AC Shoulder sep grade 3 two weeks out
So just wanted to throw my 2 cents in, I had a R shoulder AC separation grade 3 two weeks ago. Saw the team doctor for the Angels Monday.
Grade 3's are recommended they heal naturally and see how much stability is in the shoulder. The deformity (bump) will never go away without surgery. The doc already told me to start rehab on it. I was in sling with almost no movement when I went to see him at the 2 wk mark and he took my arm and put it all the way above my head. To my surprise the stretch felt great.
Ok so I asked him similar question, can I ski on it come Thanksgiving (albeit that is 7 months away for me and he said yes for sure no problem). Except, lol, if I decide on surgery. He said if I choose surgery it will likely be a year before I am doing anything stressful with the arm.
From my research and what the doc said, after 6 months no surgery you will know how stable your shoulder is. There will always be clicking when the clavicle (collar bone) hits the acromion part of the shoulder. This will depend on the movement but it will always click. Right now, 2 wks out from the injury, I already feel better and the sloshy squishy feeling has turned to clicking already. The amount of bump is less (likely due to reduced swelling). But the instability is very bothersome. With rehab if this instability does not get better i will opt for the surgery.
GOOD NEWS - the doc told me that weather I get the surgery now or in a year, there will be no negative outcome. He said he uses cadaver tendon to rebuild the three torn tendons. While he does arthoscopy, he said in my case it would be a 2inch incision over the shoulder. Everyone I spoke to who had shoulders done have said it is the worst rehab in their lives. But, from my research and seeing youtubers who did it, the surgery puts you back to where you were originally. Make sure to get the cutting of 5-7mm of the clavicle (they hack saw off the extreme end) in order to make room and avoid future clicking. If you do not get it cut shorter, even with surgery it will click! Make sure to ask them to cut it shorter. God speed!