Originally Posted by
Cornchips
I'm in my 8th week now of a supposed Grade II strain. I've been back at work for 2 weeks on 'light duties'. A lot of simple things I took for granted are still beyond me...like throwing, rolling tables and lifting semi-heavy things. I am a lot more 'functional' than what I was, and even going over bumps on my bike doesn't bother me too much anymore, and I can drive my car relatively pain-free, but my shoulder still gets 'achy', even from walking or standing up for periods of time. I don't think I've a had a pain-free day since I did it, and I've given up trying to sleep on the affected side.
I am getting a little worried as I'm in the 8th week and well past the recovery time set by the Doctor, I mean, I have good range of movement and am back at work, but the shoulder is still painful and I have lost a lot of strength. I just wish this thing would go away. I kind of feel like there might be something going on besides the AC joint, or maybe I've been misdiagnosed? Like maybe the clavicle displacement is Grade II but the ligament damage is Grade III or something? As relatively my slow recovery seems to be more in line with a higher grade strain.
The Ortho I went to said it was was 'quite mild' as far as AC sprains go, so maybe I'm getting soft in my old age? It just doesn't feel right and the recovery doesn't seem as straightforward as the '4-6 weeks of rest, ice and anti-inflammatories' the standard/generic advice seems to suggest...
here's hoping it improves with more time. even though I'm over the hump, I too was very frustrated. I can lay on that side but if I dod & roll or sway, thus grinding the joint somewhat, it can be a little uncomfortable, so I'm giving that more time. that might be the vey last sign of recovery. stay patient with that. I'm hopeful for you but like I said that might be the last thing to improve. some guys I met who had a similar injury, in their younger days, mentioned the rehab exercises helped them so I kept at them, especially the one where you stand against an immovable object & push out & then in w/ your forearm
here's another
link with more you've probably already seen. hang in there. great to hear you are back at work, that's important, but so is time, rest, rehab & weight training, when appropriate. btw not sure if it helps but I think it does, I applied
aspercreme to the whole shoulder & clavicle area, in fact I still do after weight trying & before my physical 2nd job. there are different formulas (like w/ lidocaine) so I just stick whatever is in the
original basic formula