Breast discomfort?

I have lots of breast pain, and sometimes lumps. I make sure to get yearly mammograms. So far, they are just fibroids--Nature's silicone, I call it. Anything to make them bigger. They can hurt.

I also get pain from swollen lymph nodes in and around the breasts. The pain radiates so you really need to feel around and make sure you locate the spot and check for lumps.

I also have sometimes severe pain in the fatty tissue under my armpits. I use a gel deodorant so that it can't clog my sweat glands but the problem is not only in the skin, which hurts like its septic but has no redness or oozing, but also hurts on the actual ribs. I've been told this is part of autoimmune disease, possibly arthritis. I think it has something to do with my liver and other organs constantly pushing out on them. I had pain like that when my liver was really really bad.

But I would go to the gyn and have that checked out and definitely find the spot. Mine are just so lumpy from fibriods that it's hard to discern things.

Oh, and I also had breast pain when I had galactorhea (I was actually lactating for no reason) and no one ever did figure out why but it went away. I had some hardness then too and definite pain.

I need to find a good ob/gyn too. My doc won't do a breast exam for me and I can't reach it all and I'm not very good and I can't discern what is normal from what is not.

Both my sister and my mom were very well served by docs doing breast exams. I get the mammograms, which only mentioned the fibroids once and now just only ever say normal. No doctor has ever even brought up the issue of the fibroids with me. I don't know what the risks are with them. I know my mom has a bunch and she told me they are just benign and not a problem.

Take care and sorry I couldn't help more. Also, pain in the shoulder and breast might be something deeper like an organ or something, I don't know. Right shoulder is liver. I got really bad tendonitis inmy left shoulder and learned I cann'ot carry anything over my shoulder anymore because there is no bone to bone support, only tendons and ligaments and as we age and don't exercise, they get weak. My shoulder pain did not affect my breast though.

Hi Carol. I frequently have pain in my left shoulder-upper left breast region. Spleen pain is deferred to the left shoulder, so I've always assumed that's the problem even though my spleen isn't enlarged. BTW, I get annual mamograms and have had 2 lumps removed. One was slightly painful, the other was not. The mamograms have picked up 2 cysts, neither was painful. I'm sure you get annual mamograms, but I think you should see your internist about the pain so he can check possibilities. Carol, I'm glad you're posting 'cause I worry about you! Love, Donna

Hi Carol,

 

I get breast pain too, usually in the left one!  I'm like Robin, sometimes it's a stabbing pain, other times dull.  I have no idea what it is.  I've never had a mammogram either.  I've never felt lumps or anything.  Lupus sucks....

 

((((((hugs))))))

Ginny

Thanks everyone, I'm sorry you all have this same problem. I think Patty is right about the o2 tank. Maybe one is just getting bigger because of the muscles I'm using. Boy this is almost an embarrassing topic. Yes everyone needs to be aware of the need for mammagrams. I am due to have one done. I had one and they found somthing so they did an ultrasound an said to  come back in 6 months to make sure it hasn't gotten larger. That was a year ago. I don't feel anything and it doesn't run in my family but I need to get it checked anyway.

hugs carol

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which pathogenic antibodies are the primary cause of tissue damage. People of all ages, all ethnic groups, and both sexes are affected, but 90% of cases occur in women of childbearing age.11 Lesions most commonly occur in the arms, buttocks, head, neck and thighs. They are often firm 3-cm masses that may or may not be tender. Epidermal changes and ulceration may be present.11

The involvement of the breast is termed lupus mastitis, a rare entity, and the cause is unknown. One belief is that local trauma, including biopsy, may precipitate lupus mastitis. Another theory suggests that in cases without dermal involvement, the cause might be vasculitis. Lupus mastitis is an inflammatory reaction of the subcutaneous fat that may occur in 2% to 3% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.11,12 Patients may present with recurrent breast swelling, with or without pain.11

Mammographic evidence of lupus mastitis is diffuse patchy macrocalcifications ranging from thin curvilinear, to diffuse coarse calcifications in one or both breasts, with no definite architectural distortion unless at the site of a previous biopsy. Sonography also demonstrates macrocalcifications. Patients who present with a mammographically visible discrete mass can exhibit nonspecific sonographic features, such as solid, irregular, echogenic lesions with ill-defined margins.11,13

Biopsy of the lesions has been reported to aggravate the condition and surgery should only be considered when conservative management fails. A trial of pharmacological therapy with corticosteroids or steroid-sparing immunosuppressive drugs can be implemented, which would eliminate the need for diagnostic biopsy or surgical treatment if the response is favorable.11,13