{"id":10605,"date":"2019-09-08T05:11:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-08T05:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10605"},"modified":"2021-06-29T16:14:54","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T16:14:54","slug":"16-known-symptoms-of-broken-collarbone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/16-known-symptoms-of-broken-collarbone\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Known Symptoms of Broken Collarbone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A broken collarbone is a rare condition that doesn\u2019t often occur often in the United States. In fact, there are less than 200,000 cases reported each year. A broken collarbone occurs when the bone breaks that connects the breastbone and shoulder. When you have a broken collarbone, it can heal within days to weeks, if you get treatment early. In other times, surgery may be needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the collarbone is broken, it shouldn\u2019t be moved. It needs to be placed in an arm sling until the doctor gives the okay to remove it. Physical therapy will do a number of strengthening exercises with you so that your broken collarbone can heal faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once it heals, you\u2019ll be able to go back to the activities that you were doing before this happened. When you have a broken collarbone, you\u2019ll need to know what the symptoms are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight known symptoms of a broken collarbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain increases when the shoulder is moved is a symptom of a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to try not to move it. It is a good idea to place the broken arm in a sling. The sling will prevent you from moving your shoulder. Pain-relieving medication <\/a>should be taken as well. The pain will cease for a few hours. You\u2019ll need to take them as directed. For instance, if the pill bottle says to take two every six hours, that is what you\u2019re supposed to do. Don\u2019t take three just because you\u2019re in excruciating pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of the times things you do can make the pain worse. It may be uncomfortable to be able to do things on your own. It is best to have someone assist you, so you won\u2019t be tempted to move your shoulder. Even when bathing and dressing, have someone assist you with that as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Bruising is a known symptom of a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you injured your shoulder, a bruise <\/a>will appear since you landed on it. The size of the bruise depends on how hard you hit your shoulder on the ground. In order to get rid of the bruise, you\u2019ll need to ice it several times a day. When icing it, place a towel over your shoulder and then the icepack or ice. You will get frostbite, if you place the icepack directly on your skin. Icing should be done for 10 minutes every couple of hours. After a few days, the bruise should be gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruises take a long time to go away, so you\u2019ll have to be patient. The bruise may be sore as well. It will be unsightly, so you should wear shirts that cover your shoulder. Don\u2019t cover the bruise with a bandage because it\u2019ll make the pain worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Swelling is another known symptom of a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Icing and over-the-counter pain reliever will help to get the swelling down. Ice the area several times a day and take Tylenol <\/a>or Motrin as directed. Some people say to cover a swollen area with a bandage to help it to go down, but since you have a broken collarbone that is something you may not want to do. Swelling is usually combined with pain. Whenever you touch the area, pain will occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eating a low-sodium diet will help with the swelling as well. When you put the wrong foods in your body, it can cause an adverse reaction, especially if you\u2019re suffering from an injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing you need to do is to get as much rest as possible. When you wake up, the swelling will look smaller. If the swelling doesn\u2019t go away in a few days, go to the emergency room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. A crackling or grinding sound will occur when you try to move the shoulder is a known symptom of a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bone is broken, so you\u2019ll hear those sounds. There might be pain as well when you try to move it. It is best to keep it stationary since the sounds may scare you. You\u2019ll make it worse if you try to move it, especially if you\u2019re hearing crackling and grinding sounds. A physical therapist<\/a> is the only person who can tell you the correct way to move your shoulder. Since you have the grinding and crackling sound, this may be a sign that you need surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A doctor will take lab and imaging tests to see how broken the collarbone is. If the doctor believes you need surgery, it should be done immediately. If you don\u2019t have surgery, the collarbone won\u2019t heal and you\u2019ll have to use a sling for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. The tender feeling is a known symptom of having a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whenever you try to touch the shoulder, the pain will occur. It is important to keep your hands off of the shoulder area. Even if someone else touches it, it will cause you pain. You don\u2019t want to move your shoulder at all. When you take a shower or change your clothes, for instance, you\u2019ll need to be careful. You\u2019ll need to do everything slowly because if you touch it, it\u2019ll hurt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you finally go to physical therapy, the physical therapist will know exactly how to handle the shoulder without causing you too much pain. Once it starts to heal, the tenderness <\/a>feeling will go away. You should still be careful about how you handle your shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tenderness may come back if you\u2019re too rough with it. You want to get better, so you can go back to doing your chosen activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Stiffness or inability to move shoulder because of a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since it\u2019s stiff, it\u2019s best not to do anything on that side of your arm, such as driving. Even if you think you can drive with one hand, you still have to move the other side, especially when making turns. Placing the shoulder in a sling is the best option. At physical therapy<\/a>, the physical therapist may massage it to loosen the tightness in your shoulder. It will be painful for the first few sessions, but after a while, it will become second nature to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of the times when stiffness occurs, you\u2019ll develop arthritis in your shoulder when you get older. Whenever it rains, for example, your shoulder will ache. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubbing ice analgesic cream will help, but it can only be used a few times a day. The physical therapist may suggest using a hot pack to loosen up your shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Bulge near or on your shoulder occurs when you have a broken collarbone. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bulge looks like it\u2019s swollen. When you touch it, it may be tender. When you have a bulge on your shoulder area, don\u2019t pick with it. You\u2019ll just make it worse and it\u2019ll last longer. One of the things you can do is using an Epsom salt mixture every few hours to see if the bulge will go down. The Epsom salt mixture needs to have a cup of Epsom salt<\/a> and a cup or two of warm water. Place a clean cloth in the mixture and place it on the shoulder for a few seconds. Dip the clean cloth into the mixture again. Repeat several times until the mixture gets cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always use a clean cloth and mixture each time you do it. Rubbing alcohol can be placed into the Epsom salt mixture or rubbed directly onto the shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Newborns will get a broken collarbone during delivery. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the infant <\/a>won\u2019t be able to move its arm for several days. In order to get the arm moving again, the infant will need to stay in the hospital a few more days for observation. Parents will be limited to how often they can hold their babies. The doctors may wrap the arm area so that the baby doesn\u2019t try to move it. Since the collarbone area may still be affected, the doctor may tell the parents how to hold the baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to not let a lot of people hold the baby until the collarbone heals. Even if you tell people how to hold the baby, they won\u2019t listen. A broken collarbone is more painful for an infant because of their little bones. A person has to be extra careful when handling an infant more than an adult with a broken collarbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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