ACJ Consultant Advice

ACJ Injury

Hi, I’m Sam Vollens, and I’m an orthopedic surgeon who regularly treats people like you with your type of injury. I’m here today to guide you through the details of your injury, the treatment you require, and your recovery plan.

You have sustained an acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury. This is where a ligament from your collarbone is disrupted in relation to your shoulder. An example of this type of injury is now shown on the screen. This is a common injury, and it will take around six to eight weeks to heal. However, you may feel pain and some swelling in your shoulder for up to six months following the injury. Very occasionally, patients have a bump on top of the shoulder that lasts for the rest of their life, but this shouldn’t cause you any problems.

You may need some painkillers such as paracetamol or anti-inflammatory medication. Further details regarding your initial treatment can be found in Phase 1 of your rehabilitation package.

You can use your shoulder as much as you want. While you have been provided with a sling, the sling is only there for your comfort. You may experience some pain when you move your shoulder, but this is perfectly normal, and you will not come to any harm. For further guidance on how to put your sling on and take it off, please refer to our video.

In terms of driving, you may start driving when you’re safe to do so. This means you must have discarded your sling and be able to steer your vehicle, change gear, and perform an emergency stop. If that’s the case, you can start driving normally. This is usually around three weeks following the injury at the earliest.

With regards to work, you can return to work at any stage that you feel safe to do so.