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What Can Cause Swelling And Pain In The Right Side Of The Collarbone Upon Exertion?
Posted on
Wed, 24 Jan 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 24 Jan 2018
Answered on
Wed, 22 Aug 2018
Last reviewed on
Question : Collar bone on right side under chin, enlarged, and obviously enlarged bigger than the normal left side. When laying down and reading with head up a bit, it has a tendency to hurt as if straining. Yesterday, while in restaurant, sitting normally, the same pain came and went. It's different than anything I have ever felt. Anyway, right where the two sides of the front collar bone meet, the right is much larger than left. No feeling of pain when I push down, yet I suspect if it were to get larger, it will start to affect my neck muscles and movement will be noticeable.
Brief Answer:
Needs contrast enhanced CT scan to know the exact diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood the concerns.
Please give additional information for me to assist you better:
- Please post photos as these sometimes help for the diagnosis.
- Is there any tenderness on slight pressure?
- Do the movement of the right upper limb cause pain?
- Any other disease that you have been diagnosed with?
The causes of swelling in the area you have mentioned are:
Steroclavicular joint inflammation.
Infective pathology.
Secondaries for cancer anywhere else.
Hence, it is of utmost importance to get an exact diagnosis.
Considering your age I would strongly recommend to get a contrast enhanced high resolution CT scan of the affected area to know the exact cause as early as possible so that a definitive treatment can be done and if the cause is inflammatory the stress of serious pathology is gone.
I hope this answer helps you the best.
Please insist on the proper investigations and give feedback of the reports.
Till then take an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen if it suits you, give rest to the area by putting the right forearm in a sling.
Awaiting for the feedback, photos and reports.
Take care.
Dr. T Chandrakant, General Surgeon
Needs contrast enhanced CT scan to know the exact diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood the concerns.
Please give additional information for me to assist you better:
- Please post photos as these sometimes help for the diagnosis.
- Is there any tenderness on slight pressure?
- Do the movement of the right upper limb cause pain?
- Any other disease that you have been diagnosed with?
The causes of swelling in the area you have mentioned are:
Steroclavicular joint inflammation.
Infective pathology.
Secondaries for cancer anywhere else.
Hence, it is of utmost importance to get an exact diagnosis.
Considering your age I would strongly recommend to get a contrast enhanced high resolution CT scan of the affected area to know the exact cause as early as possible so that a definitive treatment can be done and if the cause is inflammatory the stress of serious pathology is gone.
I hope this answer helps you the best.
Please insist on the proper investigations and give feedback of the reports.
Till then take an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen if it suits you, give rest to the area by putting the right forearm in a sling.
Awaiting for the feedback, photos and reports.
Take care.
Dr. T Chandrakant, General Surgeon
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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