AC separation

[Themastermike]

I lived with the max grade or 'total' separation for 15 years. Original doc said that was all I could do.

All I can say is I traveled to Houston, TX and Dr Mark Sanders. You can find his posts on KTMTALK. He fixed it and it is 1000% better. No pain anymore. When I would run or do anything the first thing that would hurt would be my shoulder.

PM me if you want additional information or contact for Dr Sanders. Another guy I ride w/had a similar deal and the doc did cadaver donor stuff and he was jacked. It infected and really is not too stable. Dr Mark says he isn't afraid to get his fingers in there and get the job done. He has plates/hooks that he can put in if needed.

You'll be unhappy if you try orthoscopic. They keep you immobile for 4 weeks. Mark had me moving the shoulder the NEXT DAY.

Fix it or you'll never forget it.

[shaddix]

Originally Posted by Themastermike

I lived with the max grade or 'total' separation for 15 years. Original doc said that was all I could do.

All I can say is I traveled to Houston, TX and Dr Mark Sanders. You can find his posts on KTMTALK. He fixed it and it is 1000% better. No pain anymore. When I would run or do anything the first thing that would hurt would be my shoulder.

PM me if you want additional information or contact for Dr Sanders. Another guy I ride w/had a similar deal and the doc did cadaver donor stuff and he was jacked. It infected and really is not too stable. Dr Mark says he isn't afraid to get his fingers in there and get the job done. He has plates/hooks that he can put in if needed.

You'll be unhappy if you try orthoscopic. They keep you immobile for 4 weeks. Mark had me moving the shoulder the NEXT DAY.

Fix it or you'll never forget it.

Is Dr Sanders a sports doctor?

[Themastermike]

Originally Posted by shaddix

Is Dr Sanders a sports doctor?

Yup, sports orthopedic. Works wonders. Again many threads on KTMTALK. He had fixed a young girls knee when I was there that another doc had screwed up. If someone wants to see my before and after xray's send me an email address. I can't put pix on this site.

I believe he did some work on Josh Demuth. Several folks have traveled to him. I am in SoIll and flew down for mine. So glad I did. The hospital he works with is awesome.

His web site is www.sandersclinic.net/

[Motard_Menace]

Originally Posted by shaddix

Do any of you guys lift weights? I am wondering if having your shoulder back to 95%+ really means you can stress the hell out of it with bench presses and military presses. Chins/pullups?

Mine at 95% can take a pretty good beating now with exercise. You can feel it when it gets to much but that is usually the scar tissue stretching for me anyway.

[shaddix]

Originally Posted by Themastermike

Yup, sports orthopedic. Works wonders. Again many threads on KTMTALK. He had fixed a young girls knee when I was there that another doc had screwed up. If someone wants to see my before and after xray's send me an email address. I can't put pix on this site.

I believe he did some work on Josh Demuth. Several folks have traveled to him. I am in SoIll and flew down for mine. So glad I did. The hospital he works with is awesome.

His web site is www.sandersclinic.net/

Yeah I figured as much. Surgeons who work on the general population often fix things to the point where there's little pain for a sedentary lifestyle. As in half-assing the repair. I always go to sports docs for this reason, I would rather have my stuff rebuilt artificially and function as good or better as the real thing than going with a less aggressive approach that will leave me weak for the rest of my life.

[Tex_Aus]

I did a grade 3 on my left shoulder in 2008. I didn't have surgery, but it's mostly back to normal usage now. It aches occasionally, and looks a bit weird sometimes, but i'm happy to leave it as is for now.

Tex

[Random]

One good thing came from my AC separation, my camera bag stays on my shoulder a lot better.

[twistedlizard720]

Originally Posted by DougZ73

Twised: My shoulder looks exactly the same as your pre op photo. The cost of the surgery, even after insurance is still prohibitive. BUT, just dealing with it like I have been doing for years is getting real old too.

Any downsides or negatives to your surgery/experience?

The only down side was the frustration in finding a surgeon and getting a solid answer to whether or not the surgery would fix the problem or not. I saw an Ortho in Colorado before moving out to California then saw a handful in California. I didn't like any of the doctor choices so started looking for surgeons for sports teams of the area. I finally visited Dr. David Chao http://www.drdavidchao.com/ in San Diego. He is the Ortho for the Chargers, USA Rugby 7's and X-Games and was the first doc in the 15 months to suggest an MRI. Amazing doctor and staff on my first visit and the job went to him.

