thread: Pain in breast

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Pain in breast

    Just seeing if anyone had any ideas before bothering a doctor. Dr Google will diagnose breast cancer so I'm not using Dr Google today.

    I have an aching pain, like a bruise (but no marks), around my left breast. I noticed it on Tuesday night and took off my bra (one I've worn for the last 8m or so with no problems), been bra-less ever since (thinking it could be underwire related). ATM the main pain is only really in the bottom left corner (Thursday morning), but is painful to touch, even by accident. Pain can go up to my armpit. Dull ache, like a bruise, sometimes shooting mild pain, more likely when I use my left hand (so sewing Liebling's name tags into school uniform and even typing can be uncomfortable).

    I cannot sleep on my left side either, as that puts pressure on the breast and it hurts.

    Right breast is fine, there are no lumps, no changes in size, nipples look unchanged.

    I figured if there is still a problem next Tuesday I'll go see a doctor, as it cannot be a bra issue if I've not worn a bra all week. But I'm going out on Saturday night with my sister and the outfit I want to wear requires a bra - I have A-cup breasts on a good day and most clothes require slightly larger breasts; all my bras have padding in to a greater or lesser degree. So just wondered if anyone had any ideas about what was going on and how to alleviate it.

  2. #2
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2009
    Adelaide
    1,184

    Could be anything, but I would still get it checked out. I had something similar, the doctor was worried, so he sent me for a mammogram. Turned out I pulled my boob muscle.. lol. I've got very large breasts, though, so the weight of the breast itself caused the issue apparantly. It could also be an inflammation of the glands or something like that. So as I said, I would get it checked. That way you know for sure and don't have to worry anymore... Good luck!

    Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Thanks for the reassurance, Raupe - a pulled breast muscle sounds painful, hope it doesn't happen to you again.

    Going to see a medical person is more stressful to me than thinking I have some pain which should go away soon - which is why I'm posting here instead. I will go if this goes on for a week though as that would be unexpected.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    In my own private paradise
    15,272

    is it superficial pain or deeper? the way it's radiating up to your armpit makes me wonder if maybe it's muscular moreso than actual breast tissue? i get similar when one of the muscles is messed up - hurts like a biatch. but i also have bigger breasts so i'm not sure if it's the same sort of thing - hard to compare

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2009
    Adelaide
    1,184

    Thanks for the reassurance, Raupe - a pulled breast muscle sounds painful, hope it doesn't happen to you again.

    Going to see a medical person is more stressful to me than thinking I have some pain which should go away soon - which is why I'm posting here instead. I will go if this goes on for a week though as that would be unexpected.
    Oh, ok. In that case maybe do a self breast exam to check for lumps. If there are none, then it points more towards inflammation/tissue or muscle issues. Maybe take some anti-inflammatories and see how you go? Maybe someone else has experience!

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Feels like it is going down from the skin to the bone - but that is a very, very small thickness, about .5-1cm. The pain that is in the breast rather than where the underwire in a bra is less painful, but is in the breast and not deeper.

    I actually like the pulled muscle suggestion. I will warm the water up and have a nice hot shower and see if that helps at all. Odd thing is that I carry Liebling on my right side, so would have expected those muscles to pull first!

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    In my own private paradise
    15,272

    if you are always carrying Liebs on the right side, your muscles will be used to it - so more likely to be injured on the other side hun

    apply heat for 20 mins (wheat pack or something) then leave it for a while, and do it again (i tend to do 20 on 20 off for a couple of hours)

    there is a slim possibility of mastitis as well - my mum was never successful in BF either my brother or myself, so didn't even contemplate mastitis - she got it when i was 12!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    I did think about mastitis, but as Liebs self-weaned and there is no milk being produced any more (stopped about a 5m ago) I dismissed it. That should go away on its own too, right?

    I rarely carry Liebling these days: he past 5 years now! I will pick him up if we're having a chat on the way to school in the morning, but not usually. Because then I'm carrying Liebling, his bookbag and his lunchbox. Whereas I normally only carry the lunchbox, if that.

    Will hunt out the wheat bag we have. Sounds a lot cheaper than having to heat the water!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Thanks BG - pain seems to have mostly gone now. Plus I managed to warm up! Wheat bags all the way from now on.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    In my own private paradise
    15,272

    glad it helped hun

    apparently (if the specialist mum seen many moons ago is right) we never truly stop making milk, we just reabsorb it - so it's possible to not have any come out, but still be making it and get the blockage.

    hopefully the heat keeps helping - if it doesn't fully resolve though, get yourself checked. we'll be here to support you if you need that extra assistance to deal with the medicos hun

  11. #11
    Registered User

    May 2007
    3,220

    Please go and read my thread'they think I have breast cancer'. It had just tsken me more than a month to recover from a serious breast infection. I had similar symptoms, but also a fever. The symptoms you describe can be very serious, and need immediate medical assistance to rule out the C word.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Thanks BG - good to know I have some virtual hand-holding if I need it.

    Thank you for your concern, Lilima. However, I have no symptoms other than a pulled muscle, which pretty much sorted itself out after a few hours of heat and isn't bothering me now. I am able to wear a bra again!

    If it comes back for no reason or I have any other symptom then I will go to a doctor straight away, I promise. Much as I dislike medical treatment, I generally prefer it to having a nasty illness. If it hasn't fully gone by Tuesday I will go see a doctor - but as I said, it is pretty much sorted now.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    In my own private paradise
    15,272

    Glad the heat has helped! My wheat pack gets a workout - if heat doesn't help, it needs to be seen by medico.

  14. #14
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
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    Apr 2009
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    Perhaps it could be a blocked gland or a benign cyst? Happened to me, once drained I felt so much relief!!