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What Causes Sharp Shooting Pain In Breast?
Question: My wife is experiencing sharp shooting pains in her breast. It radiates from deep in the breast and out through her nipple. What could this be? It has been happening for a week plus and has increased in pain and duration. The pain is extreme and brings her to tears.
Brief Answer:
More information needed
Detailed Answer:
Dear xxxxxxxxxx,
Pain in breast has got various aetiological reasons. In can be from just a swelling to trauma, infection to tumours and so may other factors. To arrive at the diagnosis, would you please inform me some more details in her medical history?
1. Is pain only on one side or in both the breasts? Does it come only on handling or it is there even at rest.
2. Is she breastfeeding her child or has she recently weaned away her baby from the breasts?
3. Is there any history of trauma over the breast area?
4. Is there any irregularity in the breast counters of the two breasts? Is nipple disfigured? I would appreciate if you upload the photographs of the breasts - singly and both together.
5. Does she have any discharge from the nipples? - Of its own or on squeezing the areola and nipples?
6. Does she have cough?
7. What is her age?
8. Is the size of the breasts too heavy to cause hanging?
9. Is she on any medication?
10. Please get her mammography and ultrasonography of the breasts done and upload the reports with images.
Please ask her to do self examination to find out whether she feels any lump in the breast. This examination is to be done with the FLAT OF THE HAND and not by fingers and by pinching the breasts between the fingers. Please inform me about it.
After getting all this information, I may ask you few more questions. Meanwhile, if she is not breastfeeding baby, I would advise you to give her some simple painkillers like paracetamol or analgin to give temporary relief from the pain.
I am sure you will respond to this message as promptly as possible with the required information and the reports and images of the investigations.
Dr. Nishikant Shrotri
More information needed
Detailed Answer:
Dear xxxxxxxxxx,
Pain in breast has got various aetiological reasons. In can be from just a swelling to trauma, infection to tumours and so may other factors. To arrive at the diagnosis, would you please inform me some more details in her medical history?
1. Is pain only on one side or in both the breasts? Does it come only on handling or it is there even at rest.
2. Is she breastfeeding her child or has she recently weaned away her baby from the breasts?
3. Is there any history of trauma over the breast area?
4. Is there any irregularity in the breast counters of the two breasts? Is nipple disfigured? I would appreciate if you upload the photographs of the breasts - singly and both together.
5. Does she have any discharge from the nipples? - Of its own or on squeezing the areola and nipples?
6. Does she have cough?
7. What is her age?
8. Is the size of the breasts too heavy to cause hanging?
9. Is she on any medication?
10. Please get her mammography and ultrasonography of the breasts done and upload the reports with images.
Please ask her to do self examination to find out whether she feels any lump in the breast. This examination is to be done with the FLAT OF THE HAND and not by fingers and by pinching the breasts between the fingers. Please inform me about it.
After getting all this information, I may ask you few more questions. Meanwhile, if she is not breastfeeding baby, I would advise you to give her some simple painkillers like paracetamol or analgin to give temporary relief from the pain.
I am sure you will respond to this message as promptly as possible with the required information and the reports and images of the investigations.
Dr. Nishikant Shrotri
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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