13 Causes Of Sharp Pain In Breast: Treatment Guide
“Shooting pain in the breast isn’t always concerning, It can be related to your menstrual cycle or hormonal changes. You can usually self-treat it, but if the cause is an infection or another condition, you’ll need medical attention.” This is the article for you to know more about the feeling of a sharp pain in breast. So keep on scrolling to know more.
When You Should Go To The Doctor?
There are certain types of pain when you need to go to the emergency room or call a doctor. Not all sharp pain in breast is a call for any alarm. But if you are experiencing any symptoms, you need to call a doctor.
- “Pain that radiates from the chest to the arms, jaw, back, shoulders or neck.”
- “Feelings of pressure, squeezing or fullness in the chest that may come and go.”
- “Shortness of breath.”
- “Unexplained nausea or sweating.”
- “Loss of consciousness.”
- “Sudden confusion.”
The Cyclic And Non-Cyclic Pain: The Difference Between The Two
“Cyclic pain is usually related to your menstrual cycle, leaving noncyclic pain as a catchall term for everything else.”
| Cyclic Breast Pain | Noncyclic Breast Pain |
|---|---|
| They usually appear before, after, or even during your period. | They are not related to your period. |
| It is described as aching, dull, or heavy. | It is described as sore, burning, or tight. |
| Cyclic pain goes hand in hand with lumps and swelling but goes away as your periods end. | The pain might be constant or come and go for several weeks. |
| It affects both your breasts at the same time. | It usually affects only a specific area of the breast. |
| Symptoms worsen two weeks before periods but improve once it ends. | The symptoms are mostly seen in women after menopause. |
| It affects people who are in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s. | – |
Common Causes Of Sharp Pain In Breast
Regarding sharp pain in breast, or mastalgia, it is very common. But there are many different reasons and causes of the pain. Due to incorrect bra fit, hormonal changes, and also infection.
1. Hormonal Changes.
“Tender or swollen breasts are usually related to the hormonal changes that take place before a period. This type of breat pain usually causes tenderness in both breasts, and it may extend to the armpit.”
A few symptoms of PMS are.
- Headaches
- Mood Swings
- Acne
- Bloating
- Tiredness
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Trouble sleeping
2. Bra Fit.
The shape and size of the bra can cause a certain, sharp pain in breast. It is because the underwire can dig into your skin or even into the breast tissue. If you suffer from cyclic pain, then during your menstrual cycle, your bra might feel a bit smaller or even uncomfortable.
So you should go to the store and get a proper bra fitting to know your perfect size. After knowing your size, you can buy a bra anytime and any place.
3. Mastitis.
Breast mastitis is a term that is referred to certain swelling and inflammation on your breast. The most common reason for this is infection. Keep a look out for such symptoms like these.
Symptoms are.
- Headaches
- Fever
- Pain, swelling, and warm feeling on the breast
- Flu-like symptoms
4. Medications.
You might be taking certain medications that can cause sharp pain in breast. Here are a few of these medications you need to know about.
The medicines include.
- Digoxin (Digox) treats abnormal heart rhythm and congestive heart failure.
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is used to treat mental health problems.
- Spironolactone (Aldactone) or Eplerenone (Inspa) are potassium-sparing diuretics.
- Oxymetholone (Anadrol) increases the red blood cell count.
- Methyldopa (Aldomet) is used to treat high blood pressure.
5. Scar Tissue.
Both radiation therapy and surgery is a probable causes for scar tissue formation on the breast that might be very painful at times. Here are a few symptoms that you wanna keep a look out for.
Symptoms are.
- Increased firmness and a round look of the breast.
- If the tissue forms around the nerves, pain or numbness is felt.
- Lump formation if the scar is formed around a surgical stitch.
6. Shoulder, Back, And Neck Pain.
If you suffer from a sharp pain in the breast, the pain may have originated outside the breast. Now you have pain in your back, shoulder, or neck, you might also get breast pain.
7. Chest Wall Pain.
There are a few reasons you might feel pain in the chest wall. You can clearly feel the pain throughout the chest and breasts. So here are a few symptoms of chest wall pain that you might be aware of.
Symptoms are.
- Sharp pain in breast or burning feeling
- Pain spreading down your arm
- Pain intensifies with movement
- A feeling of pain when applied pressure
Reasons for the pain.
