Shoulder Separation Recovery Time? - Snowboarding Forum

roboelmo · 01-25-2012, 11:46 AM

Hi Guys,

Just wondering what the recovery time was for anyone else who had a shoulder separation.

Exactly two weeks ago, I had a third degree shoulder separation. As of right now I can finally raise my arm above my head. I have been icing and heating my shoulder like crazy, just to try to speed up the healing process. But the last two weeks have been so depressing for me, as all I can think about is going snowboarding.

But how long did some of you (with the same injury) wait before heading back to the mountains?

ShredLife · 01-25-2012, 11:56 AM

i did mine about two years ago, and there was really good snow the day after or maybe two days after i did it so i was riding powder in a sling, high on pills. had to ride real conservatively and not fall tho cuz even landing on your ass will jar you enough for it to really hurt.

if you can ride all day without falling, as long as you ride mellow, then you're probably good to go.

that said - i still have not fished or rowed my boat since it happened (youtube 'spey casting' and you'll see the type of fly fishing i do and how hard it would be with a jacked up shoulder). i am just now getting to the point where i can do things that require strength out of the joint.

even two years later there is still some crunchiness in there, and it still hurts on long drives and some other stuff. i don't think my shoulder will ever be like it was before i did this. i think the best thing to do is try and build up more muscle there, but its hard to do when it hurts to lift weight with it.

i wish i had better things to say about it....

but it hasn't kept me off the hill too much - mostly other things in life that it makes suck - or impossible

Argo · 01-25-2012, 12:03 PM

I have separated my shoulder about 5 times, since the first time it would pop out easy after.... It takes about 6-10 weeks to feel livable after a bad separation but I can ride with a bad shoulder. It seperates a lot less now because I focus on working ou my shoulders to build those muscles. It has been about 2 years since my last.

kpd2003 · 01-25-2012, 12:04 PM

as long as it was set back in place properly 3 weeks is usually a basic - obviously it will depend on the severity and how well your body responds.

if it didnt get set right you will have random terrible pain when you reach out for a coffee cup or something completely trivial like that - can't even do a damn pushup anymore - so make sure if you havent already that you get a proper doc to check you out

i waited 2 weeks and had pain doing pretty much everything... but i am mr. glass so i get used to the constant pain of injuries

Argo · 01-25-2012, 12:04 PM

Oh yeah, the crunchiness will be there and get worse if you don do range of motion type exercises to work the sca tissue out

huckfin · 01-25-2012, 12:06 PM

few weeks, but it will happen again, i had a full bankart and rotator cuff repair done in April 2011, was good to go start of season this year; it's still tender and lacks a little mobility.. but it won't dislocate again. good luck

ShredLife · 01-25-2012, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argo

I have separated my shoulder about 5 times, since the first time it would pop out easy after.... It takes about 6-10 weeks to feel livable after a bad separation but I can ride with a bad shoulder. It seperates a lot less now because I focus on working ou my shoulders to build those muscles. It has been about 2 years since my last.

watchou talkin' 'bout Willis? that sounds like a dislocated shoulder, not an AC separation (acromioclavicular)

ain't you a doc too?

ShredLife · 01-25-2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huckfin

few weeks, but it will happen again, i had a full bankart and rotator cuff repair done in April 2011, was good to go start of season this year; it's still tender and lacks a little mobility.. but it won't dislocate again. good luck

shoulder dislocation and an AC tear (separated shoulder) are two distinctly different injuries.

your shoulder joint does not dislocate in an AC tear - although i would imagine it's possible to ALSO tear your AC as you dislocate a shoulder... but they're different things.

Riley212 · 01-25-2012, 12:10 PM

Im about a year and a half out of mine, They said it was level 3 or whathave you. I went back to work after 3 months and could do push ups and pull ups with out it hurting much at 4. still hurts everyonce and a while and pops and stuff and i cant wear a heavy backpack. Mostly i forget about it now.

I didn't get surgury so i just have a lump.

Just keeps icing it and keep it in the sling and don't do shit for about a month and a half, you need to let the ligaments re net themselves. at about 2 months go see a deep tissue massage theapist/ physical therapist who can show you how to get your strength and range of motion back and break up the scar tissue. those people arent that expensive if you dont have insurance just tell them that you dont and its usually $75 ish an hour which you should do a few times. Doctors can't really do shit for you unless they do surgury.

dont do like shred did, that will only fuck it up more.

