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Suggest Treatment For Breast Pain In An Elderly Person While On Aleve
Question: I am 81 and for the past few months have a severe pain under my left breast when I cough or sneeze. It takes my breath for a few seconds. I have also felt this pain sometimes when bending over or lying down in bed. I saw my doctor who put me on aleve for 2 weeks but didn't help. He told me when I feel a sneeze coming to bend over slightly and hug myself. This lessens the pain if I can stand up fast enough. Have another appointment in 2 weeks.
Brief Answer:
Avoiding cough is the main thing. If no infection can suppress cough
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. During cough or sneezing, the accessory muscles of respiration are involved like pectoralis major, minor, etc. Due to this, these muscles get strained and coughing or sneezing activity can cause severe pain. When you bend over or are lying down, again chest muscles are involved, and it can cause pain.
2. Major important thing is to reduce coughing or sneezing. Avoiding exposure to allergens is important. Cough suppressants like linctus codeine sulphate can also be useful.
3. At this age, bone density is low and recurrent coughs can induce minor fractures. There may be a possible rib - minor fracture under the left breast area, which could be causing severe pain. Rest and avoiding/ suppressing cough or sneezing activity is the main and only thing needed. If it is nonproductive cough / cough with no sputum, better to suppress it. If allergic cough, antihistamines like loratidine or cetrizine will be beneficial.
4. When you hug yourself, the impact on the muscle and rib bones is reduced and hence the pain reduces. Painkillers can be helpful if it is continuous.
Avoiding cough or sneezing activity for a week should reduce muscle pain. If fracture, a period of 2-3 months avoidance is necessary for complete cure. I think it is more of muscle sprain. If you press over the lower left breast area and feel severe pain, then it could be fracture and X-ray is necessary for confirmation.
Avoiding cough or sneezing by any means is the only modality at present. Look into possible risk factors and avoid it.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Avoiding cough is the main thing. If no infection can suppress cough
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. During cough or sneezing, the accessory muscles of respiration are involved like pectoralis major, minor, etc. Due to this, these muscles get strained and coughing or sneezing activity can cause severe pain. When you bend over or are lying down, again chest muscles are involved, and it can cause pain.
2. Major important thing is to reduce coughing or sneezing. Avoiding exposure to allergens is important. Cough suppressants like linctus codeine sulphate can also be useful.
3. At this age, bone density is low and recurrent coughs can induce minor fractures. There may be a possible rib - minor fracture under the left breast area, which could be causing severe pain. Rest and avoiding/ suppressing cough or sneezing activity is the main and only thing needed. If it is nonproductive cough / cough with no sputum, better to suppress it. If allergic cough, antihistamines like loratidine or cetrizine will be beneficial.
4. When you hug yourself, the impact on the muscle and rib bones is reduced and hence the pain reduces. Painkillers can be helpful if it is continuous.
Avoiding cough or sneezing activity for a week should reduce muscle pain. If fracture, a period of 2-3 months avoidance is necessary for complete cure. I think it is more of muscle sprain. If you press over the lower left breast area and feel severe pain, then it could be fracture and X-ray is necessary for confirmation.
Avoiding cough or sneezing by any means is the only modality at present. Look into possible risk factors and avoid it.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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