A real pain in the boob
March 29, 2020 1:12 AM Subscribe
In the past week or so, I’ve developed breast pain/tenderness. Is this worth seeing a doctor about given the current situation?
YANMYD, but for obvious reasons I’m not too eager to make a visit to see my doctor unless truly necessary/an emergency. In recent days, I’ve noticed a tenderness in the area of my outer left breast and armpit.
I first noticed it about two weeks ago, seemed to go away, but has popped up and been persistent for the past three-four days. It’s somewhere between tenderness and pain. From charts I’ve seen online, the location appears to fall into “musculoskeletal” rather than “true breast pain.” Wearing a bra helps but doesn’t solve it entirely. I’m now feeling a tiny bit of referral... awareness in my upper arm. I don’t feel any lumps. It is definitely more tender in an area in line with my nipple and down from the center of my armpit and emanates out from that spot, which is maybe 2 inches or so in diameter. I can mash on it pretty hard and experience tenderness but not excruciating pain. Maybe a 2-3 if we’re using the 10 scale, and a constant 1 when not manipulated.
It may be a little swollen but really hard to tell as the fatty tissue is wrapped around beyond that point. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like a tender bruise, but there are no visible changes or discolorations to the skin I can see. Maybe a bit more stretch marks than on my right side in same spot.
Other factors: I’m a cis woman in her early 40s. Significantly overweight with Dish cup breasts. I had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago; kept my ovaries. I think this started after I started working from home but can’t be positive. Working from home is a new factor, sitting at different desk in different, less ergonomic chair, hunched over a bit more than usual. I also went for quite a long stretch, at least a week, without wearing a bra because, well, not going anywhere. I have not taken anything/been avoiding NSAIDs because of granted very mixed reports that they are contraindicated for COVID-19 (don’t have, just acting like I do).
Is this cause for immediate concern and getting seen, or can it wait until there is less strain on health systems/it is safer to go out? How long is too long to let it go on? A week? A month? Should I take NSAIDs and see if that helps before freaking out? I am aware of the spot but not in acute pain, just some discomfort. I have three other people in my household, including two around 60, one of whom has respiratory issues.
YANMYD, but for obvious reasons I’m not too eager to make a visit to see my doctor unless truly necessary/an emergency. In recent days, I’ve noticed a tenderness in the area of my outer left breast and armpit.
I first noticed it about two weeks ago, seemed to go away, but has popped up and been persistent for the past three-four days. It’s somewhere between tenderness and pain. From charts I’ve seen online, the location appears to fall into “musculoskeletal” rather than “true breast pain.” Wearing a bra helps but doesn’t solve it entirely. I’m now feeling a tiny bit of referral... awareness in my upper arm. I don’t feel any lumps. It is definitely more tender in an area in line with my nipple and down from the center of my armpit and emanates out from that spot, which is maybe 2 inches or so in diameter. I can mash on it pretty hard and experience tenderness but not excruciating pain. Maybe a 2-3 if we’re using the 10 scale, and a constant 1 when not manipulated.
It may be a little swollen but really hard to tell as the fatty tissue is wrapped around beyond that point. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like a tender bruise, but there are no visible changes or discolorations to the skin I can see. Maybe a bit more stretch marks than on my right side in same spot.
Other factors: I’m a cis woman in her early 40s. Significantly overweight with Dish cup breasts. I had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago; kept my ovaries. I think this started after I started working from home but can’t be positive. Working from home is a new factor, sitting at different desk in different, less ergonomic chair, hunched over a bit more than usual. I also went for quite a long stretch, at least a week, without wearing a bra because, well, not going anywhere. I have not taken anything/been avoiding NSAIDs because of granted very mixed reports that they are contraindicated for COVID-19 (don’t have, just acting like I do).
Is this cause for immediate concern and getting seen, or can it wait until there is less strain on health systems/it is safer to go out? How long is too long to let it go on? A week? A month? Should I take NSAIDs and see if that helps before freaking out? I am aware of the spot but not in acute pain, just some discomfort. I have three other people in my household, including two around 60, one of whom has respiratory issues.
