What does it mean when your collarbone hurts?

The collarbone, also known as the clavicle bone, is a long and slender bone that connects the breastbone to each shoulder blade. It plays a crucial role in holding your arms in place and helps facilitate various arm movements such as lifting, throwing, and even scratching your back when no one else is around to do it for you. However, like all bones in our body, the collarbone can become prone to injuries or other ailments that can cause pain and discomfort.

If you’ve ever experienced collarbone pain yourself or suspect someone close to you may be dealing with this issue, then this article is just what the doctor ordered – well not exactly because I’m not a doctor so please don’t take anything written here too seriously. Let’s get started!

Anatomy of The Collarbone

Before diving into potential causes of why your collarbones hurt or how much they hurt if yours isn’t hurting, let’s discuss what factors could make certain people more susceptible than others: anatomy! The shape and size of your clavicle can vary from person-to-person depending on several underlying factors:

  • Genetics
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Height

However, overall structures are generally similar across populations despite idiosyncrasies which sometimes crop up.

At either end of each side lies an articulation point where it meets another bone : at one end its jointed with the acromion that forms part of scapula (shoulder Blade) while other end articulates sternum for stability purposes within chest wall itself.

Why Does My Collarbone Hurt?

There are many possible reasons why your collarbones might ache , we shall highlight some few below:

Shoulder Dislocation

A dislocated shoulder—arguably least funny reason but stay till after reading make– happens when either epiphysis – usually younger males – or joint capsule – traumatic injuries usually in older adults – is damaged enough to let the humerus bone slip out of socket.

Poor Posture

Whenever you hear someone say things like ‘stand up straight!’ they’re actually giving good advice because posture affects many areas of our bodily health, including collarbone pain. An individual constantly slouching or sitting for extended periods with head stooped, shoulders hunched over compacts clavicles against chest wall which leads them experience painful sensation in area whenever moving arms due increased pressure on rubbing bones themselves.

Arthritis

Arthritis involves inflammation that gradually and potentially painfully wears away cartilage cushions between joints thereby inflicting aches pains till point full range motion impaired altogether. Collar-bone pain might accompany arthritis related issues if it becomes impacted due its vicinity shoulder joint where arm meets body hinges upon two crucial bones apposed on top one another but held together via connective tissue muscles ligaments and tendons surrounding these structures likely play role as main culprit when collisions occur from extreme forces outside your control such high-velocity sports accidents vehicle wrecks etc..

Fractured Clavicle

Fractures caused mostly by significant blunt force trauma typically inflicted during sports activities such tackling other individuals –touch football/ultimate frisbee/Frisbee-tossing-contestswith-extremely-high-stakes-for-example –or severe auto crash / motor vehicle accidentyou could probably tell I’ve never been part of any sport ever..sighs

Diagnosis

It’s difficult to know exactly what’s causing your collarbone to hurt and so it would be foolhardy reckless wrong dangerous and illegal am sorry, especially if there was no acute injury involved like when clobbered in keister-by-smaaaaash! before subsequent x-ray render necessary professional intervention rather useless without much details available regarding incident requiring medical management thereof Maybe try taking aspirin or ibuprofen, but will this provide complete relief? Signs you should seek professional medical help include these factors:

  • Pain persists more than a week with no sign of improvement even after rest and physical therapy.
  • Swelling redness or excessive tenderness
  • Numbness in fingertip some part nearby – often caused from pressure upon nerves as result excess tension pulled region around injury.

Treatment

There are various treatment options available to relieve collarbone pain depending on its severity and cause:

Rest

Sometimes the simplest solution works best! In cases where the pain isn’t too severe, try taking it easy for a few days by avoiding strenuous activity that involves your arms.

Ice Therapy

Apply ice packs several times throughout day about 20 minutes each time especially helpful managing swelling encouraging healing hastening recovery reducing inflammation numbing area temporarily soothing discomforting sensations emanating therein — albeit not all at once though as would probably lead frostbitten clavicle.

Medication

For minor pains over-the-counter drugs like Ibuprofen and aspirin can suffice while intense long-term medication opioids might require prescriptions from healthcare providers because risk addiction threat overdose greater dependence same category similar drugs including Vicodin/codeine /morphine Oxycontin etc… .Only do what’s recommended by professionals because there may be serious side effects attached especially when used wrongly through oral abuse or inhalations via smoking e.g.a couple of years ago Dave nearly swallowed his phone because he was so high on pills prescribed for completely different ailment so don’t be Him!!

Surgery

In certain situations such as particularly bad fractures surgery is required sometimes with permanent hardware implantation metallic plate screws screws pins other types devices keeping framework structure bones themselves soundly aligned properly set prevent any further misalignments until well healed – however down duration postoperative rehabilitation period self-care exercises basic movements mobility during rest periods remains crucial avoid setbacks relapses into earlier stages impairments…

Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure, right? There are several proactive measures that you can take to reduce the likelihood of experiencing collarbone pain:

  • Maintain good posture throughout the day
  • Wear protective gear when performing high-risk activities such as sports
  • Take regular breaks and stretches during work hours if constantly sitting typing at desk staring computer monitor paying bills calculating taxes etc.
  • Strengthen your shoulder muscles through targeted exercises.

With these steps, you’ll be able to minimize your chances of experiencing collarbone pain so GO OUT THERE TO THE LATEST GAME OF EXTREME TIC-TAC -TOE UNSCATHED!!!

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