A Mates strange injury, help me out!

[BEEF]

*****************This is what he wrote for me*****************************

Hey Peeps,

Right I've started doing weight training. Im 16 and I thought I'd get into it - I really need to. First of all I need to be starting of by loosing fat first and then putting on muscle.

However before I start on that I really need some advice/help on something which I did 2-3 years ago. Well 2-3 years ago I was 13 or so and I thought i'd get into weights because most of my mates were doing so. So I'd done just bicep curls with 5kg of weights (nothin much but I was starting up at the time).  That went well.  Then I got the weight and rose it above my head - because I was sure that i've seen people do that before to get the lats bigger aswell as my triceps.

So there I was doing them, just done about 4 reps then I got to my 5th rep and I felt and saw my collar bone pop out (was facing a mirror). By then you would have assumed that I was quite shocked & scared. So I put my hand down and it went back in, put my hand up and it popped out. So i was extremely shocked - as I've never broken anything before.

Anyway my mum came back from shopping and we went down to our local GP and he looked at it and said go to minor injuries. So we went there and they just told me to go to hospital - I thought great... they're just handing me onto each other. So i went into hospital and after waiting a few hours all they done was x-ray'ed me and nothing was broken/fractured and gave me pain killers and said it would heal in 6 months.

So 6 months went by and it did get a little better - I could use my hand more better then I could when I first done it and it didnt pop out until i really stretched (which I hardly ever done because it just felt out of place and wrong when it popped out).

We went again to the hospital, and got some "bone doctor" to have a look. I had xrays again and nothing appeared to be wrong. Guess what? He told me the same thing everyone else said - leave weights for 6 months and see how you get on. I told him I hadnt touched weights for over a year now and he said just give it 6 more months.

And now a year later after that I've decided to start weights because its been easier to use my left arm - however after doing my workout I can feel the part which popped out tends to be "hot". Also I am really really restricted as to what I can do - I can no longer to press ups or anything which involves pushing weights upwards from my chest or above my head.

I would be greatful if you could give me some information as to what I should/can do as I really dont want to be this restricted.

Thanks alot,
Joe

[Camilo]

Ok mate, to give you a better aproximation I would need you to ask your mate what exactly did the "bone doctor" (I guess and Orthopedic Surgeon) said.  I'm intrested in the exact diagnose, as well as what did the images (X-Rays) said in the radiologist terms. As well, what does he mean when he said his "collar bone" poped-out? First of all, which is the collar bone (I mena, the one he is refering to) and what's the place he feels "hot" after the workout?

Cheers,

Camilo

[BEEF]

OK Thanks for the reply, I'll find out for and return

[BEEF]

************Ok, this is what I got******************

Yes Orthopedic Surgeon - forgot what he was!  The Xrays showed no fractures or broken bones, he said that the "muscle/ligament" that holds the (sternoclavicular joint) together was stretched and it will take ~6 months to heal back again.

As to the "popping out" simply when I raise my arm above my head the collar bone (closest to my neck on my left arm) the little bit there pops out - it kind of looks like a small ball and then when I lower my arm it goes back in.

The place that feels hot is the area where this "ball" pops out from.

http://www.eorthopod.com/public/patient_education/6534/sternoclavicular_joint_problems.html

He says his is anterior dislocation.

Thanks

[Camilo]

If I can have an opinion, I think the problem was the injury was not taken care of by the patient as it was supposed to have been done.  I think the doctor said to keep the shoulder steady and still, but it was not done that way and maybe after a couple of months he started to move it freely or do exercise without worrying since “it didn’t hurt anymore”. 

I discussed the case with my best friend (an Orthopaedics Surgeon Resident), and we both agree the best way to go is to have a new evaluation by your Orthopaedic Surgeon.  A frontal dislocation is quite common, especially with “hanging” injuries.  I don’t understand how you managed to get such injury with the mechanism you describe, but well, that doesn’t matter now.  If you kept the extremity still as the surgeon said you should, ligaments should have healed without any problem.  If it continues “popping out”, it hasn’t healed at all, and your O.S. should send another exam, a Tomography or a Magnetic Resonance to see if there is no further compromise of soft tissue or maybe a bursa

As well, I think he should undergo directed physiotherapy in order to achieve a better result in a shorter amount of time and heal properly.

Keep us informed mate

Cheers,

Camilo

[BEEF]

That's great thanks Camillo. I've informed my mate of your opinion and he's going to do exactly what you've suggested. I'll keep you posted and I'm also interested to see if it was in fact him not doing what he was told correctly.

Thanks again for the help.

[p.s.]

So how's your "mate" getting on?

[dancerqueen]

So how's your "mate" getting on?

yeah, how is you friend?