Neuropathy in the breast? Shingles?
 

Okay, my breast sonogram was moved up to today (somebody cancelled?) so I did some shifting in my testing schedules and went for it.

Of course, it was negative.

I'm wondering if I could have shingles?

Or is it possible to have neuropathy of the breast? One breast?

My issue is: right breast, 1.5-2 months, burning, tingling, extreme sensitivity to fabric (clothing, bed sheets), and occasional sharp shooting pains. A sense of swelling or perhaps inflammation? There is no blistering or other mark. No discharge.

On Sat night the pain was intolerable, I took 3 Advil, two Darvocet (4 hours apart) and applied a Lidoderm patch directly to my breast (I googled to determine if the Lidoderm was a bad idea, but got no hits so just ... went with it). About 3 AM, exhausted, I finally fell asleep.

I googled and found that it is possible to have shingles without blistering and to have blistering without shingles pain.

Without the fluid from the blisters, I don't know how such a dx can be made?

Is it possible to have neuropathy in the breast? Has anyone ever heard of this or experienced it?

I was told simply that: breast pain is very common, follow-up with your GYN.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated, including if you need to laugh at me for even thinking either of these 2 diagnoses are possible, I can take it. ;)

But ... I'm on my own here with a clear sonogram and a "you'll just have to learn to live with it" comment.

Best, Dottye

Hi dottye
It almost sounds a bit like RSD to me ??{also called CRPS}
but I could be wrong too. just sounds like what I've heard it described as.
You might look at the RSD forum
http://forums.braintalk2.org/forumdisplay.php?f=21

Breast pain
 

Well I have had on and off breast pain for the last 10 years or so, very much like what you describe. I beleive it is very common and benign. Sometimes I am unable to wear certain fabrics at all, as not aggravate things more.

But it always seems to resolve on it's own.

Thanks, I took a look at that and at the stickies/links -- although the sxs are similar, it seems to me that those diagnoses relate to extremities and also follow injury or trauma (surgery, for example).

No injury or trauma here and this seems restricted to the trunk/breast area.

I'll keep googling around.

Thanks for responding.

Best, Dottye

When I googled "breast pain" the other day I came up with "Noncyclic mastalgia."

But what I'm experiencing is very specific (to me) in terms of symptoms and feels a lot like the PN in my feet, or the sort of prodromal sensations that one might have with a fever sore (Herpes Simplex I). Sans the blisters, of course.

Common and benign it may be but ... 10 years?

I am not going to be happy with a prognosis like that! :eek:

This is really interfering with my activities of daily living (typing, reaching for things in the cabinet, walking down the street comfortably), not to mention interfering with my *night life.* Touch is not an option!

I'm going to be looking for some kind of answer for this, and I'm going to be really unhappy if I end up with the "learn to live with it" comment I got from the radiologist earlier today. :(

Best, Dottye

Have you seen your neurologist or internist? What do they say?

I've only met the neuro once, and I'm supposed to see him after all testing is done. I'm not there yet, lots of stuff to schedule/have done.

I sent my PCP a fax yesterday, letting him know I've seen the GYN, was going for the sonagram yesterday.

I called this AM to make sure he'd gotten the fax, let him know the sonagram was fine -- and his secy said he's "written me a note" and it had gone out in the mail (snail mail????) yesterday.

Note not received today.

So ... I'm waiting to hear what he suggests the course of action should be. He likes to be the point guy.

a suggestion...
 

Instead of applying the Lidoderms to the breast itself, apply them
over that side of the back from the spine. Shingles pain radiates from the ganglia along the spinal column and I think Lidoderms work best
not at the point where pain is perceived, but blocking the nerves as they
enter the spinal cord.
from http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic113.htm

This would be about the area between the shoulder blade and the spine on that side. Try putting your patch there.

I have never had success with Lidoderms placed over the perceived pain area, but always have success with interrupting the nerve anatomically.
I wish doctors understood this concept as well.:rolleyes:

Thanks, Mrs. D, this is a very helpful tip.

I was actually trying to place it above the part of the breast area that hurt, specifically to interrupt the nerve conduction -- but it never occurred to me to try it on the back.

When I had sciatica, I learned from you and other folks on the board where to place the Lidoderm pads -- again, not at the site of the pain but above, and that certainly worked for me.

BTW my PCP has referred me back to my GYN, and says "it cannot be shingles because you don't have a rash." Well, google tells me otherwise. :sigh:

And all the docs keep telling me it's not cancer!

I never once said I thought it was cancer, I wasn't even concerned about cancer, the word cancer never crossed my lips -- I just wanted to nail down the problem (shingles, infection, milk ducts, whatever) and fix it.

I guess because October is breast cancer awareness month everybody thought I was freaking out, but this pain started in late July or August so I was not influenced by print ads. :sigh: They forget that it often takes me several months to show up at the doc's office with a symptom.

I like the 80/20 principle -- 80% of most things will go away if ignored. :rolleyes:

Anyway, back to the point, thanks so much for the tip, I will try it tonight. :)

breast pain
 

I also experience breast pain.Mainly tenderness.
It used to only happen a week before my period.Then it became constant.
I did have a rash under my right breast on and off.The family dr said it was a yeast infection.
A pain specialist Dr I see thought it was shingles.There were no blisters.
My breasts are still very sensitive...I can't tolerate to wear a bra.Only soft clothing that is loose.
I have had a mamogram which was normal.The past few yrs I also have had pain,tenderness under my right breast and ribcage.A tightness that is sharp at times when I bend.I was told this was costochondritis.Yet it never has gone away. izzy