AC joint separation - have you ridden the Spyder with one?

[pidjones]

Last month a car pulled in front of my '76 RD400c from a hidden drive and I went over its hood into a ditch. Separated my left shoulder AC joint. Have started PT and yesterday rode the Spyder around the neighborhood a bit to check the ability. No pain at all from riding, just donning and adjusting the strap for the helmet.

Has anyone ridden the Spyder with this injury? I'm not pushing it - we will take the cage to Barber this year - but would be great to start riding the 20 miles to the vintage bike club meetings again.

[2dogs]

Not my spyder but I rode my Harley to PT after a separation. Just be extra cautious and it should be fine. Actually, the slight vibration felt kind of good.

[Isopedella]

So did you require surgery for the AC separation at all?

[Peter Aawen]

..... Separated my left shoulder AC joint. Have started PT and yesterday rode the Spyder around the neighborhood a bit to check the ability. No pain at all from riding, just donning and adjusting the strap for the helmet.

Has anyone ridden the Spyder with this injury? I'm not pushing it - we will take the cage to Barber this year - but would be great to start riding the 20 miles to the vintage bike club meetings again.

Been there, done that, numerous surgeries, more times than I like to remember; all after being told that I'd be lucky to ever lift anything heavier than a coffee cup again, and that I'd NEVER lift my hands above shoulder height ever again!

But I'm a bit of a stubborn & driven person, so I looked at the exercises that I was given/told would help and then actively sought out those things I enjoyed doing that included similar movements so that I could work them into as much of my daily activities as possible - and then worked at doing any/all of those things as often as I could without causing excessive pain &/or stressing anything too much! After a lot of initial concern (and maybe even juuust a tad of disbelief until they actually SAW my Spyder and how it 'worked' my shoulders just like some of the exercises they recommended... ) and then some further/thorough investigations, just about all of those things, including Spyder riding, were 'allowed' So I did them all, including some Spyder riding (well, orright, maybe it was 'a lot!' ) and collectively, they worked so well that these days, ALL the Medical Practitioners, Surgeons, & PT's who oversee my ongoing treatment consider gentle Spyder riding to be a significant contributor to my relatively rapid recovery from serious & extensive bi-lateral shoulder damage and my eventual return to what is effectively a Full range of motion and very near full strength in both shoulders, including while lifting both hands above my head!

So if your Spyder's DPS is functioning as it should and you don't push things too hard too early in your recovery, then once you can lift your hands to elbow height without issue & it doesn't hurt to push/pull on the handlebars, then I'm convinced that some gentle Spyder riding can be a great exercise that can be a real help in your healing & in regaining that full range of motion & shoulder strength. You still need to do the exercises your Treatment Supervisors/PT recommends, but in my experience, Spyder riding only serves to enhance all of those and the benefits you gain. Maybe it's got a lot to do with the mind-state that riding helps bring about, but I reckon it's more to do with the relatively gentle but persistent exercising in itself that riding your Spyder is, just so long as you don't push it too hard too early.

Do check with those supervising your treatment first, and if they have any doubts, try to get them to actually look at how the Spyder works and how riding it will enhance their movement exercises and gradually allow you to rebuild strength without overly stressing the joints or muscles concerned, then listen to what they say; but it's certainly worked for me, despite my initial prognosis being quite dire! Just don't try to push your riding too hard too quickly!

Good Luck And as I might have said earlier, don't push things too hard too soon - but I not only say - Just Do It, I then went out there and I DID IT! And it worked fine for me!



Now if only I could work out how to include Spyder riding into my recovery from surgery on both eyes??

[pidjones]

So did you require surgery for the AC separation at all?

No. It is just a level 2/3 separation (~10mm). For those they stick to PT.

[Isopedella]

I had a similar one. In a sling for 6 weeks. Then light duties for another month.
Getting my hand up to my shoulder was a challenge first off, but it improved over time.
I did not want to stuff it up, so I followed the advice passed on to me, did my exercises, and followed my treatment plan.
Rule of thumb and sensible stuff. If it starts to cause pain dont do that stuff for a little longer.

You must have been given some advice???
Your incident was "last month" , over to you what you do I guess.

[Bfromla]

Been there done that(different ways- still confusing DR’s)Cautious testing finding comfortable operating level. & can push limits in PT with trained personnel available, not out by yourself in the wild. Especially around idiots that don’t see us on a good day & your reactions are now compromised weakened & slower. Take the time, it can come back if don’t abuse yourself & back track. Additional motivation:0D4332D5-3F8F-4DE3-8555-E350EFA08042.jpg

[2dogs]

Now if only I could work out how to include Spyder riding into my recovery from surgery on both eyes??

