Pain under arm pit

whitney4126

I have been experiencing increasing pain over the last few days in the area in between my left breast and arm pit.  It isn't terrible, but it is getting worst and more frequent, so I feel like my body is telling me something.  It feels deep, and when I press down, I can't really find what feels like a plugged duct or a sore spot.  The pain feels like a deep pulling or tugging.  It comes and goes, and I feel it more when I move my left arm up or stretch it.  I had issues with plugged ducts and even a mild case of mastitis during my first 2 months of breastfeeding, and this pain feels different than anything I have experienced, and I'm not experiencing any redness or fever.  Two other odd things going on with my left breast, that may or may not be related.  1. I have noticed that my let down has been slower in my left breast the last couple of weeks (although I'm still producing the same amount of milk, just takes longer to get started), and 2. I woke up this morning with this odd bruise on my areola above the nipple.  I feel like I would have noticed if my baby latched in the wrong place or caused some sort of pain there yesterday.  

I am not having any pain in my right breast, but I did feel around the same area on it last night, and felt some small tender lumps that felt like small blocked ducts.  I have been massaging it and can tell it is getting better, like when I have have had blocked ducts in the past.  So, I am thinking that maybe it is the underwire in my bras that have been causing issues on both sides.  I literally was only able to find one nursing bra, in one store, in my large breast size in my whole town, and it has underwire.  I started back to work on Monday, so I have been wearing it more.  I guess I'm going to have to order some online.  But, I am not entirely sure of what is going on with my left side because the symptoms are different than with blocked ducts in the past, and I guess it could be not breastfeeding related at all, but I just have a feeling it is.

Anyone have any ideas of what this lower arm pit pain might be and what I should do to treat it before it gets worst?

vvvvvfee

are you sick with anything (a cold, for instance), or getting over being sick? is it possible it's a swollen lymph node? they can get large and tender when your immune system is working hard. (Here's a diagram that shows where they would be). another thought- is it possible you overused your arm somehow and what you're feeling is a sore muscle or ligament?

i really like this bra for nursing. it's not technically a nursing bra, but both straps unclasp so it's great for nursing. it's very comfortable and has no underwire. do you have a stretchy sports bra or something you could wear for a couple of days to see if that helps?

all that said, i would definitely recommend going in to see your doctor if nothing has changed in a couple of days.

whitney4126

I haven't been sick and I haven't felt anything swollen by the pain, but it is around a lot of lymph nodes.
Thanks for the bra recommendation, but I'm a 36F and they don't have them that big