Pain above left breast, left armpit and shoulder

[Aruba417]

Hi. Since April I have had pain above my left breast. It's not constantly there, but it comes and goes. Sometimes it feels like a burning pain, other times it feels like a cramp. I've also felt it in my armpit at times and it will also creep up over my shoulder. Although I VERY RARELY feel it on the right side, it DOES happen once in awhile. But for the most part it's been my left side. I've had all the heart tests, including stress echo, I've had an MRI of my brain and neck, I've had a breast exam. I've even seen a chiropractor. Every test they've done comes back normal. And nothing seems to help. I've tried aspri - doesn't work. I try massaging my breast and shoulders and that seems to help a tiny bit. Usually the pain is very dull...but one night I woke up in excruciating pain for about 10 seconds, then it went back to being dull. I'm 24, and I am being treated for Anxiety/Panic Disorder. My Psychiatrist does not think it's related. Does ANYONE have ANY ideas about what could be going on with me?!?!?!

[troid]

sounds like it could maybe be  a pulled muscle or ligament maybe. try ibuprofin and a heating pad maybe that will help.

[Hopr10]

Do you feel like it is like air caught there? I have the same as you. It seems that I need to burp too but can't

[Hopr10]

Do you feel like it is like air caught there? I have the same as you. It seems that I need to burp too but can't

[Hopr10]

Do you feel like it is like air caught there? I have the same as you. It seems that I need to burp too but can't

[Aruba417]

What muscle could be pulled that would cause pain in both above the chest and my armpit/shoulder? Or what ligament could/would be torn? My doctors don't know what to do with me anymore. I've tried Ibruprophen AND aspirin as well as Naproxen, but I'm not sure if they work seeing as how the pain comes and goes so quickly anyway. And, do pulled muscles last for more than 7 months? It's not a pain I have every day, and I seem to excecise okay, too. I haven't tried a heating pad next time and see if that will help at all. Thanks for the advice.

[Brad929]

I have an almost identical pain to you except that I feel the pain 95% of the time.  I have gotten similar x-rays, mri of brachioplex, mri of cervical spine, cat scan of chest, stress test, EKG, Echocardiogram. They havn't found anything except for an enlarged thymus gland.  They are keeping an eye on it and i need to get another cat scan in 2 months time to see if it gets larger in size, as of now it is in the normal variance range.  They dont' seem to think it could result in the pain i am having though and have classified it as a red herring.  This leaves me with the pain that I've always had and now a new problem to worry about.  I need to find out what this is.  If anyone thinks they know please help!!!

Brad

[mgirl]

I have looking online to see what it is I have when I found your comment.   I have the exact same pain above my left breast.  I have also had many tests done, heart exams etc, and everything seems to be fine.   I have also had an anxiety problem for the past two years!  I guess I am not sure to be able to help you find out what the problem is exactly, however, I think it helps to know that someone else has the same problem.  :o s   Although I don't believe we have pulled a muscle, I think this might have something to do with muscle tension.  I am not sure if your neck and upper back hurt at all, but mine do.   These muscles are connected to each other, so maybe that would have something to do with the chest pain.

[vixx]

Hi i have the very same problem and also suffer with anxiety so i wonder if the two are linked as i have only had both problems a year and am generally much better but it seems if i have a bad day (not too many now) then the shoulder and breast pain come back, i get the pain in my breast first this really worries me and i get sore the next day under my arm and then the shoulder pain follow's, i think the key is try not to worry about it too much and see it as another anxiety symtom if all test's come back clear, easier said than done when you have anxiety though i know.

[bandink]

I am having these pains as well. I too have stress and anxiety issues. Anyone find anything out?

[DAYNA MICHELE]

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.  MY CHEST ABOVE MY BREAST AND UNDER MY ARM AND IN MY UPPER BACK..  IT FEELS LIKE BURNING AND DULL PAIN.  THAN AGAIN IT IS SCARY TOO.  I ALSO HAVE ANXIETY AND I AM TAKING ZOLOFT AND ATIVAN FOR THIS.  

[Palla]

Pain over my left breast started just after I told a man I love very much that I was perfectly happy we were breaking up.  Doctors now diagnose something called "broken heart syndrome" where people that suffer a sudden loss can have a heart attack because the brain releases adrenaline and other chemicals that stun the heart.  I wonder if a less severe/less unexpected emotional pain can lead to this sort of dull ache in the arteries leading to the heart, ie, further to the left of the heart.  It seem logical to me that if the brain can suddenly release a lot of chemicals that shock the heart, it can also more slowly release chemicals that cause aching around the heart.  But I am absolutely not a doctor.  Anyhow, I'm happy to read what you all have posted, that people can live with this sort of dull ache above the breast, even if it isn't fun.  Many reputable doctors believe emotional health and physical health are linked, but this is definitely the first time my heart has literally ached after a break up.

