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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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I separated my shoulder...

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[cmyk]
Posts: 261 - Karma: 177
any advice (besides "dont fall on it again") to keep it in place this winter?
16 years ago
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GetPitted
Posts: 3443 - Karma: 2,299

The best thing to do with this injury is let it heal man.  Don't go hard to quick. Usually takes about 5 weeks until you start to feel pretty good, depending on degree of seperation.

16 years ago
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AB_Pow
Posts: 225 - Karma: 103
even tho the doc probably said to take it easy for 4-6 weeks...dont listen! take it easy for even LONGER! i separated mine last year bikin and in 3 weeks i was back tryin bike again and...big mistake! my shoulder is screwed basically for the rest of my life now. i would recommend waiting until you are almost 100% feeling better before risking re-injuring it and screwing yourself over! it depends how bad you did it too, my doctor never told me the degree of separation but judging by the fact that my right arm now hangs 1" lower than my left it was pretty bad!
16 years ago
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BroBomb
Posts: 500 - Karma: 1,726

I'm not sure the difference between "separate" "dislocate" and "subluxate" but I have done the latter two quite often. Then had surgery, then dislocated some more. I now wear a brace like this when I ski: http://www.betterbraces.com/Photos/ShoulderStabilizer.jpg

If you've only done it once, I'd recommend getting some kind of brace (there's a wide variation in braces) atleast for this year. you want those muscles to tighten back up or they'll never go back to normal.

16 years ago
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N_well23
Posts: 279 - Karma: 36
Like others said, dont go hard too quick and let it heal up. Get yourself on a PT plan right away and stick to it. I dont want to be a downer but your shoulder will most likely not ever be 100% again. I was pretty good with resting, exercising, and stretching mine and I think it helped a lot. A brace would probably be a good idea too.
16 years ago
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Frank_Spinatra
Posts: 1203 - Karma: 75
superglue that shit like the pros do.
16 years ago
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the.hellion.
Posts: 861 - Karma: 698
holy fuck that looks hardcore. how long does it take to set up?

16 years ago
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Funnel
Posts: 7819 - Karma: 1,590
Click for larger image
16 years ago
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[cmyk]
Posts: 261 - Karma: 177
thanks to all of you. it was a type two, so some ligament damage with a little bone splintering. we'll see. i did it last may, and this summer its gotten better, i just want to eliminate as much chance as i can of it happening again. 10 for all of ya, especially the superglue comment.
16 years ago
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lineC88
Posts: 409 - Karma: 27
dude that def is not something that feels good i did that kayaking about 2 weeks ago...doctors but me in a sling for 3 weeks to help the stretched ligament heal back and then im bout to start 3 weeks of PT so def get it checked out or get in PT like other have said def the best choice
16 years ago
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murs
Posts: 1684 - Karma: 109
let it heal dont rush it cos if u ski and do it again that could mean many season out

just let it heal and dont rush ureself go when u feel ure ready
16 years ago
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doGelyst
Posts: 2493 - Karma: 522
Take as much time off as you need until you are about to go insane from not skiing, then go. I separated my right shoulder a few years ago on an over-rotated misty 7...and since then have re-separated it twice, as well as my left shoulder. Obviously I'm going to be one painful old bastard...so just put your future life into consideration when you are not fully recovered. You should do a BUNCH of physical therapy as well during the recovery process. It really helps.
16 years ago
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Forkstealer
Posts: 508 - Karma: 16
Get a brace, it reduces your risk of more separations (which really fuck you up) and reminds you that you're injured. Keep in mind that if you keep separating it it does require surgery with a 6-8 month recovery.
16 years ago
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BroBomb
Posts: 500 - Karma: 1,726
Mine's a bit simpler than that one. It used to take me awhile, but at this point I've done it so many times it's like putting on a shirt.
16 years ago
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strongmark
Posts: 3278 - Karma: 883
i had a stage 3 ac separation this winter and i went skiing 3 days later.  just deal with it and try not to fall, its really not a big deal.  and youre gona have a lump on your shoulder if you dont get surgery.  mines still pretty serious 10 months later.
16 years ago
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ace_
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 38
i did it the other day, im not sure what happened. i went to stiff arm a kid and my shoulder just fell out and then went back in. it hurt but a 63yrd td feels good
16 years ago
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SKIU4EA
Posts: 2388 - Karma: 2,086

re-injuring yourself too soon after is serious.  I'm thankful last year i seperated my shoulder at the end of the season and it's still weak.

