Did you know that a separated shoulder really isn’t a separated shoulder? According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “A shoulder separation is not truly an injury to the shoulder joint. The injury actually involves the acromioclavicular joint (also called the AC joint). The AC joint is where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the highest point of the shoulder blade (acromion).”
Further down the AAOS page, they say that a separated shoulder “can range from a little change in configuration with mild pain, to quite deforming and very painful.” I can testify, whole-heartedly, about the “very painful” part. Without a doubt.
Fifteen years ago, I separated my left shoulder in a tumble, but it was quickly reset and, although I had quite a bit of pain while lying down, it wasn’t too bad. This past Friday, however, I learned what a very painful one feels like.
I slipped on some hard packed snow or ice (not sure which) and I landed right on my left shoulder. The pain was excruciating. I keep telling people it was worse than 
childbirth – and I’ve done that three times. The pain was so bad, I couldn’t stand up because any slight movement of my arm would send spasms of pain and waves of nausea.
An ambulance had to be called and they were concerned that I may have hit my head because I couldn’t remember falling, but I’m sure I didn’t hit my head. I think the problem is I fell so fast that I didn’t realize I was falling until I had hit the ground.
Anyway, off to the hospital for x-rays, medications and a “knock-out” dose so they could put my shoulder back. Unfortunately, my shoulder didn’t want to cooperate with the resetting because I damaged the ligaments.
The most common cause for a separation of the AC joint is from a fall directly onto the shoulder. The fall injures the ligaments that surround and stabilize the AC joint.
If the force is severe enough, the ligaments attaching to the underside of the clavicle are torn. This causes the “separation” of the collarbone and wingbone. The wingbone actually moves downward from the weight of the arm. This creates a “bump” or bulge above the shoulder.
I do have to say though – what an odd feeling to be in agony before you go to sleep and then in tolerable pain when you wake up a while later.
I have to wear the special sling that keeps your arm supported and doesn’t allow you to move your arm away from your body. This is particularly frustrating because on Friday, when I fell, I was also in the midst of moving. Yup – moving from a four-bedroom house to a condo. Guess who can’t unpack and do any of the stuff she wanted to get done before Christmas?
According to the AAOS, my shoulder has a good chance of healing properly. I see an ortho surgeon on Thursday to see if all is ok. Surgery is not in my plans, so I’m thinking positively: no surgery, shoulder is healing well.
The thing that worries me though, is that the pain is changing in quality and location. It’s no longer at the back of the shoulder, a bit lower down, but now it’s in the upper arm itself and it’s an intense ache, rather than a sharp pain. Hopefully, that’s all part of the healing process.
So as it stands, regardless of what the surgeon says, there will be physiotherapy in my future. Thank goodness for physical therapists and their magic powers. They are the ones who make sure that successful treatments from doctors are carried through and stay successful.
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Images: iStock.com, PhotoXpress.com
Post from: Blisstree