AC seperation...anybody?

 Hey all, seperated my AC while rolling like a week and a half ago, i know im out for a while, but how long? Anyone here have any experience with these? it feels better every day, but i just have a feeling that this is an injury that will keep me off the mat for at least 3 months...thanks...

I have and know other bjj-ers that have had the same problem. Let it rest for about 6 weeks, then start rehabbing it. While resting, ice and stretch. No weight bearing excersices during rest. After about 6 weeks, start rehabbing your shoulder and ac joint. Google for rehab moves, tons of info out there. looking at least 3 months to recover.

I've had an ac separation.

Contrary to the above post, most folks say to start light rehabbing right away. If you don't, the shoulder can lose mobility and adhesions form that slow your progress when you're really ready to start rehabbing with energy.

If this ever happens to me again, I am hitting the sports doctor and rehab specialists right away. I waited quite awhile the first time, and it just made things worse in the long run.

Mine took about 8 months before it was good. There was lots of stretching, working out with big rubber bands, and ice.

Do some googling of sites like the Mayo Clinic and such.

Not sure about separation but I have smashed mine twice. The first time was the worst, missed at least a month of training.

Second, time felt just like the first time but I went to see a therapist who works on the myo-fascial tissue and she had me back on the mat the next day.

I would think that almost nothing nowadays requires rest of weeks or months. Go see a doctor and sports injury rehab specialist.

gusto - mine was type 1 and i just trained through it. sleeping was the hardest thing for me

Same here. Regular visits to chiropractor helped immensely.

 i have a grade 2...so far though, so good. went back to the gym last night, ran 2 miles and did light resistance band work and small 2 lb weights, high reps. i could feel it a bit, but i think it was more because my shoulder muscles/pecs were swollen from the light workout and were pressing on it. I feel great today, gonna go back to the gym later for more of the same. im going to be careful not to over do it though. thanks to all for the help.

I had a grade 2 separation as well. Rehabbed it immediately with super lights stuff and stayed off the mats for three months. Six months after the injury I was feeling great.

I had a grade 2 a few years ago. I had only been training a year, so I stupidly only took 2 weeks off. I trained thru it with lots of ibuprofen & quick tapping to anything that torqued the arm.

It hurt to lift anything above chest level for 2 months, and it was 4-5 months before I could throw a ball w/o pain. If it happened now, I'd take off as long as needed.

Had it (2nd degree,/partial sep.), 6 weeks, assuming it's not a much more severe version.

I had a 3rd degree seperation in the middle of jan, took about 4 weeks to get back on the mat, then prob another 4 weeks before i had total confidence in it. Sleeping is the worst.

xray below(left shoulder, i think the view is from behind):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/PBucch/DSC01205800x600.jpg

ffjc805 -  Hey all, seperated my AC while rolling like a week and a half ago, i know im out for a while, but how long? Anyone here have any experience with these? it feels better every day, but i just have a feeling that this is an injury that will keep me off the mat for at least 3 months...thanks...


 Scott?

 nope. sorry man.

Sleeping on it is a big problem. I always tried to sleep on the side away from the injury, but was having problems in collapsing my injured shoulder down and messing it up at night.

I ended up placing a spare pillow on the uninjured side, so that when I was on my side I could rest the injured shoulder by placing the bad arm on the pillow while I slept. This keeps the injured shoulder in a good position and keeps you from rolling around while you sleep.

This actually made a big difference in my rehab, in my opinion.