Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWill It Go Away?TreatmentManaging Nighttime PainFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Will It Go Away?
Treatment
Managing Nighttime Pain
Frequently Asked Questions
Pain in the shoulder’sacromioclavicular(AC) joint is a common problem that can be severe and persistent enough to interfere with your daily routine. There are several causes for AC joint pain, and treatment varies depending on what’s making your shoulder hurt.
TheAC jointis where theacromion(the tip of your shoulder blade—scapula) meets yourclavicle(collarbone). “AC” is short for “acromioclavicular,” which describes those two bones.Cartilage(flexible but tough tissue) forms a cushion between them. A thin layer ofsynovial fluidalso helps lubricate the joint.
This article will look at the sources of AC joint pain and how the discomfort can be treated and managed.
Ivan Pantic / Getty Images
What Does AC Joint Pain Feel Like?
Symptoms can depend on the cause but include:
You may also see bruising, bumps, a shoulder that seems to have moved upward, and swelling.
Sources of AC Joint Pain
The source of AC joint pain typically is due to either arthritis or an injury. The symptoms can be similar.
Arthritis
Arthritis is the most common source of AC joint pain. Over time, the cartilage that cushions the joint wears away. When the bones rub against each other, it inflames the joint, causing pain, swelling, and tenderness, especially with activity.
Eventually, bone spurs may develop, which are growths of bone that jut out from the joint. The joint may also become larger.
Injury
AC joint injuries are most common in people between ages 20 and 30, especially among active adults who participate in contact sports, bodybuilding, construction, or other strenuous activities that make shoulder injuries more likely.
Sprains, tears, andseparationsof theligamentsthat hold the joint together are the most common types of AC joint injury. They usually follow a direct hit or fall onto the shoulder. These injuries range from minor to incapacitating.
There are also types 4 through 6 that are rare and involve more severe injuries, including extensive damage to surrounding tissue.
It’s also possible to fracture your collarbone (clavicle), leading to AC joint pain. Shoulder blade (scapula) fractures are less common.
Will Joint Pain Ever Go Away?
AC joint pain from arthritis tends to come and go but generally worsens over time. In the case of injury to the AC joint, rest and treatment can help the injury heal, relieve pain, and restore range of motion. It is possible to completely recover from an AC joint injury, though there may also be some residual pain or loss of range of motion.
There are measures you can take to manage your AC joint pain.
For arthritic AC joints:
If you have injured your AC joint, follow your healthcare provider’s advice, which may include the above treatment. You may also wear a sling temporarily to reduce movement. If your shoulder is dislocated, your provider can give you an anesthetic before they put the shoulder joint back into place (calledreducing the dislocation).
Shoulder dislocations or separations don’t usually require surgery unless ligaments need repair.Recovery depends on how severe the injury is. It can generally take anywhere from a couple of weeks to two months.
If the pain persists, your provider may recommendarthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive procedure to remove debris or tissue that may be causing pain.Shoulder replacementis an option for people with severe arthritis to relieve pain. Shoulder replacement requires rehabilitation and takes months to heal.
If you have fractured a bone, you may need surgery if there are bone fragments that need to be fixed in place, but about 80% of fractures don’t require surgery.
AC Joint-Friendly Exercises
Exercisecan help relieve pain, restore strength, and improve the range of motion. Only do exercises for AC joint pain under the direction of a healthcare provider because they canvary according to the source and severity of the pain. Generally, start small and stop if it begins to hurt more than just a little.
Shoulder exercises may include:
Are There Fast Ways to Heal?
Managing AC Joint Pain While Sleeping
If you sleep on your back, tuck a small pillow under each arm or a foam wedge under your back so that your body is at a slight incline. You can also try a pillow or soft foam roller under your knees.
Summary
AC joint pain is very common but it can also disrupt your daily life. The pain may be from arthritis or from an injury, which can include shoulder dislocation. AC joint pain from arthritis tends to worsen, but there are treatments and possible shoulder replacement to alleviate the pain.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsAC joint pain from an injury can go away with rest and treatment as directed. If it’s from arthritis, AC joint pain will usually worsen over time. Shoulder replacement is an option for severe pain.Learn MoreThe Symptoms and Treatment of AC Joint PainIt can take anywhere from about 10 days to eight weeks for an AC joint injury to heal, depending on how severe it is.Learn MoreCauses of Shoulder Pain and Treatment OptionsPain that increases when you move your arm up or across your body is one of the main signs of an injured AC joint. Your arm may feel weak, sore, or seem to click or pop when you move it.Learn MoreThe AC Joint Compression Test
AC joint pain from an injury can go away with rest and treatment as directed. If it’s from arthritis, AC joint pain will usually worsen over time. Shoulder replacement is an option for severe pain.Learn MoreThe Symptoms and Treatment of AC Joint Pain
AC joint pain from an injury can go away with rest and treatment as directed. If it’s from arthritis, AC joint pain will usually worsen over time. Shoulder replacement is an option for severe pain.
