Collarbone pain

Introduction

Painful complaints in the area of the collarbone can have many different causes. One can basically differentiate between causes from the area of the musculoskeletal system, such as injuries to the clavicle itself or adjacent structures, and diseases of the internal organs, such as heart disease.

There are these causes

Pain in the collarbone can be caused by various diseases. These include among others:

  • Musculoskeletal causes
  • Collarbone fracture
  • Broken ribs
  • Rib contusion
  • Acromioclavicular joint dislocation
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Heart attack
  • Pneumonia
  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Vascular diseases

Other accompanying symptoms

Accompanying symptoms depend on the underlying disease or injury. If the cause is a muscular disorder, the affected person often has no other symptoms. In the case of clavicle or rib fractures, additional pain around the ribcage and a hematoma may occur.

Breathing difficulties can also be accompanying symptoms. In the case of shoulder joint fractures, patients experience pain in the shoulder and restricted movement. Often a part of the collarbone protrudes upwards, a so-called piano key phenomenon.

In general, the movement of the arms may be restricted, since when they move, the muscles in the area of the ribcage also move. In the case of severe internal diseases, a variety of symptoms can occur. For example, if there is a heart problem, patients often have symptoms such as palpitations, high blood pressure, dizziness, anxiety and shortness of breath. The collarbone is a typical painful zone for injuries to the diaphragm. If a diaphragmatic hernia occurs, patients may experience shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting.

What can bilateral collarbone pain indicate?

Bilateral pain in the collarbone is often a sign of an internal disease, such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism or vascular disease. However, one should not always think of the worst directly, usually there are other symptoms. Musculoskeletal causes can also cause pain on both sides, for example cramps in the neck or shoulder muscles.