[GabrielleB]

I have this problem as well but it's above the right breast and in the right shoulder blade area. It feels like it goes right through from front to back. I first noticed it after I moved something extremely heavy, but  it doesn't go away. I haven't had a mammogram in years and it's scary. And the stress in my life is almost crushing - I wake up hyperventilating, but it's been that way for years. This pain is relatively new.

[heartbreaking]

I have the same intermittent top left breast pain and was treated with anxiety a month ago. My case is very similar to Palla. I am getting married soon and faced alot of issues which made me emotionally drained. I like the naming of this (broken heart syndrome) as it meant exactly how I felt. I am fighting hard to make this pain go away and thought could happen through better emotional control. I read one book which certainly helped me - Destructive Emotions. From this book, I understood that buddists meditate and it brings them peace and calm which is the direct counter to destructive emotions (negative feelings). I also spoken to people from other religions, and found out that they pray and by doing so, they feel peace and calm. I am a free-thinker now, but I finally understand a little on why people turned to religion. I may explore this option if nothing else seems to work.

[ChestPainRightSide]

Pain on Right Side above breast.
Something is going on here and I don't think doctors know. I've have the exact pain as described by all of you.
I comes and goes and last for about 30sec. to a minute then go away.
It's a very sharp pain (resulting to putting you in a fetal position because it hurts so bad) in the upper right side just above the breast.
My doctor diagnose me with "Costochondritis" Here is a website to check the symtoms out. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626

But I don't think this is it. It doesn't feel like a bone is affected at all, It's moreso in the breast itself.

[sixers1]

I have the same upper left breast pain. (under arm pit)  I also feel it once and a while on the right side as well.  I just recently changed jobs and am experiencing a lot of stress.  Thought it could be a heart issue, however I'm only 34 and in pretty good shape. (Played high school sports as a kid)  After reading the above I've come to realize that the increased stress and anxiety (new job, new baby, etc.) may cause you to worry at little more that you should.  Getting older doesn't help either.

[chrisandiego]

I am 18 and have chronic heart burn. I have these tension pains and sometimes needle tingling pains above my left breast. Then sometimes if feels like i slept wrong on my shoulder, like I can't get a comfortable postion. Tension in armpit and right outside it. whole left arm soreness feeling. I get pain sometimes as it seems right at the bottom of my left ribcage.

I do have a lot of stress and anxiety though, just never thought that it could cause problems to where you think you're having a heart attack. Which is NEVER fun ;(

Just also for a side note, ecstacy and stimulants seem to strengthen these symptoms for one reason or another,sometimes alcohol, which caused me to think it was a heart related problem. Ive had blood tests done, EKG, nothing heart related as they could see. They told me it is just bad GERD. (which to be quite honest i hope it is.)

any help on this would be greatly appreciated, as I'm sure theres 1000 other people that have this problem exactly.

[mary1000]

I'm a lot older than you, but I wonder if the pain could be shoulder related.  I'm athletic too, and have had rotator cuff problems in my shoulder, which I definitely feel also in my upper chest and armpit.  Also I tend to strain my pectoral muscles (under the breast) when lifting things or doing weight training--pain feels in the breast but isn't.  Hope this helps.

[madison123818]

I have the some problem. I have been to a very good Dr. she has indicated to me that the pain is anxiety/stress related. If you will research anxiety, (as my dr. has instructed me) you will find that chest pains are associated with anxiety. I am only 30 years old and thought I was having a heart attack.
Just, for the record, you are to young to be involved in ecstacy, alcohol and other stimulants. I hope that you are not involved in them, and that you were just throwing that information around for informational purposes only.

[monkeybubblegum]

ive gotten that pain to im 10 help

[Mssierra]

i have the same problem but it is in the right breast, and sometimes come with heart palpitations. i have had an EKG done and wore a heart monitor but as well everything came back normal.... i like to think i am relatively stress free, but i have a good deal of it. I also played sports(soccer, basketball, cross-country, rugby, and swimming) from the ages of 6-18. Anyone got any clues yet at to what this could be?? i mean i have lived with it for a while, but if i could figure something out to fix it, it would be one less thing to worry about health wise.