Learn MoreThe Symptoms and Treatment of AC Joint Pain
It can take anywhere from about 10 days to eight weeks for an AC joint injury to heal, depending on how severe it is.Learn MoreCauses of Shoulder Pain and Treatment Options
It can take anywhere from about 10 days to eight weeks for an AC joint injury to heal, depending on how severe it is.
Learn MoreCauses of Shoulder Pain and Treatment Options
Pain that increases when you move your arm up or across your body is one of the main signs of an injured AC joint. Your arm may feel weak, sore, or seem to click or pop when you move it.Learn MoreThe AC Joint Compression Test
Pain that increases when you move your arm up or across your body is one of the main signs of an injured AC joint. Your arm may feel weak, sore, or seem to click or pop when you move it.
Learn MoreThe AC Joint Compression Test
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UC Health.Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury.UC Davis.AC joint rehabilitation protocol.Johns Hopkins Medicine.AC joint problems.Sirin E, Aydin N, Topkar OM.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: diagnosis, classification and ligamentoplasty procedures.EFORT Open Rev.2018;3(7):426-433. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.3.170027.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder separation.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder trauma (fractures and dislocations).LeVasseur MR, Mancini MR, Berthold DP, et al.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: effective rehabilitation.Open Access J Sports Med. 2021;12:73-85. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S244283.Menge TJ, Boykin RE, Bushnell BD, Byram IR.Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis: a common cause of shoulder pain.South Med J.2014;107(5):324-9. doi:10.1097/SMJ.0000000000000101UpToDate.Patient education: acromioclavicular joint injury (shoulder separation) (beyond the basics).Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UC Health.Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury.UC Davis.AC joint rehabilitation protocol.Johns Hopkins Medicine.AC joint problems.Sirin E, Aydin N, Topkar OM.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: diagnosis, classification and ligamentoplasty procedures.EFORT Open Rev.2018;3(7):426-433. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.3.170027.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder separation.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder trauma (fractures and dislocations).LeVasseur MR, Mancini MR, Berthold DP, et al.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: effective rehabilitation.Open Access J Sports Med. 2021;12:73-85. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S244283.Menge TJ, Boykin RE, Bushnell BD, Byram IR.Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis: a common cause of shoulder pain.South Med J.2014;107(5):324-9. doi:10.1097/SMJ.0000000000000101UpToDate.Patient education: acromioclavicular joint injury (shoulder separation) (beyond the basics).Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UC Health.Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury.UC Davis.AC joint rehabilitation protocol.Johns Hopkins Medicine.AC joint problems.Sirin E, Aydin N, Topkar OM.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: diagnosis, classification and ligamentoplasty procedures.EFORT Open Rev.2018;3(7):426-433. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.3.170027.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder separation.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder trauma (fractures and dislocations).LeVasseur MR, Mancini MR, Berthold DP, et al.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: effective rehabilitation.Open Access J Sports Med. 2021;12:73-85. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S244283.Menge TJ, Boykin RE, Bushnell BD, Byram IR.Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis: a common cause of shoulder pain.South Med J.2014;107(5):324-9. doi:10.1097/SMJ.0000000000000101UpToDate.Patient education: acromioclavicular joint injury (shoulder separation) (beyond the basics).Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.
UC Health.Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury.
UC Davis.AC joint rehabilitation protocol.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.AC joint problems.
Sirin E, Aydin N, Topkar OM.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: diagnosis, classification and ligamentoplasty procedures.EFORT Open Rev.2018;3(7):426-433. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.3.170027.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder separation.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder trauma (fractures and dislocations).
LeVasseur MR, Mancini MR, Berthold DP, et al.Acromioclavicular joint injuries: effective rehabilitation.Open Access J Sports Med. 2021;12:73-85. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S244283.
Menge TJ, Boykin RE, Bushnell BD, Byram IR.Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis: a common cause of shoulder pain.South Med J.2014;107(5):324-9. doi:10.1097/SMJ.0000000000000101
UpToDate.Patient education: acromioclavicular joint injury (shoulder separation) (beyond the basics).
Arthritis Foundation.Position yourself for a good night’s sleep.
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