Your son informed you this morning that he volunteered you and your brother to help construct his school play’s set. Although the news was a surprise, you obviously couldn’t make a liar out of him—besides, you can swing a hammer with the best of them. Therefore, you sprung the news to your brother, and you both decided to take a trip to the hardware store to start getting supplies.
After spending two and a half hours buying copious amounts of wood, nails, and who knows what else, the two of you made it out of the store and packed up your car. Everything was going well, and you were actually having a pretty fun bonding experience with your brother. That is until you left the parking lot.
When the light turned green, your brother slowly began his left-hand turn, when all of a sudden, an oncoming SUV ran his red light and barreled straight into the both of you. The car spun around several times, and all you remember as you were spinning out of control, was that you had a searing pain in your shoulder. When the car stopped, you looked down to see blood pooling on your shirt. You attempted to raise your arm, but couldn’t. The only thing you could focus on was the burning pain radiating from your neck all the way down your shoulder and upper arm.
What are you going to tell your son if you can’t raise your arm, let alone swing a hammer? Could it be that your arm is broken? No, because you can still move your arm, just not your shoulder. Could it be your collarbone? How can you tell?
Broken Collarbone Signs
According to the Mayo Clinic, car accidents are one of the main causes of most clavicle (collarbone) injuries. Since the bone doesn’t fully harden until you’re 20 years old, the risk factor for a fracture is exponentially higher for children and teenagers. However, the resulting pain of a break is excruciating no matter what age. This is why it is important to know the signs of a clavicle break in order to get the proper care to set the fracture, treatment to aid in recovery, and options for pain management.
When you suffer a car collision, be aware of the following symptoms to help you determine whether or not you have a broken collarbone. These symptoms include:
Bruising, lacerations, or abrasions.
If your upper chest and shoulders suffer severe impact, the resulting bruises, cuts, and scrapes could be indicative of deeper bone trauma.
Extreme pain.
If your collarbone, or upper chest area is swollen and tender to the touch, than you may have at very least a bruised collarbone, if not a full fracture.
Mobility pain.
If the swelling and pain increase when you attempt to move your shoulder or arm, a fractured collarbone may be the culprit.
Shoulder slumping.
If you’re unable to keep your shoulders squared off, or one becomes noticeably lower, drawn in, or pushed back, than your collarbone may be damaged. Since the collarbones function is to keep your shoulders in place, if it is broken, it can no longer keep the structure or control your shoulder’s movements.
Abnormal curvature of the bone.
If your collarbone is broken, it may cause abnormal shaping under the skin near the fracture. In some cases, the snapped bone can protrude outward, causing a large bump, or sharp point under the skin. In severe cases, the bone can even penetrate the skin and become visible
A Shoulder to Lean on
A broken collarbone can not only be extremely painful, but it can cause great disruption in your everyday life. You may not be able to work until it heals, and the cost of treatment and care can be astounding. Don’t allow someone else’s recklessness wreck your financial and physical future.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Car Accident?
If you've been hurt in a Texas car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
