collarbone vs. shoulder - advice?

[Blaadyblah]

I'm assuming you've done all the shoulder stretching you can think of that might slip it back to where it's meant to be and got nowhere. Since your GP was so unhelpful it might be worth getting it looked at by a physio (if you're under the care of one), otherwise your local walk in centre could take a look at it, the staff there can order Xrays and refer you on to physio too plus they usually get it all done much faster than a GP does.

Ombili - snap, about fifteen years ago an army medic noticed a lump like you describe on my collarbone and told me that it was from an earlier fracture. Seems it was one of those incidents where I didn't realise I'd broken anything (largely because I was so often told I couldn't possibly have hurt myself that badly). I'd hurt it about five years before that. I can't find the lump now, but could up until a few years ago. Has yours changed at all, did you get it looked at?

[Sandy L]

Ali3:
Is this at the end where the collarbone joins the upper piece of the breastbone or where it jins the shoulder blade? If the former, A figure 8 bandage running between the shoulders across your upper back will hold it in place somewhat. Ordinarily, that woul permit healing but with HMS, it might not heal at all. I''m not aware of any surgical procedures that have been developed for that.

[nonyanomemory]

maybe its subluxing in your sleep and the rubbing is where its sore for you. Professor G says my daughter's collarbones randomly do this, mentioned it as another part of evidence of her EDS with hypermobility outside the diagnostic criteria. am afraid I can't do it all in a medical speak so just thought I would mention it as hers do it constantly.

nonya

[Ali13]

Thanks Sandy- I've been to hospital and they've given me (a very stylish) sling to wear. Mentioned something bout fusing if it doesn't heal but I've put that in the surgery thread.

Getting much more painful now than on Monday when I did it and finding it hard to breath!

[nonyanomemory]

Hope things improve, I have decided not to answer these type of queries anymore having re-read my post better methinks to leave the comments to the professionals

nonya

[alice-emma-louise]

I hope noone minds me resurrecting this thread but my collar bone is really sore right now.

I've NEVER had a collar bone problem before but over the last hour or so it really hurts. When I pull my shoulder down and my neck away it hurts across the centre and when I twist my neck away from the collar bone it hurts quite a lot. When I prod it, it seems to be behind the collar bone in the centre that is tender and the rounded end on the inside end of it (this inner part is more tender to pressing but less painful to stretching). I haven't done anything particularly strenuous today other than carry a few bags a very short distance but I am having a bad shoulder week (but that's more my trapezium muscles that have been aching).

I'm hoping someone has an idea of what I might have done because I try to be really careful with new pains just incase it's an injury that will take along time to heal ('cause they take even longer in us don't they!) as doing further damage to a long healing pain is not a good idea. If I have an idea of what I might have done then I know how careful to be.

Thanks for reading!

Ax

[shen]

Hi guys,

wow resurrecting an old thread!

Anyway, I had an appointment today at fracture clinic. I got referred there for a 2nd opinion from A+E after my AC joint has dislocated 6 times in a week, full on dislocations that have affected severely my right arm, and numerous subluxations. He checked me out and said the joint is quite unstable and he wants to refer me to a shoulder specialist to talk about options. He spoke a lot about surgery, naming about 4 that they might be able to do. The options were, to pin it, to fuse it, to tighten the ligaments, or to cut off the end of the clavicle and destroy the joint completely. I'm really not sure the usefulness of the last one, and it sounds scary! He knew of HMS and said that its likely it wont settle down by itself because its an odd and problematic joint. Aswell as the fact i have problems with my shoulder wont be helping the situation much.

I'm getting a bit worried now, I mean its very annoying and means that i can't really write or do anything much because its my right arm, and i'm right handed for everything so the effect is worse. It also causes problems with my other shoulder because of having to carry my backpack over one arm. Having it fixed, if it keeps going like this, would mean that I would miss less uni and have less problems writing my papers and so on. Has anyone had any problems like this and had it surgically fixed? Which options did you have? and which surgery did you have done? The only one that sounds kind of useful is tightening the ligaments, the others sound very extreme. Any advice would be really appreciated.

(it was kind of fun though, knowing about HMS he asked if i could do "the thumb thing" which i did, my wrist cracked ad subluxed whilst he was holding it, it grossed him out and made him squirm he also was playing with my elbows which, whilst moving my arm to check the ac joint, he discovered was quite wobbly and bendy, i think if it wasn't so busy he might have wanted to play with some other joints to see what they could do. Its always fun when you are a marvel even to doctors in the field. )

[chelseagirl]

I have just read on the internet that sternoclavicular joint dislocation is rare accounting for only 3% of all shoulder injuries. This probably explains why nobody has been able to help me for the last 18 years. I'm currently under orthopaedics waiting for a CT scan and was asked if i would consider surgery, of which i replied yes if this is the best option. I have since seen my GP who has heard from the Orthopaedic Surgeon saying after reading Prof G's letter and depending on results of CT scan he thinks he may just refer me to the Rheumatology department at Whipps Cross in London I just keep getting sent back and forth between orthopaedics and rheumatology

[leashy11]

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place but my collar bone searches didn't bring up quite what I needed. I don't know if anyone can advise me but the other day I was laying on the floor attempting to do some exercises when I went to push myself up to a sitting position with my right arm something popped and then I got terrible pain all along my collar bone and up to my ear on that side of my neck. It hasn't gone away either and I'm finding it difficult to move that arm much and my collar bone is still very tender to the touch. I can't tell if it feels odd because I've not paid it much attention until now and there's no bruising or swelling but still alot of pain. My friend wanted to take me to A&E but you all know what it's like and I said there's no point they won't know what to do with me but I am starting to wonder if I ought to see a DR, does anyone have any thoughts on this please? I rarely go in with injuries because as we all know I'd be there permanently if I did but I have to say the pop right before the severe pain is making me wonder if I should. Anyone?

[thalia]

If the pain goes from your shoulder to your ear it may well be one of the many muscles that take that route. Does turning your head towards or away from that side hurt? Or bending your head sideways as if you're trying to put your ear on your shoulder? It may be that the Ice, heat, rest thing will help it.

If it's still causing you real problems, or you're hand on that side is colder or looking blue, then do get a doctor or A&E to take a look.

I do not have medical training, so could be way off the mark, but that's what it sounds like to me.

[leashy11]

Yes my entire neck is stiff now along with sharp pain just to the right of the centre of the collar bone, I've been resting it a bit and it is helping so I'll likely skip the DRs. Thanks for the reply!

[leashy11]

The collar bone problem has now spread out to my shoulder and arm so I'm having trouble lifting my arm up, I'm going to discuss it with my physio on Friday and see what she thinks I've done.

[mazza111]

First of all, can I just say to keep that shoulder moving, even if it's just tiny movements. The last thing you want on top of your other problems is a frozen shoulder.

[Retro]

Between now and seeing the physio you may find it more comfortable to put that arm in a sling. There is a video available on VideoJug that shows you how.

The First Aid Manual is an excellent First Aid reference. A first aid course run by St. Johns, St. Andrews or the Red Cross is an even better one

Lindsey

[leashy11]

Thanks guys, it kept me awake all night with a deep boring kind of pain all round and in the shoulder. I've got a sling so that's a good idea, think it might help a bit. My physio usually knows what to do with me so if I can hang on until tomorrow afternoon she'll tell me what I've most likely done to it.