AC Joint injury

**kgpl** · 07-05-2014, 04:58 PM

Just over a week ago I injured my ac joint. Not sure what caused it exactly, there wasn't a distinct moment where everything went wrong, but a few hours after a chest/back/shoulder day I ended up with some pretty horrid pain where I lacked mobility.

Did not do any upper body movements for a week, only hit legs every single day... Did a few push/pull movements today to test the waters. I can pull horizontally without an issue, but definitely no overhead movements. Deadlifts are perfectly fine, didn't bother going above 405 today, but it's enough to show that I'm fine with that exercise.

During my week off from upper body, I did a lot of NSAIDs, icing, and stretching. I have full mobility, but a general lack of strength.

What are my options here? I'm trying to work around the injury and would like to find some way to incorporate chest and shoulders without pain.

**kinetixtrainer** · 07-05-2014, 09:23 PM

Hey man sorry to hear about your injury... I've been through this so I can tell you my experiences and what the ortho told me.

First I completely tore my AC in my right shoulder. Clavicle elevated and whole 9. I was devastated, thought I would never be able to lift hard again. After initial ER visit I went to the ortho specialist where he examined me and then told me my options.

Option 1: surgery and u have to have cartilage moved from another location put into place and then a screw is inserted to hold cartridge and bone together while it heals.. He said that there is high risk of screw working its way out of the shoulder and moving down into the lungs or worse the heart.

Option 2: keep it in a sling for 3 to 6 weeks. Let it heal, and in a month or so start with push ups on the wall and work your way back up. It takes several months to get in the gym. After the injury heals the doc assured me I would have 97% to full strength but would have a permanent shoulder deformity. The doc actually encouraged me to not have the surgery.

That injury happened in 2003. I'm happy I listened to the doc. I have full strength on all lifts and deformity is barley noticeable. And that was with it being completely torn.

Hope this helps... And good luck brother.

**kgpl** · 07-06-2014, 05:05 AM

^ definitely not what I wanted to hear, but thankfully mines not a full tear.

Am I rushing things here by trying to get back to the gym already? I'm not in any pain throughout the day, but I don't want to be
Further injuring myself.

**kinetixtrainer** · 07-06-2014, 09:20 AM

Until it heals you will be limited on pressing movements and dips.

For me dips took the longest to return to normal.

Also with it not being a full tear I would imagine you need to make sure you let it heal properly. If you keep that joint irritated it could give you problems for some time.

**kgpl** · 07-06-2014, 09:58 AM

I have never been able to do dips. Normally they give my left shoulder issues. I've always had nagging problems with the left, but out of nowhere, my right is the one that's actually injured now...

**kinetixtrainer** · 07-06-2014, 03:43 PM

If I was you I would go to the doc and get his opinion. At least get it narrowed down to the exact injury and his opinion on recovery. Again. Good luck with it! I feel your pain brother.

**Chicagotarsier** · 07-07-2014, 04:46 AM

My left shoulder is my pain. Not sure if it is the AC or the shoulder but general lack of strength because you cannot push once it hits pain.

My current cycle has 100 NPP per day. 100% no issues anymore. Push all the way through with no problem. Syrnoval fluid issue to be sure.

Before cycle and on GVT it was slow go on improving the strength......but reducing to 50% max and doing 10 sets of 10 definately impacted it for the positive.

**2iron** · 07-07-2014, 05:39 PM

Have you got an X ray? Mri?

Are you taking winstrol ?

I had bad ac joint pain. It came from no where as well. Did mri saw minimal ware and tear. Stopped the winny pain went a way.

**kgpl** · 07-08-2014, 11:57 AM

No winstrol . How long did it take for the pain to go away after you got off though? I'm on my first cycle with an oral designer steroid (I know, I know, I'll get some shit for this), but I'm thinking it might be the culprit?

No mri, but examined by a few people who all pointed it to being ac joint problems, but said it's not too severe since I have mobility and no protrusion.

**2iron** · 07-08-2014, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by kgpl

No winstrol . How long did it take for the pain to go away after you got off though? I'm on my first cycle with an oral designer steroid (I know, I know, I'll get some shit for this), but I'm thinking it might be the culprit?

No mri, but examined by a few people who all pointed it to being ac joint problems, but said it's not too severe since I have mobility and no protrusion.

Once I stopped winny it was about 4wks give or take. I spent close to 1000$ xray then mri and all I had to do was stop the winny.