Popped my AC joint, how long before I'm back on the road.

FWIW I separated my right shoulder after hitting a deer at 30 mph (helmet saved me from far more than a gash on the head). Doctor told me it was a grade three tear and I have the deformed looking shoulder.

At first I had my arm in a sling for a couple of days and after that could barely lift my hand above shoulder level. I did light band and dumbbell exercises for about 6-8 weeks and then resumed riding.

It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sometimes it feels like someone is pressing down on my shoulder, but it isn't painful. I boulder at a climbing gym also and the injury hasn't caused me problems there either. I was actually bothered more on a long drive I recently did to Los Angeles as I was holding my arm in a very static position for hours. I do avoid sleeping in a way that puts all my weight on the shoulder.

About the only way I'm limited is that the instability manifests itself when I attempt to do a bench press and bar dip (or "mantling" at the climbing gym). Otherwise I don't feel the risks of surgery are worth the potential benefits. Then again I'm 56 and if I was 26 I might feel a bit differently.

Did mine playing rugby some - cough - years ago, first game of the season and ground was still like concrete from the summer. My experience was a month for basic function, just over two months before I was back in the squat rack and throwing myself around a field again. YMMV. Speak to your orthopaedic consultant/physio.

Ive done both ac joints
Right should was a grade 2
Left shoulder was a grade 3 so ligaments are completely snapped and have a permanent lump on my shoulder

All done whilst riding my bmx

I commute to work on my road bike so had no choice but to ride one week after the grade 3 accident

Was quite surprised that there was no pain when riding, infact it helped reduce pain as my shoulder was being supported/had the weight taken off it whilst riding on the hoods

The only concern was if i came off due to a car/rabbit/pedestrian etc... i could cause more damage or just not be able to use that arm to save myself when falling

Depends on where you are but you could be waiting months for NHS physio.

I broke my hip two days before New Year down in Basingstoke and I live in London.

When I was discharged they said I should have a followup in six weeks and start physio so I was duly discharged with a referral to St George's.

I got a letter from them last week offering me an appointment. Nine weeks after the accident.

And that was just the fracture clinic. From there I would have had to wait for a referral to physio and appointment.

By that stage I would have been on crutches for months, muscles wasted, unable to walk and may have taken months to recover even to a functional level, probably never completely.

Money saved on 'non-urgent' things like physio but lost in long-term disability.

Instead I went private after 10 days and paid for four sessions which got me back walking within a week, on the bike (turbo) the following week and walking unaided in a month.

10 weeks after the operation I'm doing 200+km per week, having been told I would be on crutches for up to three months.

I know people with the same injury who've taken nearly a year to get to that level, which is not to say that I'm some superman just to reinforce my point about every injury and person being different.

If you can possibly afford it, go private ASAP. A few sessions now could make your recovery so much faster and easier.

Not a direct answer I'm afraid but go see a physiotherapist ASAP.

Injuries may be similar in diagnosis but there is a lot of variation so what someone on a forum says took months for them may take weeks for you and vice versa.

Quick physio will help avoid muscle loss and start to rebuild.

The other thing they can tell you is whether or not you're likely to cause more damage by riding.

If not, then the answer to "How soon?" is "As soon as you can stand the pain."