Hi, izzy, I'm sorry that you're experiencing pain too.

I had costochondritis many years ago and for me it was restricted to a specific spot, sort of mid sternum and didn't involve the breast. I recall going to my GYN at the time and getting that diagnosis.

I'm 3 years post menopausal so it's not related to my cycle. My mammogram in June 06 (and all prior mammograms) was normal.

I suppose this could be referred pain that I'm having, but it just so much feels like the prodromal period before a fever sore ... that tingling, burning, itching sensation. And when I google shingles, the sxs are right on. And of course I did read that you can have it without a rash.

So ... I have a follow-up appointment with my GYN in about 4 weeks. If it gets worse (or better) in that time period I'll call him, and either see him or his associate. Or I could call my very new neuro (who is an immunologist/rheumatologist as well) and see what he makes of it.

The last few days it has not been too bad, persistent and annoying but nothing like it was on Saturday night and on some prior days since it started.

There are nerves throughout your body, and the upper chest is where many, many are concentrated. They lead every which way, to the arms, the ribs, the shoulder blades and to the breasts. Anywhere you have a nerve it is possible to have neuropathy, a disease of the nerve, or neuritis, an inflammation of the nerve.

I have permanent damage to the brachial cutaneous nerve, which branches off of the brachial plexus, below the collarbone near the armpit. This nerve then splits again. One branch runs under the armpit, to the back of the elbow (I believe it joins up again with the ulnar nerve - not positive). Another branch runs along the side of the rib cage, and between the first and second rib. And the third branching leads directly into the middle of the breast. If these are tender you can trace them with your fingers

Insult or injury to this nerve can cause burning pain at the elbow (like you just hit your funny bone HARD), pain and tenderness at the underarm and down the side of the ribcage, sharp pain between the first and second rib(costochondritis) and painful, sensitive breasts. If I wear a bra, it irritates this nerve, and after a couple of hours, maybe less, it has caused attacks of faux angina, with sharp chest pains, breathlessness, cold sweats, nausea and light-headedness.

My heart has been checked out thoroughly on several occasions over the last 3 years, so I don't worry about that, but these attacks are not pleasant. I've given up bras completely except for "absolutely must" events. If I'm stressed, the nerve gets so flared that just the pressure of my arm at my side can trigger an attack, and I've had some when I've been trying to sleep. It's scary to go from relaxed to fighting to breathe so suddenly. I also have many clothes I can't stand to wear, my arms are very sensitive as well due to the RSD.

There are lots of other nerves in the breast as it is one of our most sensitive body parts. It does sound similar to RSD but I sincerely hope it isn't, and like you say, there has been no trauma.

I hope you find your answer soon. If it doesn't go away, Lyrica is a med that does work well for these types of pain, and you might ask about a compounded cream or ointment with Lidocaine and/or Ketamine . These actually work much better than oral meds as they are absorbed directly into the skin where the pain is located.

As for the Dr who said "Learn to live with it", he should lose his license to practice medicine or be struck with an equally painful condition! Wish they would bring back the stocks - a sentence of at least 3 days for saying stupid, insensitive things to patients sounds right, and would let us all vent our disgust- I'll supply the rotten tomatoes

beth

I have very tender breasts. I was having shooting pains through them but my GYN said to stop caffeine intake. It really helped on that part. But they are too tender to touch. No one seems to want to talk to me about it. I believe it hurts on my back too. I am diabetic and asked if my breast could have neuropathy and the doctor actually laughed. She also said pain is not associated with breast cancer and my mammogram is always normal. I have a very hard time finding a bra that doesn't hurt. Any suggestions?

Hi SoCal,

You might also want post your question In the Women's Health forum
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum41.html
or the General Health
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum2.html
- to get more replies.

