Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Abscess Under Left Armpit
Question: Yesterday, mid-afternoon I began feeling soreness under my left arm in the location just below the armpit and by last night the area had grown to an area about the size of a soccer ball extending around the front into the chest muscle around the nipple. It felt as though I had been hit very hard and the area was uncomfortable to sit still and very uncomfortable to move around any. It was not sore on the surface, the pain appeared to be in the muscle tissue itself. The ribs were not sore and there was no outward visible signs of the symptom.
Brief Answer:
Abscess can be the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
The only explanation of such quickly growing area is an abscess. Due to some bacterial infection pus has appeared in the soft tissues causing pain, swelling. You may feel kind of sick with it. Night sweating can appear.
I suggest you to consult general surgeon with it. Soft tissues ultrasound should be done at first. In case of abscess, it has to be incised and drained. Please do not wait with it.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Abscess can be the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
The only explanation of such quickly growing area is an abscess. Due to some bacterial infection pus has appeared in the soft tissues causing pain, swelling. You may feel kind of sick with it. Night sweating can appear.
I suggest you to consult general surgeon with it. Soft tissues ultrasound should be done at first. In case of abscess, it has to be incised and drained. Please do not wait with it.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
There is NO evidence of an abscess, no redness, swelling sore spot or anything of the such that would be associated with an abscess. I am NOT satisfied with the answer to my question. There was no inquiry for further information to narrow down the possibilities and to say that I am not happy with your answer is an understatement!
Brief Answer:
Deeply located abscess do not give such symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Actually when an abscess is located deeper than under the skin, there can be no obvious signs of it.
From your description there is pain which you feel deep in the muscles. And the area has "grown" quickly.
Only abscess under the skin can cause painful spot with redness and swelling. Otherwise, this symptoms are not present.
Please also note that from the point of this service I am unable to even see the affected place, and for sure I am unable to examine it. This makes giving accurate diagnosis impossible.
That is why I have asked you to have soft tissues ultrasound. No matter what you do suspect, this test is the next step. And I am pretty sure the doctor which you consult, will order it for sure.
Deeply located abscess do not give such symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Actually when an abscess is located deeper than under the skin, there can be no obvious signs of it.
From your description there is pain which you feel deep in the muscles. And the area has "grown" quickly.
Only abscess under the skin can cause painful spot with redness and swelling. Otherwise, this symptoms are not present.
Please also note that from the point of this service I am unable to even see the affected place, and for sure I am unable to examine it. This makes giving accurate diagnosis impossible.
That is why I have asked you to have soft tissues ultrasound. No matter what you do suspect, this test is the next step. And I am pretty sure the doctor which you consult, will order it for sure.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
