Illustration by Alexandra Gordon for Verywell Health
1.
It can also happen if you get into an accident, like a car crash.
Pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) is often used.
Illustration by Alexandra Gordon for Verywell Health
Surgery may be recommended if the pieces of bone are significantly out of position.
This involves using screws with plates or pins to hold the pieces of bone in place.
Surgery involves some risks of infection and nerve damage.
Ligaments hold these two bones together.
There is also a flexiblecartilagedisc.
Injuries like this to the AC joint are common among young athletes.
For more serious separations, surgery is needed followed by rehabilitation and muscle strengthening.
Overuse
Distal clavicleosteolysisis an overuse injury resulting from weightlifting or other repetitive overhead activities.
The repetitive motion causes bone disintegration and damage.
Symptoms include pain at the end of the clavicle near the shoulder.
It is usually felt during activity.
However, tenderness and swelling can occur even after activity is stopped.
Arthritis
The sternoclavicular joint (SC joint) is located between the breastbone and the collarbone.
The cartilage on the ends of the bones gradually wears away, and the space between the bones decreases.
This may cause pain and stiffness in the SC joint.
Surgery is also an option for some types of TOS.
Cancer
In rare instances, clavicle pain can be a symptom of one of these types of cancer.
Infection
Osteomyelitisis a bone infection that can occur ifbacteria or fungiget inside your body.
Causes of osteomyelitis include:
The symptoms of osteomyelitis may include pain, joint warmth, and swelling.
It isbenign(not cancerous) and does not spread to other areas of the body.
The condition has no known cause.
The treatment usually includes antibiotics.
At-Home Treatment and First Aid
The treatment for collarbone pain will depend on what’s causing it.
It shouldn’t feel too loose or too tight.
If your collarbone pain is from a muscle injury or sprain, you may also try rest and ice.
How Long to Ice
Do noticefor longer than 20 minutes at a time.
Chronic pain should also be checked by a healthcare provider.
Summary
Collarbone pain can be because of injuries, infections, and health conditions.
There are also rare conditionslike thoracic outlet syndrome, osteomyelitis, and condensing osteitisthat can cause collarbone pain.
Treatment of your collarbone pain depends on the cause.
Immobilization, over-the-counter medication, and physical therapy are common ways to manage collarbone injuries.
Surgery may also be needed.
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