Regarding Mitch, I think he’s going to be out at least a week since it was a separation from an earlier surgically repaired separation but here you go:
In Week 14, Tatum Bell suffered a Shoulder Separation that looked like would have placed him on IR for the remainder of the season. Here is the official report from the following Monday -
Denver’s Tatum Bell, seeing his first extensive action of the season after replacing Rueben Droughns in the lineup on Sunday, suffered a serious (3rd degree) shoulder separation that knocked Bell out of the game. Coach Shanahan indicated after the game that the injury wasn’t good (“A third degree separation isn’t good. That’s as high as it goes” Said Shanahan). Bell could be done for the season - further evaluations are ongoing.
Now, here is the update 4 days later -
RB Tatum Bell (Den) practiced on Friday and remains questionable for this weekend. “Tatum is still a little bit better,” coach Mike Shanahan said Friday. “It’s still quite sore and it is still a game-time decision.” He is expected to play but it’ll come down to game time for the official word.
One Week Later (from a 3rd Degree Shoulder Separation), Tatum Bell played NFL tackle football!!! He rushed 9 times for 50 yds and added 1 catch for 58 yds.
I know the situations are different but if Tatum can play NFL RB one week after a 3rd degree shoulder separation, there is hope that Mitch can be back sooner rather than later.
Just thought I would add some optimism to this topic of interest…take it for what it’s worth.
While I won’t claim to be an expert or a doctor or anything, a separated shoulder and a dislocated shoulder are two completely different injuries. A shoulder separation involces the AC joint, where the shoulder and collarbone meet. A shoulder dislocation has more to do with the labrum (i think) and other ligaments holding the shoulder in joint. Mitchell suffered a dislocated shoulder before the season started and his latest injury is also a dislocation. The two terms are not interchangeable. From what I have heard, Mitch may need to have surgery in the offseason but they just don’t know yet. Shoulders are very tricky. Sometimes simply resting and building the muscles around them can do wonders, and sometimes they just keep poppoing out until surgically repaired. Now, I’m not gonna claim anything about when he’ll be back. I know from personal experience with a severe shoulder separation that it took me 2 weeks to even lift my arm over my head slowly, and I’ve never dislocated my shoulder, so I’m inclined to just listen to what they tell us about when he’ll be back. Everybody heals differently. Maybe Mitch can wear his shoulder harness if his shoulder is anywhere near game-capable. I don’t want the guy to get hurt, but God knows we need him.
I bet Bell was shot so full of drugs he could not feel his shoulder 2 weeks after the season was over.
I talked to Mitch tonight in the SAC and he said he would probably be playing Wednesday
[i]Originally posted by The Ambassador of Qwan[/i]@Jan 16 2005, 08:27 PM
[b] Mitch may need to have surgery in the offseason but they just don't know yet. Shoulders are very tricky. Sometimes simply resting and building the muscles around them can do wonders, and sometimes they just keep poppoing out until surgically repaired [/b]
You can tear a labrum by falling and catching yourself before you land on the floor. From my personal experience of a torn labrum, you can use the arm but it hurts when you raise it above horizontal. It must be surgically repaired but my doctor said I could put that off for a while by excersising the "supraspinatus" (or something???) and strengthening the muscle holding the ball in socket.
I got marginal results - because I’m lazy, and eventually had the surgery to clean everything out. Rehabbing shoulder surgery is something I wouldn’t wish on a mortal enemy though. It’s tough.
Cortisone works great in the short term…