AC Problem

[Andrew Mitchell]

Hey people iv been have a problem with my ac joint now for 2 and half years. iv been to see a specalist about and said iv done something to my cartlige and needs 2 remove some off my collerbone to stop the pain. been out of train almost 9 weeks now and its still painfully. Problems is i dont no weather to have the op or wait and see if it recovers on its own. any advise would be greatfull cheers.

[DaneGarreau]

My training partner had the exact same problem last year. He originally injured it on a forklift. His AC joint got very inflammed, it never really got better, he kept working out, ect. It started to get so bad that he got 2 cortizone shots, and rested. That didn't help.

He ended up getting an MRI and getting the surgury. The surgury only took like 1.5 hours. 3 holes in his shoulder, they went in arthoscopically. Took a big chunk of his collar bone out. He went home the same day.

Basically the AC joint was inflammed, as so was the bicep tendon. The tendon was so big that it had rubbed a spur into the collar bone, and kept catching on it; thus why the inflammation never went away.

He was in a sling for about 1 week. Started rehab on it 2 days after the surgury. In 2 days he had full ROM back, in 6 weeks he started doing some light overhead pressing, and in 10 weeks he was back pressing a log 80% of his max before the surgury.

IMO, if I ever have the same problem I will get the surgury in a heartbeat. It really isn't that hard to come back from.

Here is one of the thing he did a lot of rehab with. It basically allows you to stretch your shoulder passivly.
http://www.jumpusa.com/shoulder_pulley_system.html

[Jesse Marunde]

I seperated my AC joint in 2004 and it took me more than a year to be able to incline press without pain. I could overhead press after 5 months with minimul discomfort. I know a few people who have injuried their AC joints and didn't need surgery. Those that do require surgery seem to be the ones who suffer from over use type injuries or injuries not relating to a direct seperation.

[Matt Brouse]

I seperated my right AC twice in High School. Took several weeks (months) to fully rehab both times. Heavy physical therapy/treatments both times. No surgery. But, like Jesse said, not really the same issue.

[Josh Kamins]

Having the same problem...injured it in November, then again in February. Neither were major separations, but still have pain...can't bench at all. Gonna try to get in for some ART and a new MRI soon.