I've got a grade two at the moment and I'm planning to ride this week after two weeks off.

Grade three is a bit worse maybe 4 /5 weeks.

Depends on how quick you heal.

done the tendon down the top of my knee, no idea how long that's going to take..

seem to be a lot of us injuring our selves before a nice summer of riding :/

I'm sorry to hear that. I had a grade one at the start of May and my osteopath has just this week told me I can try a bit of gentle mountain biking. It might be a while and you'll always have a knobbly bit on the shoulder now. Be weary if they offer you an op, it's about 50/50 in terms of success I was told. Also, I found it was worth paying for a private osteopath as the advice given by the NHS physio would have made matter worse if I'd followed it.

Good luck with it. I hope it heels well.

I had my shoulder worked on 2007. My AC joint is fused, my bicep tendon now runs in front of my shoulder and I had my rotator cuff done at the same time. Was off for absolutley ages but now,so far, I haven't had any trouble with it. Apart from a few little niggles but not much!
Good luck and speedy recovery.

Hey Geoff, sorry to hear you are injured.

I had a lesser injury mid-May (Level 1) and I started road riding last week. As Onza said, I'd be careful about the NHS physio, as the advice I was given by them was to start doing light resistance exercises about 3 weeks after the injury. Checked this with a private sports physio who pretty strongly told me not to, as my joint stability was so mucked up that I'd just end up causing further issues (wrong muscles triggering etc)

I tried Cocodamol, but it got me so hazy I stopped, as I was trying to ease myself back into work and it wasn't helping! Without trying to sound like a 'hero' I ended up just using Ibubrofen with no actual painkillers, as it makes me less likely to start trying to use it before I can.

I was told to expect 6 weeks from the time of injury before riding again. I hope so, because the Mega runs the week after!! 🙂

Cheers guys. Back to see the osteopath tomorrow morning. Having seen my xray and done a bit of 'research' I reckon I'm borderline for an op. I'm not keen on going under the knife though if it can be avoided.

Time for my pain killers and bed!

Had grade 3 AC sep April 09. On road bike in 3 weeks-hurt though. On mtb in 6 weeks, proper mtb in 8.

The key was religious physio; don't overstress it though.

Should be okay without an op with a grade 3 unless it doesn;t heal.

Mine did not snap (clavicle) but inpacted into the joint causing all manner of damage.
The ligaments still won't calm down and I can't raise my arm above my head with any weight.
That was 5 (?) years ago.

Don't overdo the pain killers. Let it hurt (within reason). It will be your guide to not doing too much. My osteo had me off the pain killers in about a week although I still ice it after activity nearly 7 weeks after. Find someone you trust to advise you and do exactly what they say.

Remember, the worst thing you can do here is MTFU.

BTW I knackered mine about 9 months ago tore and stretched the ligaments. The ligaments won't go back and will be having an injection in the shoulder soon to try to encourage them to go back.

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Revised down to a Class 2. Consultant wasn't great TBH. Just rest was the advice. I asked about taping it and exercises and she couldn't give me a straight answer on either.

I'm going to book an appointment with Mrs J's physiotherapist and see what he suggests.

On the plus side, it would appear that I don't need the pain killers, the sun is shining, the football is on, and there are a couple of very cold peronis in the fridge 🙂

Now, which turbo trainer?

That's good news. I know what a relief it was when mine was down graded to a 1. What's the mobility and strength like? Even though mine were fine, I was given mobility exercises which would have strained the ligaments further if I'd done them.

If you were anywhere near nottingam I could recommend a really good osteopath.

That's about identical to mine. I did ride the road bike from about ten days later, but it was properly sore. Mountain biking was maybe ten weeks later. It still is separated and the end of my collar bone pokes up.

Not the most painful injury (dislocation quite a bit worse), but the discomfort goes on for a long time.

If you were anywhere near nottingam I could recommend a really good osteopath.

Mmmm bit of a trek from Perthshire, but thanks for the offer. Mrs J's physio is pretty good, so I'll see what he has to say.

