sling for six weeks and wasn't to elevate my arm at all. I think the ligaments did knit back together slightly, but I finished them off the next time I went skiing.

Hopefully you can heal quickly and beat his estimate.

[Woody_393]

Sheesh, I'm sorry to hear about this. Shoulders aren't any fun.

My bro had surgery about a year ago on his shoulder (popped out on him all the time), and as far as I know he's doing well now. His took about 6 weeks.

Good luck D.

[twoofeach]

Originally Posted by DCox

I am strapped up with an arm restrainer, and doses of Vicodin (anyone want to discuss Mike Allesi? ), to ward off the pain. I am supposed to go see a lig. and joint specialist this week.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of injury? Given my sketchy discription above, how long does it take this kind of thing to heal up?

Mike Alessi? Let's do it! Too bad this didn't happen at the begining of the outdoor nationals.

Suck it up DCox. I've been down since the day after Christmas. I still have about a month before I'm back at it. At least we got SX every weekend.

Didn't yzernie just have shoulder surgery a few months ago?

Get well soon..I need an advesary (SP) that can type at full speed.

[therapture]

I have separated both shoulders...it sucks. Both times though I was able to use the arm for light activity and range of motion after 2 weeks. DON'T let the joint freeze up! That will take longer to cure than the tear and stretching itself! At 5 weeks I basically was full usage, I damn near had to be, since I could not walk on the left femur....that's another story altogether though....you will be fine, but I don't unerstand why they won't put it back in place...makes no sense to me... :

[Florida 393]

Doc,
I have had two sholder seperations. Only went to the doctor for the first. I hung on to that sling just in caes. It came in handy two years later. It soundso like your sholder socket and ligaments a pretty badly stretched with some tears thorwn in for good measure. Fortunately this injury heals pretty well if given a chance to rest and heal. As long as no break occurs or a complete tear of a major ligament the R&R shpuld do the trick. Get some exercises you can do at home from the physical therapist and strengthen the surrounding musculature.

Good luck and we hope you heal quickly and completely. See you in Atlanta!

Regards,
Bill