Edit: yea AC seperation is different than dislocation it hurts more for longer and never really heals all the way unless you get surgury to replace the tendons that you ripped.

nomembername · 01-25-2012, 12:13 PM

Separated mine in high school playing football. Played the next game 7 days later. To this day it isnt the same. If I sleep and leave my right arm up above my head my arm falls asleep.

So the right answer is hit the mountain and be careful when you think you can take a little spill and not be in agony. Without surgery, which isnt necessary, separations dont "repair" themselves and go back to where you were before.

01-25-2012, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
roboelmo Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 55	Shoulder Separation Recovery Time? Hi Guys, Just wondering what the recovery time was for anyone else who had a shoulder separation. Exactly two weeks ago, I had a third degree shoulder separation. As of right now I can finally raise my arm above my head. I have been icing and heating my shoulder like crazy, just to try to speed up the healing process. But the last two weeks have been so depressing for me, as all I can think about is going snowboarding. But how long did some of you (with the same injury) wait before heading back to the mountains?

01-25-2012, 11:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
ShredLife The Rooster King Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,387	i did mine about two years ago, and there was really good snow the day after or maybe two days after i did it so i was riding powder in a sling, high on pills. had to ride real conservatively and not fall tho cuz even landing on your ass will jar you enough for it to really hurt. if you can ride all day without falling, as long as you ride mellow, then you're probably good to go. that said - i still have not fished or rowed my boat since it happened (youtube 'spey casting' and you'll see the type of fly fishing i do and how hard it would be with a jacked up shoulder). i am just now getting to the point where i can do things that require strength out of the joint. even two years later there is still some crunchiness in there, and it still hurts on long drives and some other stuff. i don't think my shoulder will ever be like it was before i did this. i think the best thing to do is try and build up more muscle there, but its hard to do when it hurts to lift weight with it. i wish i had better things to say about it.... but it hasn't kept me off the hill too much - mostly other things in life that it makes suck - or impossible __________________ get the hell off my lawn.

01-25-2012, 12:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Riley212 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: North Seattle Posts: 476	Im about a year and a half out of mine, They said it was level 3 or whathave you. I went back to work after 3 months and could do push ups and pull ups with out it hurting much at 4. still hurts everyonce and a while and pops and stuff and i cant wear a heavy backpack. Mostly i forget about it now. I didn't get surgury so i just have a lump. Just keeps icing it and keep it in the sling and don't do shit for about a month and a half, you need to let the ligaments re net themselves. at about 2 months go see a deep tissue massage theapist/ physical therapist who can show you how to get your strength and range of motion back and break up the scar tissue. those people arent that expensive if you dont have insurance just tell them that you dont and its usually $75 ish an hour which you should do a few times. Doctors can't really do shit for you unless they do surgury. dont do like shred did, that will only fuck it up more. Edit: yea AC seperation is different than dislocation it hurts more for longer and never really heals all the way unless you get surgury to replace the tendons that you ripped. __________________ Good gear doesn't make you better; good gear makes it easier to get better Last edited by Riley212; 01-25-2012 at 12:13 PM.

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01-25-2012, 12:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Argo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 2,002	I have separated my shoulder about 5 times, since the first time it would pop out easy after.... It takes about 6-10 weeks to feel livable after a bad separation but I can ride with a bad shoulder. It seperates a lot less now because I focus on working ou my shoulders to build those muscles. It has been about 2 years since my last.

01-25-2012, 12:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
kpd2003 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 74	as long as it was set back in place properly 3 weeks is usually a basic - obviously it will depend on the severity and how well your body responds. if it didnt get set right you will have random terrible pain when you reach out for a coffee cup or something completely trivial like that - can't even do a damn pushup anymore - so make sure if you havent already that you get a proper doc to check you out i waited 2 weeks and had pain doing pretty much everything... but i am mr. glass so i get used to the constant pain of injuries

01-25-2012, 12:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Argo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 2,002	Oh yeah, the crunchiness will be there and get worse if you don do range of motion type exercises to work the sca tissue out

01-25-2012, 12:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
huckfin Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: pacific nw Posts: 138	few weeks, but it will happen again, i had a full bankart and rotator cuff repair done in April 2011, was good to go start of season this year; it's still tender and lacks a little mobility.. but it won't dislocate again. good luck

01-25-2012, 12:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
nomembername Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 73	Separated mine in high school playing football. Played the next game 7 days later. To this day it isnt the same. If I sleep and leave my right arm up above my head my arm falls asleep. So the right answer is hit the mountain and be careful when you think you can take a little spill and not be in agony. Without surgery, which isnt necessary, separations dont "repair" themselves and go back to where you were before.