That's about identical to mine. I did ride the road bike from about ten days later,

That's what I want to hear!

I was told not to do anything with it during the actue phase which was two weeks after the event. I was doing little road rides in about four. I was also told that I was better on a road bike than a mountain bike for the recovery. Not because of the terrain but becuase of the effect of the hand position on the shoulder. Worth mentioning such things to the physio if they're not overly aware of the details of cycling.

Similar thing for me, mine was broken and dislocated.

It takes a while to get mobility back but believe me it got better much quicker by spending my time in a pool (on a daily basis for me) just floating my arms around, very gradually adding a bit of resistance.

Very cheap and effective way to recover. I appear to have fully recovered with no pain or twinges.Good luck

To be fair they didn't give me any physio, or any advice at all, so I don't know whether what I did was rash or not. I ended up expecting it to not join back together, and it hasn't. doesn't seem to matter, aches a bit sometimes and not quite got the same throwing arm as before.

Mountain biking shouldn't be so much about the arms anyway - ride with your feet more and you'll be riding better anyway.

I did mine 12 years ago but as well as the class 3 separation I shattered my shoulder blade and dislocated my arm. I was back on the road bike on a turbo trainer after 3 weeks but off the MTB for 12 weeks.

Key to recovery is getting a good sports physio to look at it, they will get you back on the bike in a few weeks.

I had a class 5 about 3 years ago now....

Original X ray:
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Was on silly strong pain killers for 3 days before into surgery to have it screwed back into place while the soft tissue healed and my body got used to the gore-tex ligaments they replaced the broken ones with.

Post surgery I was in large amounts of pain and on co-codamol and tramadol to help me sleep for a good couple of weeks.

Best thing I did was go see a sports physio for advice about getting back on the bike. Saw him for consultation about 10 days after surgery and he told me I should be starting physio within 7 days (about 2.5 weeks after op). He was brilliant and had me back on a bike after 6 weeks and mountain biking again in just over 2 months... though it was gentle at first, but off road all the same!

Definitely get some advice from a sports physio.

If you've any interest - there's more pics of my x-rays etc (including x-ray of the broken 3" screw... that I snapped doing physio exercises about 2 months post op) here:
[url= http://gallery.me.com/stuart.potter/100032 ]LinkyLinky[/url]

Good luck with the recovery mate!

Unlucky.
I did a grade 5 but had surgery - a modified weaver-dunn (spelling?)procedure, that has given me a shorter collar bone but got 98% of shoulder back - dont notice it really - slight loss of strength when arm is in a certain position.
Best advice would be do exactly what the doctors tell you. I was back on bike in 6 months.

I had a fairly substanial grade 2 in October (at first they thought it was a dislocation). Lots of discomfort initially (sleeping was a bit difficult) but got mobility back pretty quickly. Was back on the bike within 4 weeks and mounhtain biking a bit carefully within 6, pretty full on by 8 - 10 weeks. Climbing is my main sport and started very gently after the new year, have now built up back to pretty full on sport climbing and am now starting to train pretty much as I was before the injury with aim to have full strength and fitness by September.

Overall other than the lump on my shoulder it really isn't causing me any issues now, a much better outcome than I would have predicted if you had asked me a month after the injury.

Mine looked just like yours. It was two Sundays ago and to be honest I feel alright, still a bit sore now and then but basically sound. Doctor told me that biking would strain it badly as all the load would go straight up my arm but you know, sod it, a little gentle mince on Sunday will be fine I reckon. If it hurts I'll stop.

I've always figured just use it, don't take pain medication annd you'll soon know what you shouldn't be doing.

I've done both of mine (although I wasnt given a grade for either). A week off work wearing a sling, another week of feeling sorry for myself, then back on the bike. No sympathy whatsoever at A&E on either occasion - night staff are surprisingly unmoved by broken, muddy cyclists reeking of beer at midnight. Get well soon!

Cheers folks. Sports physio booked for early next week. The gravel rash on my leg is actually giving me more jip than my shoulder at the moment 🙂

now, about this turbo trainer!

