A broken collarbone is something that should never be disregarded. This can be extremely painful and could take many months to recover from completely. One of the most challenging tasks during this recovery process is to get proper sleep.
It is indeed a challenging task because getting sleep after your collarbone has been broken can cause immense pain, swelling, and reduced flexibility. But with the right treatment and lifestyle modifications, you can get quality sleep and hasten your recovery process. So, let’s see how swelling and pain caused by a broken collarbone can be managed.
What Is A Clavicle Fracture (Broken Collarbone)?
A broken collarbone, or clavicle fracture, is one of the common injuries that occurs when the bone between your chest bone and shoulder blades cracks. This fracture occurs as a result of a collision during games like hockey or football, a direct attack on the shoulder, or as a result of a fall.
You may not know that even a simple fall or trip while doing your regular activities can lead to a broken collarbone. It is estimated that almost 50% of the reason for this collarbone fracture is due to falling. One of the major symptoms of a broken collarbone is swelling and extreme pain in the affected region. Keep reading to learn how to reduce swelling after a fracture.
What Are The Signs You Have A Broken Collarbone?
The most common symptoms of a broken collarbone are
- Difficulty Moving Shoulders: Your arm or shoulder may feel stiff. It might start to hurt a lot when you move it. You might hear and feel some cracking or grinding in your shoulders when you try to move them.
- Bone Pain: There could be pain in your shoulder between the collarbones or at the base of your neck.
- Visible Misalignment: Your shoulder may seem to slide abnormally, or one of your clavicle bones might also seem to be lower than the other one.
- Bruising: Skin around your collarbone might be discolored or darker than usual.
- Skin Tenting: Small pieces of bone might stick together and form a tent-like bump on the broken collarbone. Skin tenting occurs when there is a broken collarbone.
- Swelling: A collarbone fracture might also contribute to inflammation. This results in the swelling of soft tissues and muscles near the collarbone. Usually, collarbones are closer to the skin, so you can feel the inflammation.
If you have these above signs, it is vital to seek immediate medical care. Neglecting the signs may lead to complications in the future and slow down the recovery process. Getting prompt bone fracture care reduces pain, promotes faster healing, and prevents long-term issues.
What Are The Causes Of A Fractured Clavicle?
Usually, fractures in the collarbones occur as a result of accidental injuries, such as
1) Falls: Outstretching your arm and falling on your shoulder can break your collarbones.
2) Car Accidents: Car accidents might cause airbag injury and, most of the time, make you bang your shoulders on the dashboard.
3) Birth Trauma: Newborns whose shoulders get stuck in the birth canal might experience a collarbone fracture.
4) Collisions: The most common injuries that occur while playing sports are shoulder collisions. This sometimes causes shoulder dislocation or collarbone fractures.
Understanding these causes helps take preventive measures and provide collarbone pain relief if treated early. Seeking immediate medical attention from the best ortho hospital in Coimbatore helps assess the severity of the injury, prevent further complications, and ensure effective management.
How Are Broken Collarbone’s Swelling And Pain Treated?
Based on the location and seriousness of the collarbone fracture, treatments will be given. The treatments involved for a broken collarbone are:
1. Arm Support Slings
Wearing a sling on your arm helps heal it faster and prevents further damage in the future. Your doctor may recommend that you wear a sling until your fractured collarbone starts to heal.
2. Medications To Manage Pain
Your doctors might prescribe medications to help get rid of the pain and the discomfort caused by the collarbone fracture.
3. Physical Therapy
Once you start to recover from the fracture, your physician might recommend doing physical therapy. Doing physical exercises might help keep your shoulder joint flexible and improve its mobility. These physical exercises will be recommended based on your particular injury and recovery needs.
4. Surgery
In certain cases, surgery will be suggested for a broken collarbone. Through factors including the location of the injury, its severity, and other complications, doctors will evaluate if you need surgery. Consulting the best ortho specialist in Coimbatore ensures proper evaluation, tailored treatment, and faster recovery from a broken collarbone.
Conclusion
A fractured collarbone might cause excruciating pain and discomfort. But with the right treatment, you can recover completely. If you are suspicious that you have a fracture, then it is important to seek prompt medical guidance for proper diagnosis and treatment. Be patient and follow your physician’s treatment plan to promote healing. Over time, you can go back to doing your regular activities without any discomfort and recover completely from the fracture.
