The body of an adult has 206 bones that form the skeleton. Each of them performs certain functions. Among such a large number of bones, the clavicle should be distinguished - the paired tubular bone that connects the human hands to the body. Located immediately above the first rib. This double curved bone acts like an arrow, with the scapula taking up a position due to which the arm moves freely.
The collarbone has several important functions. Firstly, it transfers impulses from the hand to the axial skeleton. Secondly, the clavicle protects the cervical-axillary canal. The tubular bone serves as a solid support for the scapula and upper limbs. The maximum length of the clavicle of an adult does not exceed the mark of 16 cm. The bone consists of a body and two ends: sternum and acromial. The last joint is inactive. The spherical sternal joint includes costal clavicular ligaments. Five muscles are attached to the tubular bone , among which the subclavian appears. It is under this muscle that the subclavian artery, vein, and the entire nerve node of the brachial plexus are located. If you look at the clavicle from a physiological point of view, then it is a spacer between the sternum and the shoulder joint. Moreover, the paired tubular bone protects the neurovascular bundle.
As you can see, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of the clavicle. Unfortunately, many of us are familiar with pain in the collarbone. There are many reasons that cause painful spasms in the tubular bone. Since the clavicle acts as a link between the shoulder joint and the central skeleton, pain in the bone area can cause discomfort and a number of inconveniences. In many cases, clavicle pain is associated with a fracture of the bone itself. Many people are injured in the winter, falling with their elbow on a hard surface. Having fallen on a straight arm, a collarbone fracture is almost always observed. Even unsuccessfully “landing” on the shoulder, there is a high risk of earning a fracture of the paired tubular bone. Most often, injuries of this kind are received by people who are actively involved in sports. However, no one is immune from the usual fall, as a result of which the collarbone will crack or break. The main symptoms of a broken bone curve are swelling, hemorrhage, pain when moving the arm. With a fracture, you can damage the joints located near the collarbone, tear the skin and pleura.
There are cases when, with mechanical trauma, displacement of the joints of the clavicle is observed. In this case, most often there is a dislocation of the sternal and acromial ends. In the first case, the cause is a fall on the shoulder or a targeted blow to the chest area, in connection with which, there is a shift forward or backward of the sternal end. The main symptom of dislocation is pain in the sternoclavicular joint. Swelling appears on the front of the chest. In case of dislocation of the acromial end, pain in the clavicle is observed when moving the arm in the area of injury. If you feel, you can find the end of the clavicle, acting as a step. A strong blow to the shoulder can cause a dislocation of the acromial end. Often there is a specific pain in the clavicle, which is caused by squeezing the third and fourth cervical roots. The symptoms are simple: hiccups, heart pain, numbness behind the ear, difficulty swallowing.
Sometimes, they complain of pain in the left clavicle. There is no fundamental difference between the right and left side of the tubular bone. However, the causes of pain are different. If you feel pain under the left collarbone when walking, then most likely you have visited myositis. What is this disease? In simple words, it is inflammation of the skeletal muscles. Myositis makes the muscle dense, keeps it in constant tension, as a result of which movement is limited. There is a disease due to all kinds of infections, with injuries. Frequent muscle cramps can easily lead to myositis. A dangerous disease called osteochondrosis can cause pain in the clavicle. This is especially true for widespread cervical osteochondrosis. It's all about the sedentary lifestyle of many people. Office workers are the main risk group.
Be that as it may, it is necessary to quickly respond to pain in the clavicle and seek the help of a neurologist or therapist.