paulytosway’s BodyBlog

So it’s been 11 months since sprained my AC joint.  Today I can officially say I am back strength wise where I was when I was injured.  That is specific to chest. 

 As far as deadlifts i’m much stronger now then I was 11 months back.  I’m also finally starting to gain mass.  It’s been a long and tedious process but i’m finally back and enjoying every minute of it. 

So I finally got the results from the MRI.  Good news, no tears! Bad news My AC joint is too narrow and I have a bone spur which is rubbing against my tendon.  It appears my shoulder is built mechanically different then most.  The space between my AC joint is more narrow than should be.  The narrowing is causing my Bone’s to rub.  I also have some fraying of the Labrum although doc isn’t too concerned with this.  She stated that’s normal with weight lifters.  She’s more concerned with the AC joint narrowing and a bone spur i’ve started to develop.  It appears the rubbing is causing arthritic symptoms as well as inflaming the bursa.    All in all She’s optimistic but said i may need surgery to remove the AC joint in the future.  She offered me a cort injection but i chose the "wait and see approach."   Diagnosed with:  Minor Tendonosis, Bursitis, and OsteoArthritis (possibly result of injury).    What i’m confused about is if I’ve always had this narrow space between the AC Joint why is it that only now have I developed symptom?  Doc was also uncertain whether the narrowing is causing the symptoms or if it’s simply the injury to the AC joint.  Her words…"you’re a young guy with an old man shoulder."

Approx 3 months back I hurt my shoulder benching.  Usually, I tend to ignore pain until it goes away but there was something different about this.  I went to the ortho the next day and was diagnosed with an AC Joint sprain grade 1.   I listened to the doc and did no upper body for 1 month. Pain got better, then worse and back to better.  At this point it’s about 70 - 80 percent better and I’m allowed to lift overhead again but i decided I wanted an MRI just in case.  This past friday I finally got my MRI after 3 months of "conservative" treatment.  I have to be honest I’m optimistic that the injury isn’t permanent but there is this annoying clicking in my clavical area that keeps me from pushing too hard.  I just wanted the MRI for my own peace of mind.  Now I have to wait until sometime next week to get the results. 

What really irks me is that the tech who administered my MRI, who is not qualified to give me a diagnosis asks me whether of not I "injured my shoulder and how long ago."  Why would she ask me that?  If she can’t give me a diagnosis why would she even ask.  Is she trying to play doctor?  Does it mean she can’t see anything wrong or more like "wow, I can’t believe he didn’t come in sooner?"  I’m just telling myself that the pain is better.  Anway, I’ll just have to wait until next week.