Numerous women observe breast pain, also called mastalgia, at any moment throughout their lives. It’s a general condition with a variety of underlying causes. Even so, sharp pain, sensitivity, or tightness in either one or both breasts could be worrisome in unexpected situations. The pleasant news is that the majority of sharp pain in breast is benign. Generally, mastalgia vanishes on its own and is easily manageable. Studies suggest that breast cancer is responsible for almost 3% to 6% of breast pain cases. Let us find out what is required to understand breast pain sources and treatment.
Types of Breast Pain
Sharp pain in breast, often referred to as mastalgia, can be caused by hormonal changes, cysts, or musculoskeletal issues, and usually requires medical evaluation to rule out serious conditions. Here are the two types of sharp pain in breast as follows:
Breast Pain Associated with Periods (Cyclical Breast Pain)
- Cyclical breast pain is linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle.
- Most women experience discomfort and lumpiness in either one or both breasts a week before their period.
- The ache can range from medium to severe, and the breasts may also be sensitive and sore to the touch.
- You might feel heaviness, burning, tenderness, a prickling or stabbing ache, or a sense of tightness.
- The pain generally affects both breasts, yet it can impact just one. It may also radiate to the armpit, down the arm, and towards the shoulder blade.
- Once a period begins, people often dismiss cyclical breast aches. In some females, the pain might disappear by itself, but it might come back.
- This kind of pain generally stops following menopause, although women using HRT might also feel breast pain.
- Starting or changing contraception, which includes hormones, may also cause breast pain.
Breast Pain not Related to Periods (Non-Cyclical Breast Ache)
It’s sometimes unclear what leads to non-cyclical breast pain. It might be associated with:
- This is a benign (not a tumor) breast disorder.
- Past surgery on the breast
- Concussions to the breast
- Possessing larger breasts
- A side effect from a drug remedy, such as a specific antidepressant medication, and a few herbal treatments, like ginseng
- Anxiety and stress
Diagnosing of Breast Pain
Your Dallas pain physician will examine your breasts and inquire about the type of pain you feel and the frequency with which you get it.
Your GP may ask you to fill out a simple pain chart to determine how long the pain lasts, how severe it is, or whether it coincides with your menstrual cycle.
If your doctor thinks you might have a non-cyclical breast ache or chest wall ache, they might ask you to move forward between the examinations. This is to assist them in determining whether the ache is on the inner side of your breast or belongs to the chest wall.
Your healthcare professional might suggest that you go to a breast clinic for a more focused assessment by specialists or experts.
Treatment of Sharp Pain in Breast
Treatment of breast pain by pain management in Dallas varies according to the cause of the pain. It’s crucial to understand that breast pain could potentially signal a serious condition requiring management. In simple terms, it might be a sign, not a diagnosis. Related symptoms that identify a more chronic problem consist of pain-free breast lumps, nipple release, skin color modifications, underarm lumps, and many others. Your primary care experts can identify and diagnose the cause of the ache, as well as help manage proper remedies if necessary.
Treatments for breast pain involve the following:
- There are modifications in the dosage of birth control medications or a reduction in the quantity of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat cyclic breast pain.
- Having over-the-counter ache relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or relevant NSAIDs is beneficial.
- After relaxation therapy,
- Avoiding caffeine.
- Maintaining a low-fat diet.
- Consider taking supplements such as flaxseed oil, vitamin E, or evening primrose oil.
Risk Factors
Although it can happen after menopause, breast pain is more common in individuals who have not yet reached menopause. Men with gynecomastia and transgender individuals undergoing gender reassignment may also have breast pain.
Other elements that could raise the chance of experiencing breast pain include:
Breast size: Due to the size of their breasts, people with enormous breasts may have noncyclic breast pain because of their size. Large breasts can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain in addition to breast pain.
Breast surgery: Breast pain and scarring from breast surgery may occasionally persist after wounds have healed.
Fatty acid imbalance: An imbalance of fatty acids within the cells may have an impact on breast tissue’s sensitivity to hormones in the bloodstream.
Medication use: Certain hormonal drugs, such as oral birth control pills and some infertility treatments, may cause breast pain. After menopause, estrogen and progesterone hormone treatments may cause breast discomfort as a side effect. Studies have linked certain antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), to breast pain. Certain antibiotics and medications used to treat high blood pressure are additional medications that may induce breast soreness.
Excessive caffeine use: Some people report that when they cut back on or stop drinking coffee, their breast pain improves, though additional research is required.
Medication for Breast Pain
If you have breast pain or sensitivity, your healthcare expert may suggest medication to eliminate it, such as over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription drugs. For instance, the FDA recommends Danazol for treating breast aches and tenderness. Estrogen-blockers like letrozole or anastrozole might be useful if high estrogen levels cause breast ache. Additionally, researchers are administering the recommended breast cancer drug, Tamoxifen citrate, experimentally to manage breast pain; however, its long-term security for breast pain remains uncertain.
When Should I See a Doctor?
Schedule a visit with your physician if you experience breast pain.
- This persists every day for longer than a few weeks.
- It occurs in a single, designated breast area.
- appears to be deteriorating with time.
- disrupts routine activities
- Gets you out of bed
- People whose primary symptom is breast discomfort have a very low risk of developing breast cancer, but it’s crucial to follow your doctor’s recommendation for an evaluation.
When to Worry About Breast Pain
Almost 70% of females experience breast pain throughout their lifetime, and it involves a multitude of reasons. It can appear and disappear, while pain can also last for many weeks or months. It is necessary to know that there is no cookie-cutter solution to the root cause of breast aches. That’s why visiting a doctor is so vital.
Your pain doctor in Dallas must be the first option in evaluating the reason for your breast pain. If required, your healthcare expert can arrange imaging or a specialist recommendation. Consult your provider if you feel breast pain that misses improvement or if you observe breast problems like extreme swelling, redness, a lump, or warmth.