In terms of getting a straight answer of the repair, there were no guarantees, but by that point I didn't care. There is a lot of controversial info out there. In my research I found anything Grade 4-6 gets surgical intervention. Grade 1 and 2 normally heal themselves with no sort of intervention, physical therapy helps. Grade 3 is the fence, some can survive without surgery, others can't. I just happened to fit into the surgery required group. A few different styles too in the repair. As mentioned somewhere in this thread, they can use a cadaver ligament to repair. The Colorado Ortho wanted to do this method for me, I called it Zombie shoulder. The Modified Weaver-Dunn was the most common though and what I had done. http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article.asp?article=666 The link describes it pretty well. My doc used a Synthetic mesh rope to secure my collar bone and all. Your supposed to be able to tow a Super Duty pickup with the mesh, so much stronger than OEM!

Other than that, I can't think of any downsides other than boredom. In hindsight, I would have done the procedure sooner but have absolutely no regret and very happy with the results. I took 4 months off work, mostly due to the nature of my job (Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic on aircraft) and was able to claim disability. The procedure was an outpatient process and I slept in a Lazy Boy recliner for 2 weeks before moving into bed. I started Physical Therapy a month after surgery and had a great recovery. The Therapist believed I healed back well due to my prior therapy history with this injury.
Pain was very little for the most part, but I had good meds too. At the 3 month mark my doc cleared me to ride the motorcycle so I rode my KLR to Colorado. As far as lifting weights now, no problems. I can tell when I start approaching the limit and know when to stop.

A question for you DougZ73, have you tried doing Physical Therapy?

If anyone needs further info feel free to email me: twistedlizard720@yahoo.com

[twistedlizard720]

Duplicate post.

[shaddix]

Originally Posted by twistedlizard720

I took my time looking for doctors and it started feeling like a dead end road until I found Dr. David Chao in San Diego. http://www.drdavidchao.com/ He is the Ortho Surgeon for the Chargers, USA Rugby 7's and the X-Games.

I go to this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Andrews_(physician)

[Themastermike]

If you call the office, describe your sympton or even Email him, he will give you a call back.

I know it sounds like an auto repair guy that is looking for business, and I am sure he is looking for business. He rides and does like the on call Doc at Houston Supercrosses.

Another friend of mine 'Ivan from Hungary', went to him twice, from Illinois.

Clinic Phone: 940.612.3100

Easy to get ahold of after the surgery. I flew down on a Tuesday, Surgery on Wednesday, flew back home on Thursday. The Gainesville clinic is small enough to work out well.

He does shoulders, knees, etc.

If I wasn't soooo happy after 15 years of pain, I wouldn't be plugging. My insurance picked up quite a bit. Of course it was a bicycle I fell off..................

[DOGSROOT]

Originally Posted by Themastermike

Of course it was a bicycle I fell off..................
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Doncha know them there bi-sickles is dangerous, Son???

[PETDOC]

Originally Posted by DOGSROOT

Doncha know them there bi-sickles is dangerous, Son???

I'll second that. Compound, comminuted clavicular fracture, pneumothorax and rib fracture in March. Now sporting a plate with 11 screws and engaged in PT. It occurred to me that while riding my motorcycle I'm covered in extensive protective gear (ATGATT), but when on my 10 speed all I have is a tiny helmet (which I split in my accident).

[DOGSROOT]

Originally Posted by PETDOC

I'll second that. Compound, comminuted clavicular fracture, pneumothorax and rib fracture in March. Now sporting a plate with 11 screws and engaged in PT. It occurred to me that while riding my motorcycle I'm covered in extensive protective gear (ATGATT), but when on my 10 speed all I have is a tiny helmet (which I split in my accident).

Holy Shit!!!!






































You still have a TEN SPEED??????

[PETDOC]

Originally Posted by DOGSROOT

You still have a TEN SPEED?????

No.
It is a Cannondale Synapse 3 carbon fiber bike with 16 gears capable of incredible speed and has unbelievable brakes (did and endo avoiding a collision with another bike).