DO NOT GET AN OP!

I had a stage 3 about four years ago - boarding in France - the French were mad keen to cut me up, but I had the presence of mind to get on the phone to a consultant back home who specialises in shoulders, and he said DON'T LET THEM ANYWHERE NEAR YOU!

It turned out to be good advice. Granted, My collarbone floats around above my shoulder (which can be a great party piece!), but it hasn't prevented me from doing anything...apart from being a shoulder model. That includes golf, swimming (crawl and butterfly) climbing etc. Basically, I have full rotation pain free. Maybe I've just been lucky, but the advice I got was that with physio and weights, chances are I'd be fine, and so far I am.

In terms of recovery time. It took me about 6-8 weeks to get back on the bike and in the gym/pool etc. It was awkward and painful at first, but soon eased.

I rode the wainright coast to coast about 4 months after the accident withtou any difficulty.

Speedy recovery!

P.S. the only time I have any problem with my shoulder is when I let it get weak. Keep the muscles in the shoulder active and you'll be grand.

Did mine 2 years ago - Grade 3 over the handlebars job.

Totally agree with Dair - DON'T GO STRAIGHT FOR THE OP!

According to my consultant more chance of complications and no better return of use than the conservative method (aka physio), just means no bump. Also the chance of a successful outcome of the Op is unchanged whether you have it now or in 6m time.

For me, 2 weeks doing nothing for the swelling to go down, then physio followed religiously for next 8 weeks. Within that period I was on the bike again - gently - after 5 weeks and on a biking holiday after 3 months.

Pretty much full recovery now - don't notice any difference other than a bit of stiffness or pain now and again - nothing serious. And a huge great bump in my shoulder (great for hanging the kayak on for portages)

Take care and heal fast.

6 weeks for me i moved it and exercised it lightly right from the start.it was ok after 6 weeks but not properly strong for a few weeks more.but i had a fitness test in work on the 6th week and managed 50 press ups my record was 82 in aminute.
it looked odd for at least a year like i had a coat hanger left in my shirt.

I did mine exactly the same skiing into a frozen drift in zero-viz at Cairngorm this January. It was a grade 3. I saw Mr McLeod at Perth. He said conservative is the way to go, so no Op. I would say he was totally correct.

I was told total rest for 4-6 weeks, but was able to go ski touring the 1st weekend after doing it. I was nearly sick with pain a couple of times, but didn't fall. Managed to ski every weekend for the rest of the winter.

I still have a bit of discomfort, more when I sleep and ride, but have ridden the Nevis DH with no ill effects, and sleeping is getting a lot better. It doesn't wake me up anymore.

I'm now cosmetically flawed in the shoulder department though. I'll get over it...

Had my first really mountain bike ride after dooing mine at the start of may. Aches a little but I'd say pretty much sorted now. Just need to build the strength back. Like others, my shoulder modeling career has been ruined. Been told i'll be permenantly deformed.

Think I can claim some sort of disabilty benefit for that?

AC separation seems pretty common, did my shoulder last year and was out of action for only about 4 weeks and now it's like nothing ever happened except for the protruding lump in the shoulder. I climb a fair bit and was really worried about the stress on it but it's been no bother. Still got some of the co-codamol (for special occasions)....worst bit about it all (apart from the aeons spent in E&E) was sleeping on my back or right hand side for months as it hurt like hell to lay on it.

Went to see the physio this afternoon.
Me: 'it's fine, a but uncomfortable, but not much pain, except when I try and sleep on it or lift anything heavy'
Him: 'Mmmmmm your not in much pain because you've snapped rather than torn the tendons'

Double bugger!

He has taped it up though and given me some exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles
I did manage to ride up to the nursery without too much pain yesterday.

Did the really say that you had snapped tendons? And did they say that the lack of pain was definitely because you had snapped something? If so, go and see someone else.

I thought you knew that from the fact that it was already diagnosed as a grade 3.

