Separated shoulder advice

[Hanneke]

Last year on Easter Monday, I was hit by a car from behind while doing a time trial on an undulating countrylane. It was a hit and run and I found myself in the hegderow on top of my bike with agonising pain accross the top of my back, between the shoulders and my neck. Because it was so isolated and I'd been last 'man' off, I had to try and get back to civilisation, so rode the bike no handed, as I could not get down on the drops.

Was taken to A&E and a separated shoulder was diagnosed, as well as whiplash...

After some healing time and consultation with a shoulder specialist, it was decided not to have an operation. It was a grade III separation, which is borderline and those who didn't have the op usually heal quicker... I don't like cutting open our well sealed system unless I have to so no op. After a couple of months or so things were getting worse, not better, so back to the consultant... who concluded that I was now also suffering from Distal Clavicular Osteolysis, i.e. erosion of the collarbone where it attaches to the acromio-clavicular joint

This is usually self limiting in 12 months... so on I struggled with more or less debilitating pain in my right shoulder, hoping it would get better. I am now at a point where the consultant thinks it is best if he performs what is called an AC resection... I.e. the inflamed degenerating bit of bone at the shoulder end of the collarbone gets cut out, to make room in the AC joint so I don't have the continuous nerve impinchment and associated pain anymore.

Now my question: anyone had this done?

Success rate?

Healing time?

I am inclined to now wait until after my next planned races... a 12 hr MTB race, End to End MTB race on the IOM and Three Peaks Cyclocross.

I have a couple of international MTB stage races in the pipeline, one in November though, so timing is of the essense? Or am I better of waiting it out in the hope it will self limit ultimately? For the medical types amongst you: I also suffer from Ankylosing Spondylitis... which obviously doesn't help

Oddly enough, although pretty lame at the best of times and not able to get a good nights sleep, I do seem to be able to enjoy riding and racing my bikes. In fact, it is the only place where I am comfortable, because of the position on the bike. If I don't ride regularly, the pain in my shoulder gets worse...

[Hanneke]

Oh and to provide a full case history: it is the same shoulder I dislocated some years ago... so there is some flattening of the top of humerus as well, although I never had any noticeable instability in that shoulder after healing...

[Mike T]

Knew nothing about this condition - having read:

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1262297-overview

I am a little bit wiser but not much. It would seem it can come on following a single episode of trauma but is usually seen in weight lifters - do you weight lift Hanneke?

[Hanneke]

I don't lift weights... LOL, it is what flummoxed the consultant as well... It is caused by the trauma that separated my shoulder and apparently, if suffering from a rheumatic condition, which I do, osteolysis comes on more easily?

Knew nothing about this condition - having read:

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1262297-overview

I am a little bit wiser but not much. It would seem it can come on following a single episode of trauma but is usually seen in weight lifters - do you weight lift Hanneke?

[mr brightside]

That is really shit H, i'm sorry to hear about it.