I am just over 4 months out from a high grade 2, possible grade 3 a/c separation from a mountain bike spill. Imaging showed a 14mm gap between the Acromion and Clavicle, however when palpated it didn’t feel like a complete tear of both ligaments so Docs said to skip surgery. Things have been going really well, back in the gym able to do most everything with only slight pain. For weight training days, clean and presses are fine, dumbbell bench press would cause pain but it was easily dealt with. With that said I was noticing slight instability in my injured shoulder (right). If I were to push or pull on it a certain way I would feel some movement as well as a noticeable creaking/clicking (crepitus like, but not quite). Even as simple as being in bed and moving my shoulder around, the movement was very obvious. From what I understand, this is normal until the a/c joint “files” down.
The other day I unknowingly re-injured the same shoulder. This time it’s directly under the scapula, as if a rotator cuff injury (Infraspinatus perhaps). Don’t really remember what I might have done which is unfortunate, I just woke up one day with the pain. I jumped to a rotator cuff injury based on what I know, but none of the upper extremity special tests were positive ( Supraspinatus, Infra, Teres minor, Subscap lift off & impingement). So thinking about it, perhaps it is more related to the rhomboid… I’m at about 8 days post injury with no improvement. I can swim, however there is enough pain after that it’s probably not a good idea. If I were to pick up a 30 pound dumbbell (in the OPPOSITE hand) it causes a sharp, pinpointed intense pain (about 6/10) that isn’t quite bad enough to make me drop the weight, but I must immediately set it down. I can ride the bike, but if I move a certain way in the tuck I will uncontrollably grunt to the pain.
I’m starting to wonder if my shoulder instability post a/c separation was in fact NOT normal. And this chronic instability is now leaving me more prone to other shoulder injuries (like what I just got). For those of you with a/c separations in the past, how is the shoulder now? Are you experiencing an increase in other shoulder related problems?
