Collar bone pain/ raised collar bone.

As a few forum members may know I've had shoulder issues for years now. However since I started cuban press rotations with bands my external rotators are almost completely pain free now. However, although the pain at the rear of my shoulder is almost gone the pain in the collar bone is persisting. In the past they always assumed it was refered pain but now have decided it may be a separate issue. On my most recent physio appointment I told a new PT about it and he noticed for the first time that my left collar bone sits about an inch higher than my left. The painful movements include pulling my shoulders down and any scapular push-up motion (even just stood up pushing against the wall).

Although the physio noticed the collar bone he freely admitted that he didn't have slightest clue what was the cause and just said wait for your specialist consultant appointment - that's 3 months from now.

Although holding the bottom of dips alleviates the pain a lot German hangs of any kinds make it a lot worse, as do scapular pushups. Normal push-ups seem to be fine as long as my shoulders are properly retracted. If anyone has any clue what this may be I'd really appreciate feedback.

I would first try to determine if its due to bone structure differences or anomalies as opposed to a muscle imbalance or movement issue.

Sorry that i've forgotten, but where is the pain as specifically as possible, and since you mention you thought it was referred pain, where did you think it was referred from?

I have an issue that presents in a similar way if I understand you correctly. It is from a low grade separation of my left shoulder. I feel like that would have been identified though.

The referred pain was thought to be from my acromion due to the rotator cuff injury. The pain seems to come from underneath the collar bone where it meets the sternum for about an inch. There is no tenderness on the bone or around it, seems to radiate from underneath when i pull my shoulders down or forward. It also causes pain without using push muscles I.e. deadlift with light weight.

oh I see, never mind then. I was thinking the other end(closer to your shoulder) of the collarbone was what was sticking up.

Well, thus you know what life is like with my right shoulder ever since a partial shoulder seperation. Makes certain things a bit skewed off especially noticeable in video or pictures. Basically my right sits lower than my left. Not really anything I can do about it until I seperate it again if it required to go under the knife. Screw that.

This is a longshot, but that can be scalenes referred pain.

Blairbob said:

Well, thus you know what life is like with my right shoulder ever since a partial shoulder seperation. Makes certain things a bit skewed off especially noticeable in video or pictures. Basically my right sits lower than my left. Not really anything I can do about it until I seperate it again if it required to go under the knife. Screw that.

Does it still cause you pain or has it got better with time? Is going under the knife the only option? With me only having the NHS I'd bet it'll be close to a year or longer before I got the operation even if I decided to, then god knows how long before I recovered from the op.

Brendan Coad said:

I feel like that would have been identified though.

LOL. You surely can't be English and under the NHS. It took about 5 GP's, god knows how many orthopeadic nurses, and 4 physios to even show me a rotator cuff exercise - THE most common shoulder problem there is. God knows how much longer it will take to sort this new problem which seems to be quite rare.

Mr Brady said:

This is a longshot, but that can be scalenes referred pain.

I've already considered this and regularly massage every possible area around the shoulder including the scalenes. I actually had trigger points there when I first hurt my shoulder but the pain was actually on the muscle close to the collar bone and half way up the neck at both ends of the muscle. I'm surprised you know the Clair Davies book that well though, the sclenes are a very uncommon problem area. I mentioned it to my doctor once and she condescended to me with the comment 'there is no such muscle'....

Longshanks said:

Mr Brady said:

This is a longshot, but that can be scalenes referred pain.

I've already considered this and regularly massage every possible area around the shoulder including the scalenes. I actually had trigger points there when I first hurt my shoulder but the pain was actually on the muscle close to the collar bone and half way up the neck at both ends of the muscle. I'm surprised you know the Clair Davies book that well though, the sclenes are a very uncommon problem area. I mentioned it to my doctor once and she condescended to me with the comment 'there is no such muscle'....

I first thought of the scalenes as well. I do not think they are a very uncommon problem area since many people have breathing dysfunctions and thus may develop trigger points in the scalenes.

In addition to the scalenes, I was also going to mention that you should massage your pectoralis minor, major, and especially subclavius and sternalis. I thought that especially the last two might be relevant to your problems.

Well, but since you seem to know about this stuff, this is probably not going to be much of a help. But anyways, I wanted to mention it.

Donar said:

I first thought of the scalenes as well. I do not think they are a very uncommon problem area since many people have breathing dysfunctions and thus may develop trigger points in the scalenes.

In addition to the scalenes, I was also going to mention that you should massage your pectoralis minor, major, and especially subclavius and sternalis. I thought that especially the last two might be relevant to your problems.

Well, but since you seem to know about this stuff, this is probably not going to be much of a help. But anyways, I wanted to mention it.

The subclavius isn't one I've heard of so thank you. Just looked it up and that seems to be exactly where the pain in coming from. Whether its trigger points or tendon weakness I'm unsure but I'll work on both. I guess if its an upper pec muscle then incline push-up variations would be the prescribed physio?

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I really appreciate the help.

Longshanks said:

Donar said:

I first thought of the scalenes as well. I do not think they are a very uncommon problem area since many people have breathing dysfunctions and thus may develop trigger points in the scalenes.

In addition to the scalenes, I was also going to mention that you should massage your pectoralis minor, major, and especially subclavius and sternalis. I thought that especially the last two might be relevant to your problems.

Well, but since you seem to know about this stuff, this is probably not going to be much of a help. But anyways, I wanted to mention it.

The subclavius isn't one I've heard of so thank you. Just looked it up and that seems to be exactly where the pain in coming from. Whether its trigger points or tendon weakness I'm unsure but I'll work on both. I guess if its an upper pec muscle then incline push-up variations would be the prescribed physio?

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I really appreciate the help.

No problem.

Try releasing the trigger points first, I think it's more likely to be related to that as opposed to muscle/tendon weakness.

Incline push ups sound like the might work, although I'm not sure.

Googled it and the author of this article states that bench presses to the neck are the best option.