(IANAD. totally anecdotal: I stopped using bras a few years ago. For the first year or so I had pains like you described that eventually went away. I assumed it was stretching of some sort of ligaments that had been previously dormant because of bra use)
posted by mirileh at 2:12 AM on March 29, 2020
posted by mirileh at 2:12 AM on March 29, 2020
Does your doctor's office (or someone else in your area) offer video visits? I would try that first. I'm having muscle pain like that and I think it's a combination of anxiety and posture problems.
posted by pinochiette at 5:19 AM on March 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by pinochiette at 5:19 AM on March 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
i would definitely call. and ask what safety protocals they are using - at my work, we keep the doors locked so that only one person at a time can come in.
posted by megan_magnolia at 6:34 AM on March 29, 2020
posted by megan_magnolia at 6:34 AM on March 29, 2020
Call your doctor; you can get a mammogram on an urgent basis if needed. A friend just had breast cancer surgery, fortunately outpatient, because other conditions pay no attention to pandemic.
posted by theora55 at 7:20 AM on March 29, 2020
posted by theora55 at 7:20 AM on March 29, 2020
Don’t screw around with boob stuff. Call your doctor’s office and follow their advice.
posted by invincible summer at 8:06 AM on March 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by invincible summer at 8:06 AM on March 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
Breast pain is almost always muskuloskeletal or a poorly fitting bra and almost never cancer. Definitely try NSAIDs. If it gets better with NSAIDs, I would not hurry to the doctor. If it doesn't, there's still no need to panic.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 10:38 AM on March 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 10:38 AM on March 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
I’m an NP (not your Np, etc.) As above, lots (most) of breast pain is very benign. No nipple discharge, lumps, change to appearance, or any other symptoms are reassuring. The fact that it gets better with a bra is also reassuring. If you don’t have any history of breast issues (personal or family), I’d want to see you for a routine office visit for a breast exam (by hand) and possibly refer you for an ultrasound depending on exam results and further questions.
Not sure where you are and what kind of healthcare access you have, but most medical systems are stretched reaaalllly thin right now, so access to things like routine ultrasound might be very limited—like waiting a couple of months limited. You might ring the office of whoever does your breast exams and see what they say in terms of scheduling and availability. It doesn’t ring any alarm bells for me but you never know until you’ve been examined appropriately. You could try a supportive bra and some OTC pain killers. Some women also have success with evening primrose oil for breast pain, but generally only notice an affect after several weeks.
Take care.
posted by stillmoving at 11:30 AM on March 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
Not sure where you are and what kind of healthcare access you have, but most medical systems are stretched reaaalllly thin right now, so access to things like routine ultrasound might be very limited—like waiting a couple of months limited. You might ring the office of whoever does your breast exams and see what they say in terms of scheduling and availability. It doesn’t ring any alarm bells for me but you never know until you’ve been examined appropriately. You could try a supportive bra and some OTC pain killers. Some women also have success with evening primrose oil for breast pain, but generally only notice an affect after several weeks.
Take care.
posted by stillmoving at 11:30 AM on March 29, 2020 [3 favorites]
Another voice encouraging you to call your doctor's office and ask for their input. I'm a toxicologist who used to work in the clinic--I'm not a physician--but your doctor might have specific questions about what the skin and region *looks* like and, if possible, might ask you to take some photographs or get onto a telemedicine session. Language is good--and you've given a great summary--but the technician side of a doctor can get just as much information from a couple of close up photos, too.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:55 AM on March 30, 2020
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:55 AM on March 30, 2020
That was my exact sensation (and no lump) before being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer 4 years ago. I tried to tell myself it was muscular, from new exercise or traveling. When you google, pain is not supposed to be a BC symptom, but most of the women in my support groups experienced it - tender like a bruise.
My tumors - plural - were hiding deep in the breast so could not be palpated, but ended up nearly 9cm and very aggressive.
I hope your outcome is different than mine was.
posted by CancerSucks at 1:23 AM on March 31, 2020
My tumors - plural - were hiding deep in the breast so could not be palpated, but ended up nearly 9cm and very aggressive.
I hope your outcome is different than mine was.
posted by CancerSucks at 1:23 AM on March 31, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by whitewall at 1:40 AM on March 29, 2020 [4 favorites]