My thumbs are a total mess from falling on them again and again.  I get searing pain in them everytime i tweak them, and my hip clicks everytime i walk.  SHit sucks

Did i mention i'm a good skier?

16 years ago
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finder_of_gnomes
Posts: 148 - Karma: 10
Really? do I need to say it, duck tape that shit
16 years ago
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ectreeskier11
Posts: 697 - Karma: 366
you WILL do it again. and surgery's worthless, in my experience.
16 years ago
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
you cant really separate your shoulder again once its been separated (unless you have surgery to put it back together)

be prepared to live with a gnarly (and cool) step-deformation. My step deformation has even grown a point on the end of my collar bone, so it looks like i have a sweet spike on my one shoulder.

the best way to avoid another shoulder of shoulder injury would be to work out your back (rhomboids especially) to tighten up your shoulder-blades. This also helps reduce the appearance of the step-deformation.

Low impact resistance training is the best way to regain strength (with bands and elastics). Once your shoulder is a little less tender you can start lifting weights doing various shoulder raises.

To work your back, rows and pull-downs are the best way to go (chin-ups/pull-ups if you can do them).

Do some physio for the first few weeks, they can show you proper forms for a lot of the exercises i have described. They can also give you ultrasound, and electric therapy and cool stuff like that.
16 years ago
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EH_DUBS
Posts: 3080 - Karma: 969
i had third degree seperation at the end of last year.

honestly do not risk anything even after the six weeks. its so much weaker. all summer i worked it by swimming laps in the pool and shit. just be careful cause its so much easier to "separate" it again (its never really back in).

it sucks but really take it easy for at least two months and then slowly start building back up.

im looking for something that would help keep mine it place for this season too.
16 years ago
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
I separated my shoulder at the end of July. Just wait for it to heal man, I didn't wait long enough, and am paying the price already this hockey season.
16 years ago
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Badfish2
Posts: 3453 - Karma: 21
Physio, physio, physio.
And realize that you're going to dislocate it again - so be aware of the vulnerable positions that will cause it to go again.  ALso, learn some techniques to put it back in.
I've dislocated my shoulder 6 times now... it gets easier to put in, if that's any up-side :)
16 years ago
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bibs_skibum
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 449
Dear OP,

Disregard this post.  Dislocations are completely different than separations.  Different injury completely.  Listen to the guy that said work out your lats and your rhombs, strengthening your back will help hold your shoulder in place since after you separate it, it will want to slump forward. 

Dont lift too much, and dont do anything stupid before it heals completely
16 years ago
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TheUngroomed
Posts: 1251 - Karma: 335
that sucks man..

Don't do any cork 7s for a while
16 years ago
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Samsquanch
Posts: 450 - Karma: 26
I separated my shoulder then after that it kept dislocating...i got surgery for it and its still sore...shoulders just sick mam
16 years ago
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Uncle.Badness
Posts: 2563 - Karma: 245
At least it was your shoulder and not something in your lower body.
16 years ago
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,402
youre an idiot. i put mine in a sling for three weeks and am not retarded. now its good
16 years ago
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strongmark
Posts: 3278 - Karma: 883
yeah but im stronger than you.  3 weeks in a sling for you = 3 hours in a sling for me.  and mike stack made fun of me, so i had to take it off.

YOURE the idiot for wasting 3 weeks in a sling, BABY.
16 years ago
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Lanceasaurus
Posts: 925 - Karma: 109
[IMG]woodezine.com/07_2004/07_2004_images/gorilla_hand.jpg[/IMG]
16 years ago
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jex
Posts: 2189 - Karma: 288
seperation= AC joint tear. What was the dgree of your tear. If it's ever you have to let it rest a few weeks. Then PT super hard. If it's a bad tear then you will have light pain in the jint for 1-2 years when you sleep on it wrong ..ect. I have torn both of mine twice. It's super painful, but PT is the key to getting back. Until you are ready for PT, just ice and take advil. After like 1 to two weeks you can ski CONSERVATIVELY. You'll know when you're ok to do this because you'll be able to lift your arm over your head and do simple things like wipe your ass and shampoo your head. When you;re at that point, like I already said, do PT like it's your fucking job and you'll quick and nice.
If you fail to take the right steps, it will never heal all season and you'll be fucked.
16 years ago
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