A-C Joint Separation

[Phresh]

Two days ago I injured my A-C joint snowboarding. Initial first aid told me it could be a severe separation, due to the pretty significant bump on my shoulder. Later I got it x-rayed and was told it was only mild with a likely strain/pull on the ligament with a possible tear. However I'm left unsure because the bump and my research leads me to believe that the injury isn't "mild".

I have limited mobility, I can still put a shirt on with about a 3-4 in pain and a lot of discomfort. I'm icing and taking anti-inflams. I just want to be sure that my injury is not worse than the x-ray was read. Should I be experiencing more pain for what I'm doing? The pain gets to about a 5 reaching shoulder height and probably a little more if I pushed it there.

[chirop1]

See them all the time. If yours is a grade 1(mild) than it eventually will heal if there is no damage sustained to surrounding shoulder joint. would need more detail as to what planes of motions intensifies your pain. for example. forward flex, abduction, etc. Most likely you will recover 4-6 weeks. use plenty of ice 20 min 2x/day. refrain from any physical activity that exacerbates you problem. you'll more than likely have the "bump" all your life.

[Phresh]

It was just an ER doctor that checked the x-ray at some small-town hospital, I'm getting checked out at my local one and waiting for further results.

Abduction I can reach just as far up on both sides now, with slight pain and discomfort on the left. Forward flexion is a little less mobile and more painful than abduction but still generally okay. What bothers the most is putting a shirt on or having to hold something anything too heavy in that arm.

I just thought that if there was a significant bump it wasn't a grade 1? Am I wrong on this? And I should still be icing even this late in recovery?

[Heidi]

By this point you can alternate to hot and cold, 5 mins of each for 20 mins 3-5 times a day.
If you are sure that the swelling has all done down and the bump is boney then it is likely that it is a grade 2 or 3 sprain. Most of the time these are treated conservativley without surgery unless there are other complications. It sounds like you are making good progress but definitely worth getting it double checked with your local ER.

[lieay001]

[QUOTE=Phresh;6075]Two days ago I injured my A-C joint snowboarding. Initial first aid told me it could be a severe separation, due to the pretty significant bump on my shoulder. Later I got it x-rayed and was told it was only mild with a likely strain/pull on the ligament with a possible tear. However I'm left unsure because the bump and my research leads me to believe that the injury isn't "mild".

I have limited mobility, I can still put a shirt on with about a 3-4 in pain and a lot of discomfort. I'm icing and taking anti-inflams. I just want to be sure that my injury is not worse than the x-ray was read. Should I be experiencing more pain for what I'm doing? The pain gets to about a 5 reaching shoulder height and probably a little more if I pushed it there.[/QUOTE]

Hi

I did the exact same thing in August 2011. Snowboarding and just fell awkwardly landing directly on the top of the shoulder which resulted in AC separation with really noticable bump on top of shoulder. Was in extreme pain at the time of injury and for another two weeks thereafter. To cut a long story short, after 5 months of pain in my AC joint, inside my shoulder and a bit of neck pain, I ended up having a Distal Clavicle Resection and my torn labrum repaird (and a couple of other things - can't remember what they were as I was out of it at the time my surgeon told me what it was).

Well it's been nearly two weeks post-op and everything feels really good. Although the 'bump' on my shoulder has not really disapeared, I thought cutting a bit off would mean it would not be as pronounced. Also, it's still painful when I actually press the top of the AC joint where the surgery incision was. Hopefully this pain will die down over time.

Hopefully you will not have to have surgery. If after 6 month's you still have pain, I would recommend exploring surgery options.

Cheers.