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Female, 21, Fort Bragg - NC, member since Mar 2007
My name is Shannon, I'm 20, and I am happily married. My husband met in the Army and got married on Oct 12th, 2006. I believe I have accomplished many things and been through a lot for someone my age. Whatever doesn't kill you will only make you stronger! I am a wife, s...
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My Surgery... Sternoclavicular Joint Repair 3/14/07
Sep 14, 2007 11:30PM
- 2 comments
When I was 14ish, my collarbone dislocated at the Sternoclavicular joint... where your collarbone and breast bone meet. Ever since then, my SC joint would dislocate constantly throughout the day (pretty much with any arm movement... 15-20 times a day?) The doctor I saw at the time said it would heal in a year... that it was common in young girls since bones aren't fully matured at that age. My doctor said he didn't recommend surgery since I was so young.
When I was 16 or so, I went back to the doctor since it didn't heal. The doctor said that it was odd that it didn't heal but again, didn't recommend surgery.
When I was 18, I got my collarbone checked out again to make sure I was ok to join the Army. Everything was fine. Again, he said he wouldn't recommend surgery since it is a pretty intricate surgery....Doc said to come back if I had any pain.
When I was 19, after basic training and AIT, I started having a lot of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. I went to the doctor again... turns out the pain was coming from my collarbone- everytime it dislocated, it was irritating my muscles and nerves. I found an amazing heart surgeon that was willing to do my surgery- no if's and's or but's about it!
When he first cut me open, the doc found the muscle just floating around (The muscle that held my joint together. He drilled a hole in my collarbone...took one of my neck muscles and wrapped it around my collarbone and rib to hold it in place, to make my SC joint a stable joint.
The surgery went well- as in it IS a stable joint.... ALTHOUGH I am having some complications. I have to go back to the doctor to get some xrays and mri's done... I have some clicking in my SC joint. My physical therapist thinks that it could be my bones rubbing together... either over the years of constant dislocation or the doc cut my bone too sharp- sounds like the disk between my two bones have deteriorated.
Overall, I wish I didn't have the surgery. I still have neck pain... sometimes worse than before since I have my thin neck muscle holding my joint together which is painful sometimes. Yes, it is a stable joint but I still have pain and just a big scar.
When I was 16 or so, I went back to the doctor since it didn't heal. The doctor said that it was odd that it didn't heal but again, didn't recommend surgery.
When I was 18, I got my collarbone checked out again to make sure I was ok to join the Army. Everything was fine. Again, he said he wouldn't recommend surgery since it is a pretty intricate surgery....Doc said to come back if I had any pain.
When I was 19, after basic training and AIT, I started having a lot of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. I went to the doctor again... turns out the pain was coming from my collarbone- everytime it dislocated, it was irritating my muscles and nerves. I found an amazing heart surgeon that was willing to do my surgery- no if's and's or but's about it!
When he first cut me open, the doc found the muscle just floating around (The muscle that held my joint together. He drilled a hole in my collarbone...took one of my neck muscles and wrapped it around my collarbone and rib to hold it in place, to make my SC joint a stable joint.
The surgery went well- as in it IS a stable joint.... ALTHOUGH I am having some complications. I have to go back to the doctor to get some xrays and mri's done... I have some clicking in my SC joint. My physical therapist thinks that it could be my bones rubbing together... either over the years of constant dislocation or the doc cut my bone too sharp- sounds like the disk between my two bones have deteriorated.
Overall, I wish I didn't have the surgery. I still have neck pain... sometimes worse than before since I have my thin neck muscle holding my joint together which is painful sometimes. Yes, it is a stable joint but I still have pain and just a big scar.
Thanks for sharing your story. I tore my medial meniscus (cartlidge in the knee) and have been struggling with whether to have surgery or not. I really appreciate how hard it must have been to make the decision to have surgery. My knee gets really sore and stiff from just walking and having children it makes it difficult to play with them. Do you wish you didn't have surgery because it didn't really help or because it is worse now?
Hope you feel better.
Hope you feel better.
Thank you for your comment! You asked "Do you wish you didn't have surgery because it didn't really help or because it is worse now? "
Sort of both.
I did technically help since my joint is stable (That was the point of the surgery) but that was according to the doctor. To me, I guess it didn't help in my personal opinion... the reason why I wanted to do the surgery is so yes it became a stable joint... but only to relieve the pain... which it didn't help in the department.
It's not really worse... surgery wise things are great.... the pain is worse though.
I don't know though... with knee surgery, I would think it's different. There haven't been many surgeries like the one I had since there isn't much a doctor can do.
I don't know what to tell you about your knee surgery... do what your heart tells you, like I did. It hurt before surgery... it hurts after surgery... I didn't have anything to lose. I took a chance. I am thankful that my collarbone is stable- I am a step ahead... and I am doing phys therapy to work on the pain.
Whatever you choose, good luck, I will be thinking of you.
Sort of both.
I did technically help since my joint is stable (That was the point of the surgery) but that was according to the doctor. To me, I guess it didn't help in my personal opinion... the reason why I wanted to do the surgery is so yes it became a stable joint... but only to relieve the pain... which it didn't help in the department.
It's not really worse... surgery wise things are great.... the pain is worse though.
I don't know though... with knee surgery, I would think it's different. There haven't been many surgeries like the one I had since there isn't much a doctor can do.
I don't know what to tell you about your knee surgery... do what your heart tells you, like I did. It hurt before surgery... it hurts after surgery... I didn't have anything to lose. I took a chance. I am thankful that my collarbone is stable- I am a step ahead... and I am doing phys therapy to work on the pain.
Whatever you choose, good luck, I will be thinking of you.
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