Shoulder Seperation

tingland said:

I separated my shoulder last October. I backed off to allow time to heal, but to this day, I am still having soreness from it. I have tried some excersises to keep things moving so it doesn't get stiff on me and so I don't lose any strength. How long does it take for a shoulder to heal? Is there anything I can be doing to speed up the recovery?

Deep injuries like that can take quite some time to heal.....this isn't directly related, but.....a while back I was goofing around and jumped over a ditch, my sandals slipped out from under me, and I landed all of my weight on my [censored]. My Tailbone hurt like nothing I have ever felt before.

It hurt for four months!

Robbie

I flipped my bike and did a two-point landing on my head and the top of my shoulder. I injured my AC joint, but I don't know if it was a full-blown separation (my head was fine thanks to my helmet). It took a good 12 months of rehab in the gym before I could lift weights and ride the bike as well as I could before the injury -- and two years later the AC joint still hurts a bit when I sleep on that side. My only suggestions are to be patient and get a PT to prescribe a good athlete-oriented rehab program.

tingland said:

I separated my shoulder last October. I backed off to allow time to heal, but to this day, I am still having soreness from it. I have tried some excersises to keep things moving so it doesn't get stiff on me and so I don't lose any strength. How long does it take for a shoulder to heal? Is there anything I can be doing to speed up the recovery?

You should have blown out your knee...better chance of healing. I have had three shoulder surgeries and have been told that I will need a replacement in about a decade. I am 23. It took 5 years for me to be able to even ride a bike and exert pressure on an outstretched arm. I wish I had better news for you, but all you can do is RICE and the R is the biggie here. Make sure you follow up with am ortho and think about getting a shoulder stabilizer. They come in neoprene or fabric that support the shoulder and help prevent if from slipping out again. Check out motocross websites. Also, you will have to strengthen the muscles surrounding, do it with a physio. Get professional help. Good luck.

http://www.seethetrainer.com/Sully_Shoulder_Stabilizer.htm
http://www.collinssports.com/products/anatomy.asp?part=3
This is the one I have: the Omotrain...
http://bracesupport.com/shouldersupport.htm

e
e

tingland said:

I separated my shoulder last October. I backed off to allow time to heal, but to this day, I am still having soreness from it. I have tried some excersises to keep things moving so it doesn't get stiff on me and so I don't lose any strength. How long does it take for a shoulder to heal? Is there anything I can be doing to speed up the recovery?

On 9/29, crashed racing downhill and seperated the AC joint and broke the neck of my femur. 😠 Besides the road rash, the separation tore what seemed like every muscle from the chest up (I almost would pass out from sneezing). About 3 weeks ago, I finally got back onto a spin bike to get the legs moving and rebuild those muscles. The shoulder is still sore and has some restricted movement. What I find is helping the shoulder are exercises which force the shoulder back or up and open up the chest (there are several different machines at my gym, couldn't tell you what any of them are called), and exercises which strengthen the back muscles around the shoulder blade. I also use a weighted bar held in both hands and, lying on my back on a weight bench, slowly raise it from waist back to straight out behind my head. (this is all well beyond what I was doing in PT). it seems to be increasing the range of motion and shoulder strength. But I have no idea how long, if ever, it will be for me to be 100%.

And I fixed the bike and am waiting for the Spring to hit the road.