Shoulder surgery!

Hello all! I am new to the forum......
 
I wasn't sure there was a forum for injuries so hopefully it is okay to post this in this section...
 
I separated my shoulder snowboarding in January, had reconstructive surgery on February 2nd. I was in an immobilizer for over a month and then a sling for another month or so. I finally started passive therapy and then gradually toward active therapy. I still have not been back to the gym other than lower body workouts, plus I still have the ability to perform cardio workouts when my shoulder is not acting up to bad. The problem is that every time I try to do 'light' weights such as no more than 5 lbs for some basic shoulder movements.....it feels as if the shoulder separates again. I can't seem to get out of this cycle and I get no clear answer from my doctor.
I am 36 and have worked out with weights since the age of 16. I am so frustrated at my current condition. I can't believe how much muscle I have lost and how different I look and feel.
 
Any suggestions?
 
Thanks!
Rich

Sorry to hear about the accident.

Have you investigated doing bodyweight exercises?  I know, that probably sounds like heresy, but there are some good programs out there (Craig Ballantyne comes immediately to mind) to help rebuild and maybe not aggravate the injury.  Of course, check with the doc.

In the meantime, I would recommend to watch the diet, keep working out your lower body and stretch everything.  Healing can take a long time, but it'll take even longer if the injury/repair is aggravated.  When you are fully healed, I bet you come back much faster than you'd expect.

Take care.

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

You said you get no clear answer from the doc- What exactly is he telling you?
Have you been for a second opinion?

The thing is.....I have done all of these exercises as you all mention....broomstick, basic ROM, etc. I regained full ROM...but then one day it will feel like I am back to square one...pain, loss of ROM and I can feel the bone sticking up once again and pressing against my skin. I assume this is the clavicle?

This happened previously about one month ago, and I thought the reconstructive surgery came undone! By the time the doctor had time to see me....it was about 7 days after this incident and the lump felt as if it had subsided a bit so the X-Ray showed that everything was fine. Was it? Not sure....because to me it just felt as if the bone settled back down after some days......so no way to prove this until I started doing exercises again and now the lump is back with total loss of ROM in one day!

Prior to the injury I was flat benching close to 300 lbs and now I'd be lucky to do 100!

What exactly did you do to your shoulder so we can get a better idea of what exactly you are dealing with.

I separated my right AC joint severely.