Pain Under Left Breast Comes and Goes

Having a sharp pain under left breast can be a frightening experience. Thankfully it normally does not indicate anything serious. It can be due to temporary musculoskeletal pain and will pass on its own. In other instances, this type of pain can be the result of a more serious medical condition that requires medical attention. If you have any doubts about the cause of the pain, seek medical attention so that the cause can be revealed and treated if necessary.

What Does Sharp Pain Under Left Breast Indicate? Why It Comes and Goes?

There are many reasons that you might have sharp pain under left breast which often comes and goes. They vary from mild conditions to those that are severe. Here are some reasons that you might have this type of pain:

Problems with Digestive System

• Excessive digestive gases. Your stomach lies on the left side of your abdominal area and can be filled with gas when you swallow. These trapped gases can trigger nerve pain in the stomach which is experienced as sharp pain under left breast.
• Heart burn. Heart burn is a common cause of chest pain, especially beneath the left breast. It is caused by stomach acid that takes a trip up the esophagus and aggravates the esophageal mucosa.
• Hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia happens when there is a hole in the diaphragm that allows bowel or stomach contents to take a trip up inside the chest cavity. When you have this condition, you can experience symptoms of chest pain, bloating sensations after eating, heart burn, and problem breathing.
• Gastritis. Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining, which can be caused by infections you obtain from drinking polluted water or eating contaminated food. Due to the fact that the stomach is discovered on the left side of the body, inflammation of the stomach lining can be experienced as left-sided chest wall pain. Other symptoms include nausea, indigestion, vomiting, and bloating.

Problems with the Chest

• A chest cyst. You can develop a cyst on the chest wall that aggravates the nerves of the muscles in the chest wall. You may or may not have the ability to feel the cyst yourself yet it can cause pain.
• Rib injuries or pain in the intercostal muscles. You can have inflammation and pain from injury to the chest or simply from an inflammatory reaction influencing the joint that links the ribs to the sternum. This can lead to sharp pain called costochondritis. It can be very extreme however does not represent anything serious.
• Injury to the chest wall. You can have a squashing injury to your chest wall from an automobile accident or a fall. This can set up sharp pain under left breast that might suggest you have fractured a rib or sprained the muscles of the chest wall itself.
• Chest wall inflammation. You can have inflammation of the musculoskeletal parts of your chest wall. This can lead to sharp pain under left breast.
• Precordial catch syndrome (PCS). This is an intense type of chest pain, usually occurring on the left side. It is even worse when you take a deep breath and lasts just a few seconds. Pain from this condition can repeat over a period of about 30 minutes. Individuals who have this condition feel as though there is a “bubble” in their chest.
• When the “bubble” pops, the pain is eased. This can happen repetitively, varying from many times a day to every few years apart.

Problems with Cardiovascular System

• Pericarditis. This is a more serious issue that can result in left-sided chest pain. Pericarditis includes an inflammation of the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart. Other symptoms you may experience as a result of having pericarditis include palpitations of the heart, sharp chest pain on the left side, nausea or weakness, and fever. There can likewise be swelling of the abdomen or leg, shortness of breath or a harsh cough. Pain from pericarditis generally is worse when taking a deep breath, coughing, or lying down. The pain typically takes a trip from the chest to the left shoulder or neck.
• Heart conditions. When you have blocked arteries in your heart, you can experience angina, which is pain felt generally on the left side of the chest, although it can radiate to the left hand, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw.

Other Factors

Stress. Lots of people have chest pains when under a great deal of stress. There is absolutely nothing actually wrong with the body however the stress causes nerve inflammation however. Chest pain from stress is usually sharp in nature and can be really painful. When you unwind, the pain generally disappears.
Problems with the lungs. The pleura is the lining of the lungs and its function is to permit smooth motions of the lungs when you breathe. In some cases the pleura can end up being inflamed due to chemical direct exposure, injury, or infection. This can cause sharp pain below left breast.

One Patient’s Experience with Sharp Pain Which Comes and Goes Under Left Breast

I have been experiencing a month-long sharp pain occurring on my left side underneath the breast which comes and goes. It has actually been associated with sweating, queasiness, vomiting, shortness of breath, fainting sensations, a racing heart and dizziness. Now the chest pain has sharpened and does not go away. It becomes worse whenever I twist my body, change to a brand-new position, or take a deep breath. It seems like a muscle contraction sometimes. I am 27 years of ages and have a history of breast cancer and heart diseases in my family. A current mammogram returned as regular. I have taken medications for the pain and this has not assisted.

The doctor responded to as such:

This type of pain is not likely to be related to your heart. Heart pain does not get worse with motion as you described. The most likely cause of your pain is a condition known as costochondritis. This is an inflammation of the cartilage that links the ribs to the breast plate. You might also be struggling with chest wall irritation or inflammation of the lining of the lungs. Muscle spasm is also a possibility. Anxiety can be part of this type of pain so you need to be rest assured that it is not hazardous.

What Can I Do to Relieve Sharp Pain Under Left Breast Which Comes and Goes?

• Take NSAID medication. If your pain is caused by chest wall or pleuritic inflammation, the best thing you can do is to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease the inflammation. It might take a few days to work however is generally an effective way to treat this type of pain.
• Removal of a chest cyst. If a cyst is causing your pain, you can undergo surgery to get rid of the cyst. Once the cyst has actually been gotten rid of, you are not likely not experience the pain again.
• Relax. As chest pain is frequently associated with anxiety, the more you relax, the more able you are to deal with and relieve the pain. Try meditation or other relaxation strategies to soothe your mind.
• Hot or cold packs. They can be placed on the set of your pain, relieving the inflammation and muscle convulsion that may be the underlying cause of the discomfort.
• Change your lifestyle or diet. The pain in your chest may be because of gastrointestinal troubles. Changing your diet can ease inflammation of the gastric lining and ease the pain you are experiencing. Attempt not to eat excessive if you have a hiatal hernia since it can put additional pressure on the diaphragm, pressing the stomach contents into the chest cavity.
• Antibiotics. If the pain in your chest is from a breast infection, the most common treatment is antibiotics to heal it.