I was told it wouldn't hurt much because it was tendon. Snapped or not, there's not a lot of nerve endings. It would hurt after I'd damaged it if I did too much rather than at the time which is why she told me complete rest for two weeks and to come off the pain killers to help me monitor it and "control" my activities.

EDIT sorry, you did say it was revised down to a grade 2. Still, that's one set of snapped tendons.

I've done mine, no grade given but probably a decent grade 2.

Dairs advice is good and reflects my experience.

The NHS consulants I saw were generally clueless as were the x-ray team (never the same way twice). Eventually (3-4 months)I got to 50 year irish bloke who used to play rugby, he said work it hard and if the pain doesn't go he'll operate but the operation is not always successful/ fails later. I never went back

I was put in a sling for while setup to lift the arm a little, this seemed to help.

I would rest the shouder rather than being obsessed with getting back on the bike asap

I am sick of hearing about healthcare professionals being clueless. Have people ever considered that it may infact be them the patient, you know the person without the high levels of medical knowledge, that is infact clueless.

All you hear is "this physio was shit", "that physio was shit" - that's because you didnt do the f***ing exercises that they told you to do.

Rant over.

My assessment of who was was sh1t and who wasn't was made by a medically qualified 3rd party with no interest in the case so I'll stand by what he said. Still, when an unsupervised student gives duff advice, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to conclude it's failings in the system.

onzadog - student should not have been unsupervised. their supervisor may well have been listening from the other side of the curtain though.

Did mine a month ago - didn't get a grade at A&E, just a sling and advice to take painkillers. From looking it up appears to be a grade 2. Found some things difficult - driving and having a seatbelt touch it and sleeping on one side have been very painful.

Did the Dragon Ride 2 weeks later without any problem (well at least in the shoulder), but not been on a mountain bike. Still hurts when doing some things e.g. today when putting hands in the air when England scored was a very painful reminder that its still injured.

Doing some very gentle swimming and have noticed the improvement on an almost daily basis - at first could hardly do breaststroke and couldn't do front crawl: now can do breaststroke OK and limited front crawl.

On the subject of NHS service I've got to say mine was excellent. Got a good physio who specialized in shoulders so good advice there and also got referred to the fracture clinic where I had 2 visits which included examination by a consultant each time with an in depth discussion of my options. He was strongly against surgary at that point and discharged me in December (approx 2 months after the accident) but gave me details of the shoulder surgeon who I could come back to see if I had problems long term.

All the treatment and advice I had seems to have been spot on, as I said the improvment has continued and I can now climb pretty much without thinking about it, it doesn't impact my biking in the slightest (in fact the additional time I've spent on the bike while I was climbing less means my fitness and skills have improved!)

If his supervisor was listening in, she was a master of multi tasking as I could here her with a chap in the next cubicle.

Based on my own experiences, I've come to the conclusion that the NHS is fine for stopping me from dying but they don't care much about sporty or active people.

I'll now do my best to see a specialist privately when I can. I wish it wasn't the way. Private is flippin' expensive.

Quite encouraging reading some of these posts..
I have just done my left AC joint skiing in NZ. Currently sat in Dubai airport waiting for my flight back home. From the xray and clinical assessment by a physio in Queenstown mine's a good going grade 3. Its all strapped/taped up at the moment and going to get an apointment with some specialist shoulder physiotherapists in Manchester as soon as I get back.

Here's hoping I can get back biking asap!

Also, how quickly were people able to drive after doing theirs? Supposed to be driving to france in 10 days time!!

I was driving within about 4 days. Was pretty sore in town though! Motorway driving should be fine 🙂

Hi mrh86

Sorry to hear about your tumble.

Your first port of call should definitely be your local A&E or fracture clinic. I would get more xrays and get them reviewed by someone with a surgical knowledge of shoulders rather than going straight to a physio.

Some grade 3 injuries (if this is actually what you have) benefit from surgical fixation, the aim of which being preservation of shoulder strength. The technique (arthroscopic tightrope) is relatively new and if done by a surgeon with experience the outcome will be better than has been suggested earlier in this thread. Even if your case does not require fixation your local Orthopaedic department will be able to refer you for some specialist physio on the NHS and you will be "in the system" should you require a further review if things don't settle down.