My shoulder surgery and recovery went just about the same as yours did. I'm also looking eye surgery in the face now. Cataracts. I'm good for today but the future is coming faster and faster. It's shared with us old goats and a competent surgeon can put you back almost to new again. Do your research and I think that will help ease your anxiety.

[Peter Aawen]

My shoulder surgery and recovery went just about the same as yours did. I'm also looking eye surgery in the face now. Cataracts. I'm good for today but the future is coming faster and faster. It's shared with us old goats and a competent surgeon can put you back almost to new again. Do your research and I think that will help ease your anxiety.

Mine wasn't due to cataracts, and it's too soon after to know about the 'almost back to new again' bit yet, but I reckon any eye surgery is nasty enough... I hope yours goes well.

I've had the surgery already, and now I'm getting a bit frustrated at the recovery time/lost Spyder riding time... But I reckon I'll be back out there in a couple of weeks or so, and the Child Bride's already hoping it'll be sooner than that!

[Mikey]

Last month a car pulled in front of my '76 RD400c from a hidden drive and I went over its hood into a ditch. Separated my left shoulder AC joint. Have started PT and yesterday rode the Spyder around the neighborhood a bit to check the ability. No pain at all from riding, just donning and adjusting the strap for the helmet.

Has anyone ridden the Spyder with this injury? I'm not pushing it - we will take the cage to Barber this year - but would be great to start riding the 20 miles to the vintage bike club meetings again.

After having friends that have been through that, I would run it by the Dr, if he thinks it's time to stretch it to that level then go for it! Had a good friend that didn't listen to his doctor and ended back on the table for round two, he paid closer attention to him the second time! Good Luck!!

[pidjones]

I go in for round 2 PT tomorrow am. I'll ask him about riding. So far, he says for PT to "kiss the pain, but don't make out with it". Riding the Spyder gives less pain than the PT so far. My ROM is rapidly improving. Kind of surprising me at 71. I was only in the sling until I saw my ortho (for another reason). That was two weeks in and he said I could do without if it didn't hurt and I didn't lift any weight with it. If the PT doctor clears me tomorrow, I will ride the Spyder in to the vintage bike meeting Tuesday night. Saturday our church has a big bike show, and I have to honcho it. Check us out if you are in the area:

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[rjinaz86323]

Different Docs have different philosophies. I had total shoulder replacement. I left the hospital with my arm in a sling, but with explicit instruction to not wear it more than 48 hours. Then move arm as pain would allow. So far so good.

[2dogs]

In a nutshell, if it hurts, don't do it.

[Spyder_Cowgirl]

I have tears in both shoulders, neither is torn bad enough to warrant surgery -- two different surgeons have told me they would do more damage fixing than I did tearing. So, PT is was for me as well. I have had to adapt my spyder riding technique in order to remain pain free, even on long rides. Many, if not most, use a "push / pull" on the handle bars (as well as pressing on the outer foot and leaning into the curve) -- this will wear my shoulders out in no time and I'll be in pain for days after. So, I only use a gently push on the handlebar and I can ride even the most challenging twisties all day long (just finished a week in the Ozarks of MO and AR a few days ago).

Example -- left hand turn:
Push with the right hand
Press with the right foot
Lean left and slightly forward

Doing this has allowed me to continue riding and remain pain free in my left for more than a decade, in my right for about five years (a more recent injury).

With care, you should have no problem riding ... be curious to see what PT says though.

All the best .... Ann

I go in for round 2 PT tomorrow am. I'll ask him about riding. So far, he says for PT to "kiss the pain, but don't make out with it". Riding the Spyder gives less pain than the PT so far. My ROM is rapidly improving. Kind of surprising me at 71. I was only in the sling until I saw my ortho (for another reason). That was two weeks in and he said I could do without if it didn't hurt and I didn't lift any weight with it. If the PT doctor clears me tomorrow, I will ride the Spyder in to the vintage bike meeting Tuesday night. Saturday our church has a big bike show, and I have to honcho it. Check us out if you are in the area:

[pidjones]

PT yesterday (my 2nd) was a bit rougher. The PT doctor said riding is OK, just judge by pain. I plan to roll both vintage bikes out of the garage today and drain the float bowls. Ride the Spyder in for our vintage bike meeting. It's about 20 miles one-way.

[pidjones]

Ride to and from the meeting last night went fine. Just tiring. Only occasional movements causing pain, so... don't think me stuck-up if you don't see the "biker's wave" returned by me. For some reason it really hurts. Other than that, donning and buckling the helmet and operating the Bluetooth require leaning my head left some. It's getting there. I washed my hair with both hands yesterday!