Does anybody have any experience with this procedure to share? I’m having it done on 2/15.
Outcome?
Recovery Time?
Sounds pretty serious dude sorry about that. While I can’t answer that for you I will throw out one bit of tiny advice to a fellow ST’er regarding the ortho surgical route given my recent experiences. Get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion. First 2 guys wanted to cut me up pronto, 3rd guy ordered me to PT again with a new clinic who turned the volume up by a factor of 10x. In short, I’m good to go and swimming my balls off. Had massive imbalances all over my scapula/shoulder due to muscle compensations over old injuries. Now my bad shoulder is probably a bit better than my good and I need to bring that up to par with my other.
Good luck, wish you well and a speedy recovery!
This has been going on for over a year now. My MRI said I have a SLAP tear as well. My surgeon doesn’t think the labrum is that bad. The tip of my clavical is all “chewed up” looking.
They basically slice the end off the clavical and it creates some space in the AC joint.
I can’t really lift my arm comfortably right now. Swimming is out of the question. I want it done. I’m just glad it’s not the labrum.
You separated your shoulder?
I’m not sure what a resection is… but I separated my shoulder and had surgery where part of the collar bone was cut off. Recovery took forever. I had no choice though because it was very badly separated.
It took a while but it’s now 100%… except the small scar and some lack of feeling around the scar tissue.
You don’t really need the AC joint. I have been without mine for 20 years. I had a complete (3rd degree) separation so I did not need the resection but it is essentially the same thing. The problem with an incomplete separation is that you develop arthritis and pain in the joint.
It is a relatively simple procedure. It will take your body awhile to adjust to the different anatomy. I had back, shoulder and neck pain for almost a year but kind of just toughed through it-no one offered me PT back then. Now it functions just as well as my other shoulder----but because I can sublux my shoulder on that side I can get more aero.
What you’re describing is a distal clavicle excision. Done as a stand alone procedure, you’ll pretty much be activities as tolerated post-operatively. I’d estimate you’ll be swimming again with minimal discomfort at about 8 weeks.
I had a full AC separation back in college. The repair, as others mentioned, involved removing the end of the clavicle. I healed to 100% about 3 months after the procedure with aggressive PT. I was also 20 years old, which certainly didn’t slow the healing process. I will say that 15+ yrs after the surgery I have zero issues–no pain, normal strength, full rom. Plus the chicks dig the scar! Good luck.
Thanks for the replies. Sounds good
I agree with tigerpaws. The reason the clavicle will be excised will be to provide more space. You can get more space by improving the posture of your scapula. If you haven’t already tried PT, you should do that first.
If you are for sure having the surgery (which is sounds like you are!) I would highly recommend finding a good Physical Therapist after. Without seeing you, it is hard to know what the whole picture looks like, but if you are having a resection (removing the ‘hook’ of the acromion to give your shoulder a bit more space) and there is a SLAP lesion - the SLAP is likely the cause of your current pain.
Think of it this way - your bony anatomy has not changed. You have always had the ‘hook’ in your acromion. What changed is the dynamic stability of your shoulder joint secondary to the labral injury and resulting muscular imbalances. Yes, they can go in a shave the bone down. AND bone heals with bone…so while the surgeon will do everything he/she can to reduce the regrowth of bone, your end result depends a lot on how your body heals. Which means you still are going to need to fix the underlying problem of poor joint mechanics and muscular balance with a good PT.
The surgery for the bone repair itself is relatively simple and recovery can be very quick. The bigger question is to what extent to they mess with the labrum. I am 4.5 months out from massive shoulder reconstruction - can’t swim for another 6 weeks. No triathlon until September. Soft tissue repair can be a long haul. Be prepared and think of your long term success.
Good luck!
My most recent MRI shows the tip of my clavicle being fractured. I fell on it while working about a year ago. My Dr says the labrum is ok, she wouldn’t go in to just do the labrum but while she’s in there she’ll “clean it up”
I’ve had two MRI on this shoulder about a year apart. Real good surgeon at Special Surgery in NYC. I’m confident with her.
Thanks
You don’t really need the AC joint. I have been without mine for 20 years. I had a complete (3rd degree) separation so I did not need the resection but it is essentially the same thing. The problem with an incomplete separation is that you develop arthritis and pain in the joint.
It is a relatively simple procedure. It will take your body awhile to adjust to the different anatomy. I had back, shoulder and neck pain for almost a year but kind of just toughed through it-no one offered me PT back then. Now it functions just as well as my other shoulder----but because I can sublux my shoulder on that side I can get more aero.
Same experience, 12 years no AC joint in my right shoulder. After a bit, I stopped noticing. Now, my right shoulder (with AC separation) is my good shoulder.
I had my left shoulder totally rebuilt around thanksgiving 2010 (around 65 full dislocations). The recovery was pretty awful and it was mid-May 2011 until I could even start running or biking. My quality of life has gone way up, and I’m very happy that I chose to have the surgery.
Best wishes for your outcome, whatever choice you make.
I have a 3rd degree separation from about 22 years ago. The ortho at the time wanted to cut, we said no thanks. I don’t have any problems at this point, but it took a while before it was back to normal.
I had a 3rd degree seperation back in 02 while i was in college. I didn’t have insurance at the time so i was forced to wait several years before i could get it fixed. during that time frame not only did it look horrible (distal end of clavicle stuck out like an alien trying to escape my shoulder) but my strength was severely compromised. I went to the rothman institute in philadelphia, they did a procedure where they drilled two holes one in the acromion and one in the distill end of the clavicle. They used a cadaver tendon to basically re-wrap the joint and make it like new. I have a decent size scar but other than that i have full range of motion and strength is completely regained. I don’t think i would go for for removing the distal end of the clavicle that would mean your scapula would know become free floating with just muscle to hold it in place. best of luck
I have a 3rd degree separation from about 22 years ago. The ortho at the time wanted to cut, we said no thanks. I don’t have any problems at this point, but it took a while before it was back to normal.
Complete separation here in 2008. Ortho said I could fix it surgically, but there are various methods, not all of them work, it’s a long recovery, and I’d just be trading a bump for a scar (and it could be done at any time given the level of separation). Now, I don’t even notice it until someone looks at me after swim practice and says “what the hell happened to you???”
Not sure what a resection is either and to lazy to google it :0) but here is what I was told
I had a 3rd. Degree separation and there are two options from my doctor.
1.() options cut screw , attach , weeks later cut take screws out sew back up…8 - 10 weeks o think he said.
2.) PT…work out with specific exercises and see how it feels.
He leaned towards number two because the skin on my shoulder needed 3 weeks to heal before he had anything to sew and I can always get surgery down the road. He said they are finding out people who have had surgery are more arthritic and feel worse later on then those that don’t get surgery.
had mine done just over a year ago (jan 6th 2011). Best decision I have made in a while. Completely back now with no pain at all. Good as new.
I had to take a few months off of swimming but was able to do a half iron swim by June and was #1 in my AG out of the water.
Thanks for all the replies
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Hello: I just found this thread in a google search.
I just had the AC Joint resection surgery 10 days ago, and my shoulder now feels even more unstable than it did before the surgery. For those of you who have had the procedure, did you feel AC joint instability after the surgery? I’m talking about the clicking and popping – the classic signs of an unstable AC joint.
Any information you could provide would be much appreciated.
10 days is still early. Give it some time to heal up. Funny timing on digging this up. I’m sitting here 2 hours post-op from getting my other shoulder done. Hoping it goes as well as the other one.