Anyone ever have an AC Joint Separation Stage III?

I did last July doing jiu jitsu, which I dearly loved & sorely miss.  Treatment options have been fairly limited for me since I don't have ins & have been struggling to make ends meet financially.  I had appendicitis/ bowel obstruction emergency surgery the next month - that Aug.  Lots of medical bills!!  Soooo, I'm trying to find people who may have some insight based on their own experiences or perhaps a close friend who has had an AC Joint Separation where all 3 tendons were completely severed.

After seeing a dr for diagnosis, I saw a physical therapist for an assessment & a second visit to get exercises & for her to show me how to do them.  I've been doing them since late Sep/ early Oct, though not on a daily basis.  I didn't present for diagnosis until 7 wks after injury bc I was SOOO hoping that it was just a bad sprain & it would get better (this is due to $$ constraints, of course).  The physical therapist told me that since the shoulder joint was no longer supported by the tendons & that (of course) I had favored that shoulder/ arm for so long that the muscles had weakened that support the shoulder joint.  B/w the tendons & weakened muscles, my scapula flipped inwards at the top slightly & rotated slightly counter-clockwise, further reducing the space in the joint (already reduced from lack of tendons).  The tendons will never reconnect.  It is possible that I *MAY* ultimately need surgery, it's just not even an option right now anyway, though it's suggested for young athletically-inclined individuals, which I was at that time.

I still have daily discomfort in simple movements that reduce the distance in the joint b/c it compresses/ impinges on the cartilage inside the joint.  The physical therapist was hoping that strengthening the muscles would force the scapula back in place & help to open the joint back up.  I'm thinking of giving it 2 more months & making sure that I get the exercises done every day (which takes 1 hr & 40 min) & if it's still not better, then to go back.  I don't expect never to have pain or discomfort again, but such motions as putting a phone to my ear or attempting to lay on my shoulder longer than 5 minutes on my bed, which has a 3" thick memory foam pad, shouldn't cause immediate pain that makes me want to stop that right now. 

Is it just me or does that seem like the healing is not progressing as it should??  Does anyone know?  Furthermore, the physical therapists thought was that I would be able to go back to jiu jitsu by January if I do my exercises faithfully, yet I'm concerned about where I'm at now.  Is this normal?? 

Anyone have any advice based on experience with an AC Joint injury??  Please Help!!!  I am so upset about this all.  Quite aside from long-term concern with arthritis in the joint, I cannot stress enough how very important to me doing jiu jitsu is/ was.  I desperately want to go back, but don't want to hurt myself.  I've been very, very upset about this & just don't know what to do.  Advice welcome!

I had a level 3 seperation about 6 years ago due to an ATV crash. The specialist said that due to my weight (375) he did not recommend surgery because the likelyhood of it healing properly was small. I think that what he was really saying was that you are fat and most likely lazy and won't do the rehab. He said that "it should not really alter my lifestyle unless you are an elite thrower or something". Ironically that is still something that I am very interested in doing. The discus motion where my arm is extended and pulling away from my torso hurts but I have never really tried to ease into the season. The shot put motion that is like a bench press or military press does not hurt at all. I also remember the first time I ran 10 miles it was very sore but after a few months of running that went away.

Overall it is still very annoying but managable. Much of the time I don't even notice it. At this point I would say that I could do anything that I wanted to do before. I wrestle with my son and it does not hinder that at all. I have even been thinking about a little MMA training and don't think that too bad. My range of motion is better in the bad arm which can't hurt. At this point it's not 100% but its something that I have been able to work with.

Looking back it took about 2 months bafore I could raise my arm above my head without pain. I just think that it's going to take some time. Just keep you head up. It will get better.

Thank you so much for your reply!  I'll keep up with the exercises & probably go back to get one more assessment before trying to go back.  I think part of my problem is anxiety about reinjury, especially given the lack of health ins & finances - following last years' medical bills, that's just about the last thing I need.