All the best

level 3 for me last year - couldn't actually move my arm enough to drive for about 6 weeks, then it was still painful to drive for at least a month or two after that. It's having it unsupported for so long.

FYI the window for a tightrope is quite limited >6 weeks - better to do it in the accute stage but is meant to be good - [url=

gore fest video 😐

I'm currently nursing a level 2 with the added bonus of a snapped collarbone. I'm all slinged up, but should my knackered shoulder be sitting about 3 inches lower than the other one? It feels like it's going to drop off 🙁

I would agree with the timescales given by mikertroid above.

When I did my AC it took about that long. Sore at the time but fine now.

crankslave - yellow card for pointing us in the direction of that video during lunchtime!

I agree with powerofra's suggestions. Although the experience of most people on this forum suggest that non-surgical recovery is the way to go, your case may be different, and you should definitely go and see an Orthopaedic consultant.

My injury was seven years ago, and it may be that surgical techniques have improved.

I do also remember being told that the best time for surgical intervention was during the acute phase, so you should definitely get it checked out.

Happy recovery

Sorry - just think of it as some ham off the bone from the deli counter.

Agree with you Dair, most people seem to say let it heal with the help of rest then religiously following a physio program.

saying that, at the time I got quite stressed about the conflicting advice from Docs about surgical intervetion- do vs. do not. In the end I saw (on recomendation) a private consultant in Guildford who basically said that the tightrope relies on what is left of the ligaments healling as much as they can with the help of the wires so time is of the essence, but as that acute window of opportunity had passed he could still happily do a surgilig type fix at anytime without any drop in the chances of success - so he said if it doesn't hurt and range of motion comes back after having lots of physio then leave it and if it plays up in the future come back and look at an op.

That was a year ago, it aches a bit now and again if I haven't been on the bike or done any weight bearing activity for a while. But so far so good.

Cheers for the replies guys.

I went to a&e as soon as i got back to the UK who wanted to send to me a #(fracture) clinic in 2 weeks time. Unfortunately Im going to france next monday so didn't book it. The a&e consultant had a look and said he thought it was just a case of rest and physio though. Got an appointment with these guys on tuesday though ([url= http://www.manchestershoulder.com/ ]Manchester Shoulder[/url] who im guessing will be quite familar with AC separations and if I need to see an orthopod they can refer me to a specialist in Manchester.

I'm a med student up in Lancaster so am going to drop in to the hospital and get an orthopods opinion on friday.

I had an Ac Sep last year, Grade III. Bit of rest followed by religious physio and I can't tell the difference other than I no longer lie on my RHS. Just looks cr@p!!

Good luck with recovery 🙂

mrh86 - Don't know if this will be of any help to you, as you are in Lancaster, but if you are prepared to travel to Manchester then maybe...

...Give the Sports Rehabilitation unit at Bolton Uni a call, as they are really good and very cheap. They 'use' you as training for some of their senior students, but always under close supervision. Treatment is about £15 for a 30 min session, and really helped me.

Ooow, I wouldn't recommend front crawl (freestyle)until zero pain through full range was achieved with Breaststroke. I assume each grading has been explained to you? The trick with this type of injury, as far as I am concerned, is to focus on regaining stability and range of movement before excessive loading...kind of makes sense if you reverse think what would happen if you over-load an unstable/weak joint 🙂 Although not as crucial as say and ankle, wrist or GHJ there will be a degree of proprioceptive feedback from this joint that must be retrained/addressed...all ingredients come together to produce a functional joint/mechanical system. It's easy to become focussed upon just one aspect.
Feel free to email me and I'll do my best to help, bare in mind have have two 5yr old lads so replies might not be instantaneous 🙂

I'm only a 3rd year student, but sports wise I've pretty much ticked the entire range of sports and thus sustained many injuries along the way.

My pain is your recovery 🙂

I'm boring myself now, so I'm off