You can also make a hello /intro post in the New Members forum if you would like
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum88.html

I have to admit, that your post has been the only one that I've read that exactly described what I am going through right now. The only reason that I have not gone to the doctor is for the fact that I don't have health insurance at the moment because I'm self-employed. Yet, up to this point, I haven't found any answers as to why I'm feeling such annoying sensations in my left breast. I have no "severe" pain and I have no lumps or inflammation whatsoever so I know that it's not cancer. So far its been nothing short of being down right ANNOYING!!! I don't know how old this post is, but if you've been diagnosed yet or whatever, please let me know your progress. I'm definitely interested in hearing what your doctor is saying! Thank you!!

Hannah Biffel
Fort Worth, TX
*******************************************

Hannah, that post does indeed go back two years, to 2006 -- I got an email today notifying me of your post and here I am.

I never got a definitive answer from any of my doctors. When I spoke to the MS neurologist, he said he was unsure but if it ever happened again to call immediately and he would put me on an anti-viral, probably Acyclovir (or whatever is newer by this time). The endocrinologist said he thought it likely was shingles, and he thought he saw the beginnings of a rash on my arm -- he sent me off to a dermatologist who said you could get shingles on your trunk, and that might include the breast.

So what did I do? I put up with it for a long time. During the day I wore the tightest sports bra that I could bear -- somehow binding the breast, while it didn't cure the problem seemed to give me some semblance of relief. At night I slept with one breast outside the sheets, like an Amazon, and sometimes just cried myself to sleep in exhaustion.

And one day, just the way it started, the pain went away without a trace of warning.

I still believe it was shingles without the the rash, and if I ever have that sensation again anywhere on my body I will rush to the doctor -- any doctor -- and insist on treatment.

I'm so sorry that you don't have the means to consult a physician. Are there any clinics associated with hospitals that you might go to for a free or very inexpensive examination?

I'd hate to think of someone going thru what I went thru -- not that I got any help from the physicians I went to, but now I would know what to push for!

Have you tried changing your laundry detergent. Often those detergents with "perfume" cause problems on your skin. Try a detergent without any added smell and do not use fabric softener.

Well, as far as having the means to go see someone, there is a clinic that I can go to that sees people without insurance and they're relatively inexpensive, it's just the tests they'd have to run through an outside source that would cost an arm and a leg without benefits. Basically, I just wanted to at least figure out if this was something that had a name and if it was life threatening or if it was something that I would have to live with for a while that would eventually pass. Ya know? At this point in my life, I'm quite certain that I have a hormone imbalance, so I actually attributed my symptoms to that. I mean, it does suck that here I am, 27 years old having to put up with all this weird stuff happening to my body that I can't really do anything about. I've never been a sickly person, so I've done fine up until now, but as we know, nothing stays the same. Oh well, this too shall pass. Again, I really do appreciate you getting back to me. Like I said, your post really made me feel so much better, knowing that someone out there went through the same thing I'm going through and turned out ok. At least now I know I'm not going to croak from this anytime soon, right? Ha Ha.

Hannah Biffel

************************************************** *

We use -- have always used -- Tide Free. No perfumes, no fabric softeners, no drier sheets. Good suggestion, just doesn't apply to my situation.

As I mentioned, my pain just cleared up one day on its own. Same way it arrived. No explanation for cause or cessation.

You're welcome, I wish I could be of more help.

If you can see a doc at the clinic and they are able to diagnose shingles from your signs and symptoms, they would likely prescribe an anti-viral, perhaps a generic -- or they might have samples to give you?

Even though our symptoms may be similar, there's no way to know that we've experienced the same thing. And I would not like for you to assume that because nothing happened to me, apart from some particularly unpleasant months, that your situation is the same.

If you can get to a doc for some reassurance, that would certainly make me more comfortable -- a physical exam would be the place to start, and that should not be outrageously expensive at a clinic. In your case, this might be something easily diagnosed and actually "fixed" without a bunch of expensive tests.

I hope you'll check it out. And I hope they can do something for you, at minimal cost. Gentle

With luck, perhaps you'll find