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9416
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT
US
Edited Date/Time
7/22/2017 6:22am
So on Friday night, I lost the front end in a corner, and drove my left shoulder into the ground pretty hard (well my head and top of my shoulder...I kind of "shoulder tackled" a sand whoop...and lost)...ended up with a headache, really sore neck muscles, and the top of my shoulder (where the collar bone attaches to the top of the shoulder...google is calling it the Acromion or AC joint) is swollen and pretty painful.
I'm most concerned with the shoulder injury (my neck muscles already feel better today, and the headache only lasted an hour or so)...there is a constant ache in my shoulder (again, right where the collar bone attaches to the top of my shoulder...Acromion/AC joint area), and I can move it relatively pain free as long as my arm is down and just forward or backwards (it's painful if my arm is elevated or if I try and raise my arm to the side). There is no bruising, and the swelling, though its gone down since Friday, is still there.
I'm not asking for a diagnosis or anything...just some feedback on injuries that resulted from similar crashes, or if anyone has similar injuries at all...I'm trying to decide if I need to go to the doctor...or if it will heal on its own. Right now I think it will heal on its own...my wife things I'm being stubborn and need to go to the doctor.
I'm most concerned with the shoulder injury (my neck muscles already feel better today, and the headache only lasted an hour or so)...there is a constant ache in my shoulder (again, right where the collar bone attaches to the top of my shoulder...Acromion/AC joint area), and I can move it relatively pain free as long as my arm is down and just forward or backwards (it's painful if my arm is elevated or if I try and raise my arm to the side). There is no bruising, and the swelling, though its gone down since Friday, is still there.
I'm not asking for a diagnosis or anything...just some feedback on injuries that resulted from similar crashes, or if anyone has similar injuries at all...I'm trying to decide if I need to go to the doctor...or if it will heal on its own. Right now I think it will heal on its own...my wife things I'm being stubborn and need to go to the doctor.
Disclaimer: just a suggestion, not trying to play doctor here, just passing along what happened when I did the same thing.
There are a ton of nerves that run from the neck to the upper shoulder.
Today, I still have a bump where my collarbone meets my shoulder. And it rubs (not sure how to describe it) when I move it in certain directions, mostly overhead. 90% strength is back for most movements, except push-ups, flat bench and dips. Those still hurts a bunch. Interestingly, inclined bench and throwing motion do not hurt. Maybe I should've done more PT?
I'd get an x-ray at least - but most likely they'll tell you to ice, rest and isolate it for a time. Then very gradually work to get range of motion back.
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BTW, and I'm not a PT or doctor so take this keeping it mind- but when I started to work on the range of motion, I would go to the gym and use one of the cable machines. I set the pully height pretty high and then played with the weights until it would VERY LIGHTLY lift my arm up, and then there was maybe a half pound, or less, resistance to pull it back down. The idea being to get the arm going through the range of motion laterally with NO resistance either up or down. Worked well.
I had an extreme separation. The doctor never gave it a number, but my left shoulder was completely out of socket for about an hour. At rest it was probably 2 inches lower and wider than normal.
At the hospital my shoulder slipped back into place when I raised my arm for x-rays.
A couple days later at the follow up appointment the doctor said that I would have a bump no matter what, and that if the bones rubbed (as you're experiencing) they would go in and trim the end off of one of them.
I told him that I'm an athlete and that I wanted the same treatment a pro baseball of football player would received. He said that they usually let the shoulder heal, people deal with the bump, and that's all there is to it.
Then I asked him what would happen if the collarbone was pushed down and held in place while it healed.
He said that the scar tissue would hold it there, and there wouldn't be much of a bump.
The problem was that the injury happened days ago, and had already started to heal. I knew it was going to hurt but I did it anyway.
I got one of the wide (6 inch) support belts that works wear at Home Depot, Staples, etc... that is basically like a kidney belt with 2 elastic shoulder straps on it, and some cloth medical tape, and stapped it down.
I made a thick pad (pretty firm) that I placed over the bump with the pad on top of both sides where the 2 bones connect. The idea is that it will bring them both to flush,and even with each other.
I then took both shoulder straps and positioned them on the pad directly over the bump.
I tightened it to the point that it held things in place, but not so tight that it would push the joint lower than normal.
It hurt like hell for about 30 minutes as the scar tissue from 3 days of healing broke down and bone dropped into place.
After that it wasn't bad at all except for the pressure.
After 2 days, I took the straps off and the bump stayed down completely for the next 3 hours.
I thought I was in the home stretch so that night when I put the straps back on I lessened the pressure.
The next morning the bump was rising. I kind of got nervous about what I was doing and took the straps off.
In the end, the bump on my left shoulder is minimal, and I believe having the AC joint closer to where it belongs has been a great thing. There are times I'm reminded about the injury, but riding isn't one of them. The first set of incline bench usually hurts if I haven't been in the gym for a while, but then it's fine.
I'm 100% convinced that after the shoulder is put back in place, that pushing the bump down and the AC joint back where it's supposed to go would cause zero pain, little pressure and would result in a person having very little to no bump when the joint heals. Also, my thoughts are that it's going to be more stable long term to have the joint in the proper position.
I'm not a doctor. I'm an engineer. I did what I had to do and have no regrets except that if I went back I would have pushed the bump down earlier, and kept the pressure on it for an extra couple of days.
