sore collar bone

[Chocolaty]

I have had a very painful left collar bone for nearly 3 months now it doesn't hurt all of the time but when it does it aches for hours.  It starts if I lie down, pick something up and some times for no reason at all, and it can often move round to my shoulder.  The pain can be sharp and dull.

I haven't been able to get to the doctors, just wanted to know if I should be worried or any simple remedies I could use?

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
    Thanks for writing in. Shoulder seperation can occur in patients with lax ligaments. And there could be trauma to the joint while performing our daily activities due to over use or underuse. Avoid excess activity in that joint.

Get an X-ray done and take the opinion of your GP.
Do write to me after visiting your doctor.
Best.

[Chocolaty]

Thank you for your reply i will book into see my gp asap.  It tends to hurt more as i lift or pull my arms back and now as i am typing, there was no prior injury or fall i woke one morning and my collar bone felt bruised and tender.

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
    How are you? The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. Some shoulder problems arise from the disruption of the soft tissues as a result of injury or from overuse or underuse of the shoulder. Other problems arise from a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well.
Pain in shoulder can occur due to several conditions like fractures, tendinitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, shoulder dislocation, torn rotator cuff, shoulder seperation, arthritis of the shoulder etc.
Is there a history of trauma or fall prior to these 3 months? Are you able to move your arm in all directions or is there any restriction in movements of the shoulder joint?
In your case it is more likely that you are having shoulder seperation or torn rotator cuff, because in shoulder seperation pain is experienced while lifting an object or trying to move where as in torn rotator cuff pain is present over the deltoid muscle at the top and outer side of the shoulder, especially when the arm is raised or extended out from the side of the body.
Get an X-ray of shoulder joint done and visit a orthopaedician.
Take care.