Grade 3 AC Joint Separation | 4 Weeks Later | Progress & Advice!

28 days after my injury and progress is happening, even if a little slower than I'd prefer. I suffered a grade 3 AC joint separation while racing a hare scramble on my dirt bike. It seems like I have no additional damage following x-rays and an MRI. Now I can focus on my rehab and recover. Looking forward to getting back to my normal self.

[elliotgould]

Thanks so much for your words of optimism. I’m one week post-accident and feeling incredibly low. Trying to be patient and will wait and see how the ortho assessment goes next week as to whether I need surgery.

[ericflynn]

Excellent video—a great help to anyone dealing with an AC joint separation

[boximaging]

This post is great thank you for the insight and words of encouragement. I’m 2 weeks post injury and was in significant pain which is now easing but shoulder feels so unstable. Feeling like to road to recovery is long. To anyone out there with similar injury look after yourselves.

[andrewmaloney]

Thank you buddy this has helped me a lot . Had grade 3 injury. Im 2 weeks in always been active in sport and my work. So been a big struggle tbh mentally.. Feel your video has given me the focus which i need. Thanks and all the best on your recovery 😊

[gavlatravla]

Thank you for this, going for the 'non surgery' route, hit a tree on my bike at speed, my right shoulder took full impact and sustained the same injury, this video really is a blessing thanks

[ordinarysaint]

Thanks for your video. I’m on week 3 after a mountain bike accident flying over the bars. It was classified a grade 3 and surgery was left up to me mainly for cosmetic reasons. Im hoping to just go heavy on PT but have gotten very discouraged lately. This video gave me a lot of hope and just a reminder that healing takes a long time with this injury.

[cledussnow]

I did the same thing and got a broken collarbone 2 years ago, popped my dirt bike onto a tall rock, stalled it. Put my foot down, nothing was there and tried to catch the bike and it drive me straight down into the ground. If it's anything like mine, if you yank something hard, you'll still feel it. It'll never completely go away, but at least when you feel it, you know when to stop what you're doing

[alfonsocarnucci]

Glad to hear things are on the up and up! A wise man once told me "Thompin ain't easy"

[richardbarker]

I got a grade 3/5 ACJ separation which happened about 3.5 weeks ago in a downhill MTB crash. I rested in a sling for 2 weeks, with gentle mobility movement in week 1.

In week 2 I started resistance band training and got nearly full mobility back. The orthopaedic surgeon said he does not recommend surgery to start with and I should go down the physio route.

He says I can start weight training and riding my MTB again. I started weight training on week 3 - showing good strength and I have been slowly building up MTB confidence again (which has been shot to pieces).

I am now doing, green, blue and red trails which is awesome after 3 weeks but doing it very steadily.

The physiological impact is the worst for me, I felt depressed and disfigured and this is the challenge for me as my collarbone sticks up high in certain positions which I hate.

I am working my way through it and will continue to work with physio and surgeon to geta complete recover.

Thanks for sharing and I am really looking to getting KT tape you recommend.

[TheAWallace]

10 days out from my grade 3 from road bike crit crash at 24 mph. Wish I would have found this video sooner. I’ve been sick to stomach when I think about the crash & being able to ride & enjoy what I love so much again. Yes 100% it’s getting better by the day. Appreciate the positive outlook. Wish I could use tape. Shoulder, leg & hip all covered in road rash 😢

[tahaahmad]

I had grade 3 AC joint separation and ortho adviced me to go for surgery ( i would personally advice if one can go for surgery for grade 3 he should, however it does feel a big deal at first but it helps in two ways 1. To regain the natural contour of the shoulders and 2. Surgically operated shoulder will give more strength in future than non-operative one. Again, it is my opinion you may disagree with it.) I had surgery after 4 days of injury and he used the best technique in which less incisions were made i think it is called dog bone button technique.
1. Stitches removed after 2 weeks
2. Review at 3rd week, doctor told me to remove sling and start physiotherapy.
3. It has been 5th week and I have full range of motion with no pain at all.
4. Till 3 months I will give it time for recovery with no heavy weight lifting and after 3 months I'll get back to normal pushups, pull ups can also play sport but will wait till 6 months. But I would suggest one should play any contact sport after 6 months.
( I want to be extra careful in this to regain full strength and healing)

In this surgical method two clips are inserted which are bio-compatibale and are permanent but if one wants to remove, he may get them removed after 2 years. In x-ray both shoulders seem alike but obviously two clips are visible in the operated one and yes initially there used to be a llate placed over clavicle that had to be removed and could be felt if touched but these two clips are are small and can be placed permanently.

I too went through the same state of mind that probably you are going through, I watched almost all videos on yt and thought I should share my personal experience and opinion so that anyone might get comfort and hope.

Wish you best of luck, it happens but what matters is how you go through it. Willpower is the only thing that is required as it is a time taking process. Stay composed and determined 🤝🙌

[skotwilt]

I just crashed and e-scooter at 20 mph. landed on my shoulder. I think I have about stage 3 separation. I'm on day 2 lol. but I'm going the non-surgical route as well. hopin everything heals fine

[samfareed]

Thank you so much for sharing! This video was empowering 🙏🏼 wondering how is the bump & stability looking after a year or more???

[DeanHitchen-fs]

Really good vedio, on week 3, been a gnarly couple of weeks, this vid really helped and has boosted my mental game, thanks man

[SergeantButters]

Hey, your bump isn’t too bad at all. I hope I can recover similarly. I’m a week out and things are pretty rough. Did you wear the sling at night?

[MaxedMed]

Hope you heal up quick buddy! I’m coming off a grade 4 ac seperation about 5 months ago (I had to have surgery and have a cadaver muscle sewed in) and I’m just now getting back to normal. Been riding like 2 or 3 times since the injury so I’m happy about that haha.

[Ruben__]

Did you feel a strain sort of tension within the first 2 weeks? For me, it seems swolen underneath the bone since I can't push it downwards at all and the bone sticks up which makes it feel tensioned totally..

[brianandrew]

Im six weeks in to ACJ injury after falling off my roadbike at 67, the NHS physio routines although im sure its good seems to flare up the dull pain so im constantly in the catch 22 of is this helping or making things worse? The nights are so uncomfortable as its RHS and I sleep on RHS, but the big thing is the Emotional/psychological battle, the sheer vulnerability irritability and frustration of this is quite profound, The continuance of the dull pain does indeed raise the question of, Will I ever get past this? Thank you for your insight and upbeat video!

[Lexluther]

Do you have any clicking/popping in the joint after a year? I’m 4 weeks out and have some hoping it goes away

[nigelstabner]

Hey dude, any updates on this?? I found your video today- I am just over 2 weeks after my snowboarding wipeout. I have an ultrasound and doctor visit booked later this week, and likely some better x-rays showing both shoulders so they can tell how much the collar bone is raised. But looking at the bump you have, mine is practically identical, and everything you are explaining from muscle twinges to motion, to sleeping, emotions, etc. it’s like you’re in my head haha. So I find your video has made me feel more optimistic than any of the other stuff I’ve watched so far because it’s so similar. I also have an active life snowboarding and track days on my street bike, 2 young daughters and a busy home life with renovations right now. I’m a contractor so it’s also hard for me to take time off work. Anyways… if you have any updates on recovery or any discussions about surgery I’d love to hear them.

Thanks for sharing!