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What Causes Pain Under The Breast And Armpit Region?

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Posted on Thu, 28 Jul 2016
Question: Having pain under the left side of my breast and under my armpit.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Questions for you to help me answer you better.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Can you provide more history. Specifically:

1. When did the pain start?
2. Does it change with movement of your arm or rib cage?
3. Do you sleep with your arm(s) overhead, or have you done more lifting or reaching movements recently than you usually do?
4. Are there any lumps or swellings?
5. How severe is the pain?
6. By under your arm pit, do you mean inside your armpit?
7. Is it tender to touch?

Thanks, information to follow.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (18 minutes later)
!. Maybe a week or 2
2.no
3. yes, a lot of gardening pulling and carrying
4 some swelling right in the crease of armpit
5 not severe more a discomfort...much more noticeable when sleeping on my stomach
6 see answer 4
7 yes, a little
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Musculoskeletal strain.

Detailed Answer:
Ok - this gives me a bit more of an idea of what is going on.

When patients complain of pain in their breast, under breast, and arm pit region, things that we think about are acid reflux/gas pressure, cardiac causes, lymphatic causes (such as swollen lymph nodes in a chain), and breast problems including from hormone replacement therapy, and breast lumps, and musculoskeletal strains.

It sounds as though your pain is due to a musculoskeletal strain.

I found a picture on the web that does a good job showing the muscles that are in this region.

http://www.chiropractic-help.com/images/Chest-pain-muscles.jpg

Treatment of this is the same as with other strains, although ice on the chest is not a good idea. If you do not have stomach problems with NSAIDs, consider taking ibuprofen (after you have food in your stomach), three times a day (approximately 6-8 hours apart). And resting the muscles involved is imperative for helping it to resolve. So avoid lifting, reaching, and carrying over 10 lbs, as much as possible.

If the NSAID and rest do not help it show signs of improving in the next few days, then go in to either see your doctor (who may prescribe a muscle relaxer or a stronger NSAID), or go to a physical therapist who may give you exercises to relieve the discomfort and strengthen the muscles. But not yet. Right now, rest those muscles.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Causes Pain Under The Breast And Armpit Region?

Brief Answer: Questions for you to help me answer you better. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, Can you provide more history. Specifically: 1. When did the pain start? 2. Does it change with movement of your arm or rib cage? 3. Do you sleep with your arm(s) overhead, or have you done more lifting or reaching movements recently than you usually do? 4. Are there any lumps or swellings? 5. How severe is the pain? 6. By under your arm pit, do you mean inside your armpit? 7. Is it tender to touch? Thanks, information to follow.