Painful Breast

[RobertCLL]

I posted this some years ago on behalf on my wife:

She has had a pain in the upper inner right quadrant of the breast for the last 2 years. When this first came up she had an appointment at our local hospital and received a bilateral mammogram and all was normal. There was no focal lesion seen. The radiologist felt there was no need for a ultrasound.

For example she complains of pain: if she lifts her right arm above her head, quick walking, going over road bumps in the car, using the hover, washing the right breast, general things that involve the use of the right arm with a swinging or lifting motion.

Her previous mammogram showed no change to that performed on this occasion.

She is 62, has had one child 30 years ago and menopaused at the age of 49, no hrt.

She has tried heavy duty sports bra’s which do help, but do not resolve the problem. Also cocodamol, paracetamol and ibuprofen do nothing to relive the symptoms.

The feedback I received from last time was that she should receive a CT scan as Mammograms and not conclusive.

Her situation has not involved and therefore, I am looking for further possible answers to her problem.

I was wondering if a pain patch on the breast might be worth trying (subject to a GP appraisal)?

I am going to nag her to get a CT scan arranged.

Any other thoughts you feel might help.

[Happyrosie]

lifting arm - therefore her spine is partly being used. So, have you thought about a chiropractor? Private physio? Or similar?

A pain patch - I’m not aware of anything a GP could prescribe which just is effective on a particular place (if that’s what you mean).

Discussion with pharmacist?

These are random thoughts

[pinkMarshmellow in reply to Happyrosie]

Could be an element of cording going on. Is it the arm she got chemo in? or the side where lymph nodes were taken? I have a similar thing going on but the pain is mostly in my shoulder so aiming for physio first

[RobertCLL in reply to pinkMarshmellow]

pinkMarshmellow. She has never received chemo nor had any lymph nodes removed.

[smithtennyson]

Has she had breast cancer or just the pain? I was diagnosed with cancer and never had ANY pain at all until after I had my operation. My mammogram picked it up and it was tiny, then I went 9 months before it was operated on, as they 'lost' it!! I had pain set in 9 months later quite badly and I've been told to use Fenbid which is a 5% ibruprofen based cream, which is helping along with ibruprofen and paracetamol together. I also find M&S post surgery bras and a stretchy 'almost tight' stretchy (compression) cami top helps

[RobertCLL]

No, she has never had beast cancer, it's just the pain. Interesting about the ibruprofen based cream, even rubbing this in would cause her pain.

[Redwrap]

Hi how are you sometimes when I have breast pain what I do is I'll try to put a warm towel where it hurts maybe this may help? best wishes