- Angina
- Bruising
- Fractured Ribs
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Gallstones
8. Fibrocystic Breast Changes.
“Fibrocystic breast changes are harmless but potentially uncomfortable symptoms that cause the breasts to feel lumpy or otherwise different in texture due to hormonal fluctuations.”
Symptoms include.
- Lumps and cysts
- Itchiness
- Tenderness
- Sensitive Nipples
- Breasts feel thicker or firmer than normal
9. Breast Cancer.
If you have breast cancer, these are the following symptoms you might suffer from. Breast pain is not always the cause of breast cancer, but it is still a probable cause.
Symptoms include.
- Swelling and thickening of certain areas of the breast
- Lumps found in the breast
- Nipple discharge- clear, bloody, or anything else
- Irritation or dimpling of the breast skin
- Inflamed and flaky skin around the nipple area
- Change in the size and shape of the breast.
- Pain or pulling in the nipple area
- Pain in all the areas of the breast
10. Abscess.
“An abscess occurs when bacteria collect in the breast to create an often-painful, fluid-filled lump. Breast abscesses are most common among people who are breastfeeding. They can also affect anyone who has a history of breast injury or other skin infection.”
Some of the symptoms are.
- Fever
- Redness
- Swelling
11. Fat Necrosis.
is scarring after breast surgery or any injury sustained on the breast. This scar tissue occurs on the breast instead of breast tissues.
After the fat cells die, oil is released through them that forms the cyst. It is called an oil cyst by doctors. The oil cysts and fat necrosis are caused by lumps on the breast. This can trigger a kind of chest pain.
12. Fatty Acid Imbalance.
There are some fatty acids like omega-6 or omega-3 that reduce body inflammation. So if your body doesn’t get the required amount of fatty acid in your diet, the breast tissue will become even more sensitive towards hormonal fluctuation and inflammation. This will result in discomfort and sharp shooting pain in breast.
13. Hypothyroidism.
“Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland is unable to produce enough of certain hormones. Although the thyroid helps regulate many bodily functions, symptoms are often slow to develop.”
A few symptoms are.
- Fatigue
- Dry Skin
- Breast Pain
- Constipation
- Weight Gain
- Muscle Weakness
- Thinning Hair
Referred Pain: What Are Those?
Certain breast pain doesn’t even originate near or on the breast. Doctors refer to these as extra mammary pain. A few of the examples are.
- Acid Reflux
“This condition occurs when acid from the stomach goes up into the esophagus and sometimes the mouth. This can cause a painful burning sensation on chest.”
- Muscle Spasm
“When a muscle contracts and can’t relax, a spasm occurs. Muscle spasms of the chest wall, ribs, or back can all cause chest pain.”
- Bronchitis
“This condition causes inflammation in the airways, resulting in excessive coughing and mucus buildup.”
- Shingles
“This condition results from the same virus that causes childhood chickenpox. Later in life, it can cause a painful rash to form on the breasts.”
- Costochondritis
“This condition causes inflammation in the cartilage where the rib and breastbone connect. Sometimes, it can cause chest pain that can feel like a herat attack.”
- Pneumonia
“This is a serious respiratory infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs. Coughing and chest pain are common.”
- Thoracic Spine Disease
“Sometimes pain from a slipped disc or from spinal joints rubbing together can transmit to nerves in the chest, increasing the severity. You may find that certain movements or coughing make the pain worse.”
- Fibromyalgia
“Fibromyalgia is a nerve and soft tissue disorder that causes muscle pain and tenderness. This may include chest discomfort.”
Wrapping Up!
Breast pain or mastalgia is a quite common problem that all women have to go through throughout their life. There are multiple reasons why this happens, not a single one.
So if you are someone who has to deal with a sharp pain in breast, then this article will be quite helpful for you, as it has a detailed explanation as to why breast pain might happen. Now, if you think this article was informative and helpful, give it a like and comment below.
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written by
Nabamita Sinha
Nabamita Sinha loves to write about lifestyle and pop-culture. In her free time, she loves to watch movies and TV series and experiment with food. Her favorite niche topics are fashion, lifestyle, travel, and gossip content. Her style of writing is creative and quirky.
