Sharp pain in collar bone

[rgmercer]

Hi, first post here but looking for a little advice. I was at a Jiu Jitsu class last night and was grappling with teamates. There was a scramble and as I tried to secure a submission, I came down hard on the back/side of my left shoulder and heard and felt a loud crunch/snap/crack in the front on my collar bone. It was fine for about 5-6 seconds until I started feeling a sharp stabbing pain.

I got up and sat out and tried to figure out what is was. There was no immediate pain along the front of the collar bone to touch as far as I could tell, and arm range of mobility seemed fine EXCEPT when I brought my arm across my body reaching to the other side....that was terriblly painful.

I came home and iced it and tried not to move it soo much. Had a lot of trouble sleeping, had to get up and take some Advil middle of the night. Just sitting up in bed or pushing off with that arm at all killed and the pain remains this morning.

I have a hard time believing its a fracture because I figured it would be worse but I am pretty confused as to what it is. Anybody had collar bone injuries that was not a fracture? Any tissues/membranes in there that could become damage?

Thanks for the help

[Heidi]

Hi

Definately worth an x-ray just to be on the safe side.

Other alternatives to a fracture are AC joint separation:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/shoulder/acjoint.htm

damage to one or more of the muscles which attach to the collar bone (e.g. pec major):

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/shoulder/clavicletendonitis.htm

As I said I would go for an x-ray just to make sure, rest as much as possible until then - take the weight off the shoulder by putting the arm in a sling.

If there is no fracture, visit a sport injury specialist if there is no improvement.

Good luck!

[rgmercer]

thanks for the advice

Decided to go to the hospital and got an Xray. No fracture evident, but seems I have done a good amount of damage to my sternoclavicular joint (first time I've ever heard that word).

Anyways, pretty painful. Any idea on the recovery time for this kind of sprain? I know it varies a lot from person to person, but anyone know anything about them? Other than just taking it easy.....(I hate sitting still)

Thanks

[Heidi]

Hi
We have a page on sternoclavicular joint dislocation, which is usually the cause of damage to the joint:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/chest/sternoclavicular.htm

The damage is probably ligament sprains or rupture. You are right that the main treatment unfortunately is rest for on average 2-3 weeks. You can gradually start to permorm shoulder range of motion exercises as pain allows.

[rgmercer]

thanks for the advice. Im hoping its not as bad as it seems.

I definetly heard the crunch/snap/pop (something like all 3) when it happened, so Im guessing its somewhere between a first and second degree sprain. The second degree, there is a subluxation. I use to have the happen on my other shoulder on a bi-weekly basis and eventually required surgery, so Im a little paranoid about it.

Getting pretty sick of soft tissue injuries.

Thanks agian