AC Joint Pain | Tips & Tricks | medical, technology, science, education

AC Joint Pain | Tips & Tricks

Posted by Christopher E on November 5, 2011 Leave a comment (0) Go to comments

At the top of our shoulder, there is a joint called the acromioclavicular joint, more commonly called as the AC joint. It is the one responsible for humans to lift their arms above their heads. It helps with the overall rotation of the shoulder which allows for greater mobility of the entire arm. However, there are instances where the particular joint is damaged resulting to the hurting of the AC joint. Pain in this part of the body is serious and treatments vary according to degree.

One common pain is where osteoarthritis is involved. It usually results to pain in the joints and less mobility in the shoulder. Treatments for osteoarthritis include medicine and some forms of exercise. However there are instances when a replacement surgery must be performed so the pain in the joint will effectively be removed.

Another common damage to the AC joint is dislocation which can be because of accidents such as a fall. But in sports which involve contact, like football or rugby, there is a high chance of having an accident involving the AC joint. Pain will be the first thing a person will experience when their shoulder is dislocated. But these accidents are not just for contact sports but also on those sports which involves shoulder activity such as swimming and tennis.

Accidents involving the AC joint are graded according to the degree. When the AC ligament is torn, it is grade I AC joint dislocation. Grade II means the AC ligament has been completely dislocated. In Grade III, the ligaments are disrupted and the joint capsule is torn. A doctor examining it will see that the soldier is bulging and there is extreme AC joint pain. Surgery is required in Grades IV – VI dislocation of the AC joint.
Pain in the shoulder’s tip is the common symptom of AC joint dislocation. Reaching things that are over a person’s head is very hard excruciating. Even when someone bumps you on the street accidentally will cause you to shiver. It will be very hard to move the limb since any movement you do from below the shoulder will produce pain.

It is important to get treatment when experiencing what we call AC joint pain. A common preliminary treatment involves the application of ice in the affected area to ease the swelling and of course, the pain. It is advised to apply ice 3 times in the course of the day. Be advised not to apply heat in the area of the joint.

One should also use a sling to help the shoulder to lessen the uneasiness in the joint. When one is using a sling to support it, along with the application of ice as well anti-inflammatory medicine, there is a huge reduction in pain and the path to recovery is faster. There are exercises which are suited to restore the mobility and the strength of the shoulder. Physical therapy is advised and it is better to seek medical opinion.
AC joint dislocation is agonizing. The level of pain is associated to the degree of the dislocation of the AC joint. Pain in the shoulders can be reduced with the right combination of treatments and exercise. If a person is suffering from it, apply the preliminary treatment and seek the advice of a doctor immediately.