Dr Connor at OC for shoulders. Hip is going to be somebody else though. 

Thanks.  Crash happened Friday.  Got a rotator cuff issue and hip pointer or illiac contusion with avulsion fracture and hematoma.  Need someone who can handle both.  And if you know of any good physical therapists, I'd appreciate it.  Will be riding again next weekend so making apointment Mon and going to do some guided rehab midweek to enhance what I'm already doing.

Dr. D'allesandro with ortho carolina charlotte, for shoulders.  He has done both shoulders for my daughter (college athlete) with very good success. He's a very accomplished orthopedic surgeon but very down to earth and easy to talk to. Not sure about the hip though.

Terrible experience with Ortho Carolina in the university. I'd avoid them.

Dr Rainbow for sure!  She practices in the Ballantyne area and close to uptown on Randolf.  Have gone there a lot (unfortunately) for various MTB injuries over the years, and have sent numerous friends/family to her as well.  All have been extremely happy with the treatment.  She is a cyclist and runner herself, is specifically a sports medicine doctor, and treats some of the professional atheletes around here.  Can't remember who she refers to for PT, but my experience there has been top notch as well.  Just can't say enough good things about her.  PM me for specifics if you'd like.

I had Piasecki and can barely see scar from long plate with 8 screws.

Richard, I'm glad you didn't fall riding the hard trails at Snowshoe! I hope you get well soon! Sounds like it may take a while?

BBM

So, the story goes....  This lady jinxed me on my very last run at Beech and said "Be Safe."   

I had hit all the jumps and gaps on this black trail and the cliff at the end all Friday long and was even whipping and feeling really great, glad my ankle was finally pretty much healed and all from a previous fracture, then the last run of the day and that last little cliff jump right before the lift that I had hit all day, well, I whipped that time too hard and didn't bring it back around enough in time, landed a little awkward, got thrown fast and hit hard on my left side.  My jersey looks like a mad dog  chewed up the arm and chest.   

I didn't go to a doctor because I didn't hear anything pop like I did a couple years ago when fractured my right shoulder doing a similar thing, and Friday night I really thought I could just ice it this time and all would be eventually good, but by Monday after my wife had seen the injuries and we talked about the best way to heal, I have been in physical therapy Mon and Tuesday and saw the doctor today.  And I've got this crazy ugly hip pointer, too, with big black bruising and internal bleeding that resulted in a side abdominal hematoma that is finally going down some.  My boys told me I look Iike I might give birth to an Alien.  Yeah, its that freaky.   

I'm glad to say, though, that I have now ridden a trail bike around my block already to test the arm, and I can ride ok, and so I am planning on getting back on a trail next week to do some flow downhill to keep the arm loose and the right muscles firing.  I bought some KT Tape, have learned how to tape it, and got a Shock Doctor brace to also hold things together.  After the cortosteroid shot today, got to wait 3 weeks for MRI.  Can't stand the idea of not riding that long.

So,my main concern is, will I turn this potential stage I or II AC separation into a stage III by ridinig and throwing around my demo 8 on trails with jumps and drops.  If I crash, yeah, it could happen, sure.  But if I don't crash, will I be ok with all that tape and brace?  I've got pain meds and high threshold, but its the weird separation of the ac joint bones that is all wigging me out.  The doctor and PT never said I couldn't do it since I told them I was going to, but I don't think they know much about downhill biking and what it takes.  I'd appreciate your advice.  Thanks, friends.

DHill wrote on 06/30/16 at 1:33am:


My story is similar.  I had a grade II-III separation from my initial injury.  I had a wait, take it easy and see attitude before going the surgery route.  From May to Sept my separation progressed to a GRADE FIVE.  I had no other choice but to have the surgery.  Dr. Connor perform the surgery.  I was off the bike for 6 months.  It has been a tough recovery, but I'm back to riding pretty hardcore stuff again.

Thanks, everyone, for continuing to contribute your own story and your ideas about recovery.  Ok, so the reason I had to keep riding is I had a trip planned and was training to gear myself up to ride Whistler last week.  Really bummed I got injured right before the trip.  Good news is I could ride somewhat.  While there I found a Prolotherapy Naturepath doctor, Dr. Dawn G something, last week who injected my shoulder's ac and rotator and bicep, targeting the nerves, and has me taking some natural meds, protein, vitamins, and doing some hydrotherapy with hot-cold to get the blood flowing.  Could totally move the arm with full rotation and with no pain for a day of hard riding and only with a little pain second day and with a little more pain in tech sections that second day using that front fork suspension.  Rode with KT Tape and Shock Doc brace while riding.  Was able to ride my normal lines on ALine and Dirt Merchant, the cliffs and gaps, and was able to do little whips but too weak and too afraid to go big for now or ride 100%.  Looked at Crabapple but just knew there was no way I could even try to hit those jumps in that condition.  That's my goal for when I turn 50, and that means 5 years to rehab and get back to where I was.  My arm is sore and kind of weak now but still better than it was prior to seeing the doctor and all that riding.  Dr. Dawn suggested I look more into Prolotherapy with white blood cell therapy and stem cell therapy if I want to take therapy further.  She was super encouraging about recovery and regenerating and healing.  And it is great to hear some of you all are recovering well and still riding hard, too.  I go in for my MRI sometime soon.  Really don't want surgery.  Really hope I didn't damage things further, but I had to ride as much as I could while there.  Not going to ride or strain things now until better.  For now hoping to find a good prolotherapy doctor in town and just work on slow rehab day by day.  If you are suffering from joint issues, go find a prolotherapy doc.  I had a good experience.