AC Joint Pain Relief

The AC joint is a common term for the joint that connects the clavicle (collar bone) to the top part of the shoulder blade, a section of that bone called the acromion. The full name of this connection is the acromioclavicular joint. Injuries to the AC joint define the classic symptoms of shoulder separation. Treatment for pain is based on the severity of the damage involved.

Understanding the Source of Pain

• Injury to the AC joint typically results from direct trauma to the shoulder. If you play contact sports such as football, lacrosse, hockey or rugby, you are at heightened risk for this sort of injury. Playing other sports such as soccer or volleyball, or participating in activities such as rock climbing or downhill skiing can also increase your risk. Injuries to the AC joint can also result from accidental slips or falls.

  AC joint trauma damages the two ligaments that bind the clavicle and the acromion. Relatively minor amounts of trauma to these ligaments result in strains or sprains of the AC joint. Greater amounts of trauma can actually tear these ligaments, leading to shoulder separation. If you experience AC joint strain or shoulder separation, you will typically feel sharp (or possibly severe) pain immediately after the injury, followed by tenderness at the tip of the collarbone. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may also develop bruising and swelling of the shoulder, as well as changes in the shape of the shoulder caused by protrusion of the clavicle beneath the skin.

Initial Pain Relief

• Begin treating your AC joint pain immediately after injury occurs. Apply an ice pack to the area for 20 to 30 minutes to address the initial swelling and inflammation, then see your doctor as soon as possible.

Pain Relief after Diagnosis

• If your doctor confirms the presence of AC joint damage, he will continue to address your pain in the course of treatment. Sprains are treated with continued applications of ice, combined with a sling or harness to immobilize the shoulder. Your doctor may further treat your pain through the temporary use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin.

  Grade 2 injuries of the AC joint are characterized by partial tears of the supporting ligaments, while Grade 3 injuries involve total tears of these ligaments. In many instances, treatments for these injuries are similar or identical to treatments for AC joint sprain. In these cases, immobilization allows the injuries to heal properly, and proper function of the joint normally returns within several weeks.

  In some cases, however, damage from AC joint tears must be surgically repaired. Pain may also persist ieven after your ligament damage has healed without surgery. If this is true for you, your doctor may recommend surgery to address any deformation or arthritic processes that may be present in the joint. After surgery, you will undergo another month or two of shoulder immobilization and pain treatment before your shoulder fully heals.