*also have hypo-active thyroid
*age:20
*no kids
*was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder a couple years back.
*not over weight or under weight

[rosie028]

There is a common link between all of you but that link has to be found in order to solve the problem of the masses. I can say that I have the exact same problem but I don't take meds because I'm a naturalist and believe that meds harm the body instead of help it. Anywho! I have found since my children slept w/ me in the bed when they were infants and toddlers I had a tendency not to turn over in fear of crushing them and in turn causing me pain w/ the inability to rest properly. I now have to wake myself up and turn over for I can't do it while sleeping brain habits I suppose. So has anyone of you noticed that you wake hours later in the same position and exact spot you fell asleep in? This could be a crick in the shoulder like a crick in the neck caused by not lying on your pillow properly. Good Luck solving that one! If you do please let us know we are aching to find out. Ha! Ha!

[keekster9560]

I read your post and felt like I was reading my own words.  I too have been experiencing the same pain and tingling, and did also notice that stimulants made it worse.  Alcohol is bad for it too, I had a beer and was in agony.  I have had blood work done, a chest x-ray, ECG, and have been given muscle relaxants (that I never took) and Naproxen (that I never took) and was then told it's anxiety.  I feel like I'm losing my mind!!!  I am in pretty good shape, quit smoking in December of 2007, don't really drink, and eat healthy.  I too think that medicine does more harm then good, but I am getting to the end of my rope now and just want an answer as to what it is.  I've had a tingling sensation also over my belly like someone is sliding a sewing needle gently across my belly.  Not too painful, but annoying, like pins and needles.  They tested my thyroid and kidneys, found nothing.  Are we all mental?  Does anyone have any insight into this?

[hazard929]

I too have had the same pain. My right breast is sometimes sore to press on at the top and also on the front of the chest next to right breast. Also sometimes feel pain under my right arm pit and I also get pins and needles in back right shoulder. I have'nt had any tests done because I know over the years I have had many problems due to a fear of cancer. My last problem was burning tongue syndrome. Which lasted about 6 months. I just needed to keep telling myself there is nothing wrong with me. But once I got over that I now have come down with this breast thing. I do believe it is an anxiety, stress thing. It tends to get worse at night espeacially when I am laying in bed. The pain and the feeling is very real. I think I may have pulled something exercising back in April. But because of my irrational fear of cancer, I have been poking around and probably making the situation worse. I know that I have a problem with the whole cancer fear thing but it is so hard to overcome. I refuse to take anti depressants. I will overcome this problem. But when the next pain comes I will think that I have something else wrong with me. An irrational fear can turn a normal ache, that other people wouldn't even give a second thought to, into some huge disease. Try and be positive and just know that your mind can play a lot of tricks on you.

[muskaan_86]

Hi, i can't believe there are so many other people out here with the same problem, yesterday i took a day of work and went straight to the hospital with my fiance as i was so afraid of these pains, im getting married this october and find it really hard to participate in anything to do with the wedding because of this pain, i keep fearing its cancer, but my doctors say no, hospital said it could be stress and told me to have physiotherapy done, i can't even exercise, it's made my life difficult, first it was just my left breast at the top now its my arm, neck, shoulder and back, i hope we all get better.

[tara8383]

I am a 25 year old female.  I too have this pain, it comes and goes.  But it is really sharp at times, right above my left breast.  The pain also seems to come when my stomach is really hungry and growling.  It sounds crazy, but it's true.  Has anyone else experienced the same feeling?

[winglesangel]

I have delt with anxiety my entire life i am 27 almost 28 and know the feeling of the cramping you have talked about. I get it around the time I have an attack but also if i haev heartburn which my doc says can also cause anxity like symptoms. I get them so bad i cant breathe at times and I double over in pain. I have had all the fancy tests from EKG's to x-Rays blodd tests for heart attacks to the echoecardio gram.......if it bothers you ask the doc about taking a med for heart burn and or indegestion or have them check you for those things. I hope i was of some help. I know its scary but remember you are ok and you can get through this. If i can get through it being pregnant you can do it to!!!!

[srt8gal]

I am a 40 yr. old female and I have just started having these pains on the side/top of my left breast that goes down to armpit. It is really scaring me, I'm thinking it's cancer, always thinking the worst.... But reading your posts makes me feel better as I too have had to deal with much stress the last two years and anxiety runs in my family as well. I think I will try some relaxation techniques before visiting the doc.