Question
i was playing football and i got takled and right after i had an imediate pain in my shoulder. it became swollen i get sudden pain in the collarbone it hurts to lift and move my arm certain ways. it has a bruise in a certain spot and it hurts to the touch. what is wrong with my shoulder or collarbone?  please awnser if you can thank you

Answer
Dear Kayla,

There are three specific problems that may apply here that are directly related to the clavicle (collarbone).  The clavicle attaches at the shoulder to a portion of the scapula(shoulder blade)called the acromium process, it also attaches to the sternum, and has a further ligamentous attachment to the coracoid process of the scapula.  At these attachment points there are true joints, joint capsules and ligaments.  These can all be strained or torn with a direct trauma to the shoulder.  

If your pain is more to the shoulder area than towards the neck/sternum area, then it is likely that you may have injured the acromioclavicular ligament and possibly the coracoclavicular ligament.  This injury needs to be graded:  there are three degrees of injury to this area, and they are further classified by six types of injury.  Dislocation of the calvicle may be present with these injuries when they are severe. The grading of the injury will determine the treatment choice, however, bracing of the shoulder is the most frequent remedy.

Lastly it is also possible that you have fractured the clavicle.  This is a common injury with shoulder trauma in men and women, and children and adolescents are more susceptible to injury.  There is a great article on line about clavicle fractures...I have copied the link to the website below.

www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2003/1203/housner.htm

Bottom line...Go get it checked out....preferably by an orthopedist rather than your family doctor.  The majority of these shoulder injuries do not require surgical corrections. Bracing, rest and then functional rehab exercises are often the best choice for recovery.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net