Do I Have Separated Shoulder?

Do you have a persistent tenderness or pain near the end of your collarbone?

Do you have a swelling or bruising on your shoulder?

Do you feel pain when you try to move your arm?

Do you have a limited range of motion in your shoulder (for example, when you try to lift your arm)?

Do you feel weakness in your shoulder or arm?

Do you tend to support your elbow while holding your arm close to the side of your body?

Do you have a small bump on the top of your shoulder where the clavicle ends?

Do you hear a popping sound as your shoulder moves?

Does your clavicle move when you push it?

Have you suffer a blow to the point of your shoulder or a fall directly on your shoulder?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a separated shoulder. A separated shoulder is an injury of ligaments that connect your collarbone (clavicle) to your shoulder blade. Different types of injuries can cause a separated shoulder such as a fall directly onto the shoulder, a direct blow to your shoulder or a fall on an outstretched arm. Anyone can get a separate shoulder, but this is most often the case with people who play contact sports (football and hockey) or sports that can involve falls (e.g. downhill skiing and gymnastics). Car accidents are also a common cause of severe cases of a separated shoulder.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a separated shoulder. A separated shoulder is an injury that affects ligaments between your collarbone (clavicle) and the part of your shoulder blade (acromion). The injury does not actually affect the shoulder joint but the acromioclavicular joint (AC joint). Therefore, this condition is also called an acromioclavicular joint separation. Depending on the severity of the injury, your ligaments can be stretched or partially or completely torn. Most people feel severe pain when they try to raise their arm or try to sleep on the affected side. Diagnosis is based on physical examination and X-rays.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a separated shoulder. A separated shoulder is also called an acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation. It is an injury of the ligaments around the AC joint - the area where your collarbone (clavicle) meets the shoulder blade (acromion). The severity of this condition depends on which ligaments are affected, and the extent of that damage. The AC injuries are classified in six grades, ranging from a mild to severe. Conservative treatment includes rest, ice to reduce pain and swelling, medications and a rehabilitation program. Most patients heal within 2 to 3 months. In severe cases, surgery is necessary.