AC Shoulder Separation and Rucking

jdesert · 05-09-2012, 03:38

I have a 6 year old AC shoulder separation. It has caused a lot of pain, but I have been attempting to train for the ruck portion of SFAS. I recently completed a 12 mile ruck with my NG unit and couldn't move my arm due to pain and numbness for awhile .

A shoulder separation doesn't seem to be an uncommon injury, so I'm wondering if anyone has a similar experience to mine and has found ways to deal with it. I've tried tight straps, loose straps, and using the waist belt. Not much luck. My current strategy has been to lift weights in order to build up my shoulder girdle muscles, but I'm not holding my breath. The lifting initially causes pain, but I'm hoping the additional muscle will help to stabilize things.

I don't want to throw in the towel on this. My last option is to pursue surgery, but from what I've read, the surgery is hit or miss in terms of pain reduction.

I appreciate any input.

abnremf · 05-09-2012, 05:22

I hate to break this to you but if your shoulder is hurting just on the ruck then it's going to be completely useless by the time you get to things like log drills, rifle drills, land nav and team events. My advice is to put selection off for a while and get the shoulder cut on. In July of 2010 I tore the crap out of my shoulder. Surgery didn't happen until October. I did physical therapy for 30 days, deployed and continued to do physical therapy in Iraq. By April of 2011 my shoulder was actually stronger than it was before I hurt it. Better to enter SFAS @ 100%. My .02 cents.

Dusty · 05-09-2012, 07:05

What Type? Has a rebuild of the ligament been recommended?

**Team Sergeant** · 05-09-2012, 07:22

I started my SF career with a separated shoulder, dislocated it once in the hand to hand pit in Phase One. Cadre told me if I did it again I'd be gone. I did do it again on the jump into third phase, freak accident & bad landing. I told the jr. medic to wrap me up and tell no one. He did. The rest is history. I went onto dislocate it again in freefall, hit by another soldier in the air. After that I was operated on and sat on the sidelines for a year. After a year went back to full duty. It always hurt, motrin was (and still is) my friend.

If the pain from your shoulder is enough to give you pause don't go Special Forces. There are too many situations in Special Forces that are far worse than that shoulder pain. If you don't think you can be 110% don't try Special Forces.

jdesert · 05-09-2012, 11:08

@Dusty It's a type 3 separation. While I was going through physical therapy on active duty, they told me they don't operate on a type 3, only 4 and 5. From what I've read, type 3 goes either way. I actually have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow with my civilian doctor (I'm in the NG now). She suspects the lasting pain is from the misaligned bones rubbing and causing inflammation. We'll see.

@abnremf I'v experienced the same strengthening as you. My separated shoulder is actually much stronger than my other shoulder. I think it's because the bone support isn't there anymore and the muscle is taking its place. That is the reasoning behind my lifting, to try and get that pain lessening effect to a greater degree.

@Team Sergeant I'd like to think I have a good gauge of what I can do and can't. Having to admit to myself that my bum shoulder might stop me from doing what I want is not easy and something I'm not ready to do yet.

Thank you for your quick responses.

Dusty · 05-09-2012, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdesert

@Dusty It's a type 3 separation. While I was going through physical therapy on active duty, they told me they don't operate on a type 3, only 4 and 5. From what I've read, type 3 goes either way. I actually have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow with my civilian doctor (I'm in the NG now). She suspects the lasting pain is from the misaligned bones rubbing and causing inflammation. We'll see.

@abnremf I'v experienced the same strengthening as you. My separated shoulder is actually much stronger than my other shoulder. I think it's because the bone support isn't there anymore and the muscle is taking its place. That is the reasoning behind my lifting, to try and get that pain lessening effect to a greater degree.

@Team Sergeant I'd like to think I have a good gauge of what I can do and can't. Having to admit to myself that my bum shoulder might stop me from doing what I want is not easy and something I'm not ready to do yet.

Thank you for your quick responses.

I'd take a year off and get any medical treatment I could get for a Type 3.
I've had my left shoulder dislocated 4 times (might be what Team Sergeant was referencing), and that's bad enough. A Type 3 seperation is a whole different monster, and could mess you up for life.