do I need a doctor
February 19, 2022 8:48 AM Subscribe
Experiencing pain in a sensitive place, I know YANMD, need a sanity check.
All morning I have been experiencing small bouts (2-5 seconds) of a sharp poking pain under my right breast, kind of where my breast ends above my rib cage. It's not debilitating by any means, I'm able to move around and be functional as normal but it happens 2-5 seconds at a time and is happening every 15 seconds or so. There is no evidence of anything external upon examination of the area, this pain is definitely coming internally.
It's really painful and the frequency of the "needle pokes" is making me miserable. What could this be? Do I need to go to urgent care?
Relevant details: 37 years old next month, a bit overweight, I have large breasts (size 40G), cis female, have been on birth control since I was 15, no family history of breast cancer, no kids (childfree by choice), sedentary desk job but getting more active lately (stationary bike and a Pilates class 1x a week), also on several medications for bipolar 2, anxiety, and PCOS that I've been on for over a decade. Never had a mammogram, my GP says not necessary till I'm 40. Do breast checks in the shower every few weeks, haven't found any lumps. Gynaecologist does a more thorough breast check at my annual every year.
This pain has only been happening since I woke up this morning.
Ouch this hurts. Advice/ideas/decrees to get me to a doctor ASAP welcome.
All morning I have been experiencing small bouts (2-5 seconds) of a sharp poking pain under my right breast, kind of where my breast ends above my rib cage. It's not debilitating by any means, I'm able to move around and be functional as normal but it happens 2-5 seconds at a time and is happening every 15 seconds or so. There is no evidence of anything external upon examination of the area, this pain is definitely coming internally.
It's really painful and the frequency of the "needle pokes" is making me miserable. What could this be? Do I need to go to urgent care?
Relevant details: 37 years old next month, a bit overweight, I have large breasts (size 40G), cis female, have been on birth control since I was 15, no family history of breast cancer, no kids (childfree by choice), sedentary desk job but getting more active lately (stationary bike and a Pilates class 1x a week), also on several medications for bipolar 2, anxiety, and PCOS that I've been on for over a decade. Never had a mammogram, my GP says not necessary till I'm 40. Do breast checks in the shower every few weeks, haven't found any lumps. Gynaecologist does a more thorough breast check at my annual every year.
This pain has only been happening since I woke up this morning.
Ouch this hurts. Advice/ideas/decrees to get me to a doctor ASAP welcome.
This post was deleted for the following reason: posters request -- frimble
Best answer: Yeah, what you describe is most commonly connective tissue and/or muscle pain - and people with large breasts can end up with small muscle tears or connective tissue strains just from existing.
If it is just spasms, taking some magnesium can settle it down. If you can do some extra immobilization - sports bra, firm-fitting tank top, etc - you might be able to tell within an hour or two if that gives you any relief.
Like fight or flight, I have always been advised that "chest pain" as in heart attack in more upper middle chest (which can be alarming if you have costochondritis, which is damage to the connective tissue on your sternum) and radiating up and through your arms. Rib-side pain CAN be associated with enlarged lymph nodes (you'd feel that though) and other breast cancer issues, but that's more of a watch-and-wait for a few days thing rather than urgent care.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:12 AM on February 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
If it is just spasms, taking some magnesium can settle it down. If you can do some extra immobilization - sports bra, firm-fitting tank top, etc - you might be able to tell within an hour or two if that gives you any relief.
Like fight or flight, I have always been advised that "chest pain" as in heart attack in more upper middle chest (which can be alarming if you have costochondritis, which is damage to the connective tissue on your sternum) and radiating up and through your arms. Rib-side pain CAN be associated with enlarged lymph nodes (you'd feel that though) and other breast cancer issues, but that's more of a watch-and-wait for a few days thing rather than urgent care.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:12 AM on February 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
This sounds very much like something that happens to me very occasionally (like, maybe once a year, maybe less?) It lasts a few hours (not constantly, but coming and going). I've never been to a doctor about it, but I've otherwise visited my doctors regularly (mammograms, breast exams, etc.) and nothing has ever come up.
I can't promise it's the same thing or anything, but your description matches an experience I've had that has no consequences.
posted by gideonfrog at 9:14 AM on February 19, 2022
I can't promise it's the same thing or anything, but your description matches an experience I've had that has no consequences.
posted by gideonfrog at 9:14 AM on February 19, 2022
Passing a gallstone can cause this symptom; if the pain starts to migrate to the center upper abdomen, definitely. IANYD but suffered through 4 days of increasing pain, dizziness and backed up bile. Got to a clinic on day 5, and wouldn’t you know it, that’s the day it cleared on its own. Good luck!
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:40 AM on February 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:40 AM on February 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
The four F's for gallstones, fat, fair, forty, fertile.
posted by Oyéah at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2022
posted by Oyéah at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2022
IANAD, but if you do develop a rash, it could be shingles. I had what started as a small red bump and evolved into the most painful shooting/stabbing pain I've ever experienced over the course of a few days. Apparently under the breast is a fairly common location for it to pop up. Keep an eye out for red bumps and see a doc for treatment if they appear in the area.
posted by luzdeluna at 6:14 PM on February 19, 2022
posted by luzdeluna at 6:14 PM on February 19, 2022
Also consider Shingles (if you had chickenpox). Shingles causes nerve pain and before the rash and blisters show up you get terrible pain. I thought I had some kind of heat rash before I figured out it was Shingles. The rash can show up on your torso. If you catch it fast and get on meds you can drastically limit the pain and discomfort.
posted by brookeb at 10:42 PM on February 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brookeb at 10:42 PM on February 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
« Older What info to give doctor about possible CFS/long... | What's the best employment model for my boss to... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
FWIW (and I'm not a doctor) but I believe serious chest pain issues are typically diffuse pain (as in heart attacks) or a sunburn-type burning pain (for breast cancer), or so I was told by my GP. If it's small and sharp and in a specific place that you can point to, it's more often than not muscle related.
posted by fight or flight at 8:57 AM on February 19, 2022 [13 favorites]