sternoclavicular joint swelling

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I have a noticeable swelling and extreme pain over the right sternoclavicular joint, MRI shows fluid, can you tell me possible causes? I was not in an accident, this showed up about 6 weeks ago. Ortho Doctor not sure what is going on. Could you please help? Thanks

-- Mona Edwards (moed@pics.com), October 01, 2002

Answers

Dear Mona, About your sternoclavicular (SC) joint swelling. There are a variety of conditions that can cause fluid in the SC joint on the MRI. The most likely reason for you is that you have an acute inflammation of the lining of the joint. Like any other joint in you body, the SC joint can hurt when it becomes inflamed. Most people find significant relief with the use of anti-inflammatory medications like Tylenol, Advil, Motrin etc. until the pain subsides. Occasionally, some patients will require and injection @ the joint for pain relief.

Hope this advice helps!

-- Dr Timothy S. Johnson (tjohns55@jhmi.edu), October 16, 2002.


I have had painin the same area for the last three years. My X-ray, Ct and MRI all show fluid and inflammation. I had a bone scan and it confirmed bone inflammation. I was diagnosed with condensing osteitis and the use of anti-inflamitory meds. were perscribed. I still have problems/pain and am looking for help myself. They switch back and forth between sternoclavicular osteitis and condensing osteitis. I don't know that there is to much difference but the condensing osteitis is found in women between the age of 30 and 40 and there are very few documented cases. Theother treatment for this is removal of the inflammed portion of the clavicle. Good luck with your problem and let me know if they find out what it is. Patti

-- Patricia (gene_r@verizion.com), February 24, 2004.

I've been battling left SC joint pain for about a year, probably resulting from years of wear and tear playing hockey, football, and, now, golf. I sleep on my left side, normally, but after recently forcing myself to sleep on my back, the nagging pain I had been experiencing more and more has quickly subsided.

Not sure if the causal relationship is well-established, but I have much lower incidences of the nagging daily pain. Hope this helps.

-- Christopher (bigmayo@yahoo.com), May 23, 2004.


I am currently undergoing diagnosis for distinct painful swelling over the right sc joint - appearing as a cloudy mass on general chest x-ray but with a bothersome clean-edged circular area behind it and visible on zoned in x-ray. I get my CT results Tuesday, but I'm concerned - not by the sc joint problems, but by that 1 inch diameter "thing" lying behind.

I've also noticed some easing of the sc joint pain by sleeping on my back - and by decreasing the amount of lifting and throwing with the right arm.

-- Jan MacFarland (riverbottom@blackfoot.net), September 19, 2004.


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