Ask your doctor about it.
If you have any questions about what I did, just ask.
tear Again.
I just had mine fixed, grade 3 with total separation.
They stitch the collar bone down with heavy duty sutures, then use allografts to create new ligaments.
Usually the end of the collar bone is shortened to prevent rubbing the shoulder.
To the doctor I go.
Thanks again for all the input.
What I do recommend is go get yourself some resistance bands and do basic shoulder exercise 10 min in the morning and 10 min at night it makes a world of difference.
- I'm assuming you crashed in mesquite Saturday? IMHO, if you're already regaining mobility and usage, and you have a separation or tear, its relatively minor. I was in bad shape for weeks with both separations and the rotator cup. Lots of pain and almost no usage.
- The inflammation can take 2 weeks or more to go down. The ortho didn't even want to see me until a few weeks had gone by and the inflammation had gone down
- There is no danger to the joint of you wait a few weeks and see how you recover. Dr Edwards in Bountiful told me exactly that. My right shoulder is a grade 3 separation and if I had it repaired today it would be no different than having it done right after the injury.
- Once you're feeling up to it, you can youtube some if the basic PT exercises for the joint.
I'm happy to talk more if you want. One of the first things I wanted when I hurt my right should was to talk to someone who had experienced the same type of injury. You're also welcome to call 801-510-3667
Pit Row
I actually did it on Friday in Mesquite...I didn't even race. (I did ride all day Saturday, though, just not race).
Thanks for the feedback!
I don't want to be too much of a buzz kill, but I'm committed to spreading the word about a recent injury I just went through. I hate to say it but your impact was eeirily simiar to mine. I knew there was a reason other than my FB page I typed this out.
If at least one person takes stroke symptoms more seriously it could be the difference between you or a friend spending their life in a wheelchair or worse! Don’t try and walk it off or wait for it to pass!
Yeah I dodged another bullet and had a stroke. The Dr’s keep telling me there is no such thing as a “minor” stroke when I describe it like that, but I consider mine minor….if not a lucky stroke – since I had it within 5 miles of Hoag hospital, the first DNV GL certified stroke hospital in Orange County that ranks 5% in the nation and since I have no neurological deficits and feel 100% - It was but a flesh wound and just a scare.
Last Saturday the 14th I was getting ready to spectate the Anahiem SX at home when I noticed a problem keying in Cntrl/Tab, I was trying to cycle between my open programs and my left hand wasn’t listening to my brain, about then a pen dropped off my desk to the left. I reached down for it and just kept going…..Rider Down my chair was on top of me like a motorcycle.
It took a couple mins to get it off me but then I couldn’t get up. No strength on my left side. I was able to crawl to my room but couldn’t stand up. My bro came in and asked what was wrong I told him nothing but could he help me get my feet under me. One look at my face and hearing me slur my speech he told me I was stroking out and he dialed 911 before I could talk him out of it.
I got to Hoag and before I knew what was happening they had me doing a CT scan. I guess they had me sign some papers before I went in. When I got out they told me it was done. What was done! The Stent we put in and surgery was a success! Huh? I just thought everyone was overreacting, When did you do it? I don’t even remember going under and waking up…trippy Who did it? How did it go? That guy just did it, your all good. Huh? I have a stent? In my neck? Reaallly? I had questions Tell me about this, is it a trick one? Is it made out of titanium? Am I still good to go?
That was just the beginning since I had to stay in the Hosp. for 2 nights for observation, poking prodding pricking and sticking and pulling an IV pole into the bathroom – I hate hospitals, but love their work!
CAUSATION
The closest anyone can tell is I damaged (delaminated) my Cartoid artery when I crashed my bike and KOed myself a couple mos. ago, That caused a 360 occlusion of the vein (at least it wasn’t hereditary or diet, just trauma) then, 2 months later a little floatie from that logged in my artery and caused a blockage. Luckily my bro was around and recognized the symptoms of a stroke immediately, but more importantly didn’t let me talk him out of an ambulance ride, which I definitely tried to do.
I wanted to figure this out and walk it off – let it pass, and watch some supercross. I felt fine! Just a little weak – I got this. Nope ambulance is here.
They gave me the clot busting drug Tissue Plasma Activator or tPA (since I was within the 3 hr window in which it can be administered and sucked out the clot debris through a catheter then put in a stent to keep the vein open. So now I have a f*cking STENT in my neck. My biggest worry is having a relapse when I’m alone in the backcountry skiing or solo backpacking or getting roosted right in my stent. I may have to devise some sort of guard for my neck brace.
Can a stent freeze in super cold weather? How about radiation damage if I let the sun shine on my neck too long? I have more questions
I know this post is a little old, but hopefully you are still out there!
I have a Grade III from last Saturday and want to use your method with the Home Depot belt and straps but not sure how you are tightening it down to get the desired effect.
What does the belt hook to to create the desired downward force?
Thanks, Savoi
I'm glad to help.
Do you have the home depot belt already?
It's like either of these. If you don't have one, get it early tomorrow. The earlier you start the better.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H89YHU/ref=psdc_553556_t2_B005E2KTSC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000095SGT/ref=psdc_553556_t1_B005E2KTSC
The belt goes on around your waist like normal. You then place both of the shoulder straps over the one injured shoulder. Both straps combined apply enough pressure.
I'll PM you and we can skype, etc... to get it setup right.
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