Anyone suffer a shoulder separation? How long until you played?

[Siamese Moose]

I separated my shoulder (grade 3 sprain) on July 13th. I'm feeling like I might be close to being allowed to play (see the doc again Tuesday). Can anyone with a similar experience tell me how long before you started playing? There's only three weeks left in my league, and I'd really like to play the last week (it would be 7 weeks at that point) because of a special format. There's also a charity tournament on September 15th for which I need to make a firm commitment soon. Playing well is (relatively) unimportant, but I'd like to be there.

[SteddyGolf]

I separated my shoulder (grade 3 sprain) on July 13th. I'm feeling like I might be close to being allowed to play (see the doc again Tuesday). Can anyone with a similar experience tell me how long before you started playing? There's only three weeks left in my league, and I'd really like to play the last week (it would be 7 weeks at that point) because of a special format. There's also a charity tournament on September 15th for which I need to make a firm commitment soon. Playing well is (relatively) unimportant, but I'd like to be there.

Normal time period for healing is 6 weeks. Getting back out on the Golf Course is contingent on a commitment to physical therapy.


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[Putterslut]

While they weren't shoulder separations, nevertheless I had rotor cuff shoulder surgeries in my right (dominant) shoulder in 2012 and in my left in 2017. Both resulted in approximately 7 month recovery periods. As a result, my range of motion has shortened and thus I don't hit it as far. As the gentleman above mentioned commitment to physical therapy is a must!

[Siamese Moose]

It's extremely funny that this response comes tonight. I played 9 earlier tonight,  for the first time since my injury (8 weeks). My doctor cleared me to play as much as I want,  as long as I don't have acute pain (soreness is fine). I am religious about my PT, and my therapist is making sure I don't try too much too soon. 

The toughest part tonight was judging distance. I generally allowed two extra clubs, but making that smooth controlled swing meant a few times impact was quite pure, and even with a limited swing my distance was often greater that I planned. Take away two triples caused by one shot each that went spectacularly bad, and I  played even. Not bad for a 10.

[dhartmann34]

I separated both shoulders summer of 2017 when I painted the inside of my house.

Didn't get it checked out until beginning of 2018. Funny thing was...it didn't hurt swinging a golf club. But lifting something up in front of me to shoulder height was so painful, as was laying on it. Ended up getting a couple of cortisone shots... And then went through PT for 7 weeks. Played golf through it all. Besides a twinge here and there, it never was an issue really. Couldn't do the gym or any weight lifting whatsoever. Kept up and still dabble in my exercises from PT. Still get a little bit of pain every now and then.... But it never kept me from golfing. Hope all is healed up for you.

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[BADFanBoi Scotty]

I actually found to stop my shoulder issues including separation, I needed to get on the DeChambeau one plane bandwagon. Haven't had one golf caused dislocation since I started imitating. 

[DrRob1963]

I have a rotator cuff injury as well.

I had nasty, sharp left shoulder pain when lifting my arm straight out, away from my body, starting at about a 45* away from the hip. Avoiding that motion, it was okay, mostly. No definite injury, it just hurt more & more from about June. Like dhartmann34 above, I could still play golf, but it would ache after the game, like it was bruised. And it was starting to affect my swing & scores.

Saw my doctor & xrays showed normal bones with no arthritis, but an ultrasound showed a complete tear of the Supraspinatus component of my Rotator cuff tendons. The shoulder specialist recommended surgical repair - just one hour of keyhole surgery - which he did yesterday (October 4th). Wow - does it ache today!

The real problem is recovery time, slower than grass growing! Six weeks in a sling, with minimal movement - can't even drive (a car!), then six weeks of low stress mobilisation & physio, then another six weeks of strengthening physio - IF EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT.

Hoping to get back on the course sometime in February, but until then, I am an armchair expert on golf!