AC Joint Separation

Bummer!  Been there, done that, Feb. 2008.  Full separation so it was a 3+ or 4.  I was training for IMAZ and docs said I couldn't do any more damage than was already done, so as long as I could stand the pain....

They also said that surgery was available, but they advised against it at the time.  There are several techniques, not all of them proven.  Unless I had a job where lifting overhead or throwing was required I probably wouldn't notice it.  Long recovery and trading a bump (albeit a large one) for a scar).  And I could have it at any time, so it wasn't necessary to do it then. Again, my ligaments were completely torn

Nearly 4 years later, I don't notice it unless someone at swim practice says "ouch, what the hell happened to you?"  Also, my suits fit funny because that shoulder droops.  And, if I don't keep on top of core work like planks, the sagging of the shoulder blade starts to bother me on longer runs over 8 miles or so, since the collar bone is no longer supporting that structure.

Good luck with it.

I think I am three years out now from my Bike crash.  Complete tear grade 3+.  Very Painful for the first three months and running was a chore at times. Running will take a while, fo rme it was anything approaching 5 miles. 

I have no pain now, swim, bike and run, lift over my head.  Weight train with no problems. 

It is an ugly bump and the only reason that I want surgery is for vanity.

Crashed last June and had a grade 3 so they said, my films looked like the grade 5's you'd find searching online.  I think my orthopedic just didn't want to cut me.  They say the outcomes are similar for those that are cut and those that do PT.  I was out of work for nearly 5 months, if I had the surgery when the crash happened I think I would've been back to work sooner.  I'm a firefighter and the last two fires I've had an air pack on the last couple of weeks I was hurting in a bad way and really think surgery would've helped.  At least I was able to swing an ax well Monday night so I'm trying to figure out what to do.  The thought of being off for another 3 months for surgery and recovery is really not appealing, not to mention I hope to be retired within 4-5 years.

I started real easy jogging last July and rode an old bike I set up with higher handlebars on the trainer.  I swam with one arm and fins too just to get in the water.  I was able to start working out last Nov and can swim as well as I did before the injury, though I had to adjust my stroke a bit.  I haven't been out on my tri bike since the crash but the shoulder seems fine on the trainer, just not sure how the bumps will feel on rough roads when in the aero position.  Running hasn't been an issue.  I've been hitting the weights and find some movements hurt and there's still the crepitus of the bone ends rubbing which grosses the wife out when I hug her.

I probably wouldn't even consider the surgery if I had a more sedentary type job, but with the demands I place on it at times can't be avoided.

Good luck in your recovery.

This makes me think that you may have done more damage than just the classic seperation.  Grade 4 maybe, Subluxation too.

Just following up on my recovery for it, I did a LOT of range of motion exercises right off the bat, even before seeing PT.  Then I did the PT religiously.  Feb 08 separation, I was swimming 3K per session again by end of March, on the trainer 4 days after the crash and outside 2 weeks.  Made it to the IM start line.  

And like addysdaddy, the only reason I would have the surgery is vanity (barring any arthritic complications down the road)

ETA - yup - looks like mine

I had this injury 10 years ago. Grade 3. Ended up in PT for ~6 months, which avoided surgery as my ROM and strength were good enough to not expect surgery to help other than cosmetically. It ached on/off for probably 2 years, though I wasn't doing much fitness-wise at that point to strengthen or test it. Now, it's the stronger of my two shoulders and not a problem. Though, it will never go back to looking right.