Are you experiencing pain under armpit? Discover the common causes of pain under your left or right armpit for both male and female. Can a lump cause pain under armpit? Get insight into Pain under armpit and shoulder, neck, chest, down arm and near breast. In addition, learn about muscle pain under armpit. Besides, explore how you can get rid of pain under armpit by medical treatments and effective home remedies for such pain.
Causes of Pain under Armpit
Pain under armpit is very much annoying, and it can as well be very scary. Whether it’s in your right or even the left armpit, pain might make it very difficult to scratch the head. It’s an unusual place for having some pain.
It’s surprising to see how several symptoms and causes are all related to an underarm pain. If you’ve had some amount of pain in the underarm, here’s what could be leading to it.
1. Allergies
Allergies are a major cause of pain under armpit that you can be totally unaware of. Soaps, antiperspirants as well as the clothing are not only common, but also needed, so it can be very strange to think they are the cause of the armpit pain.
If you’re also allergic to the ingredients, materials, or even scents in the items, it can cause itchiness, rashes, as well as the burning sensations. Several allergies are misunderstood, so understanding what they are and how to treat them can assist you stay very healthy.
2. Common Cold
Aches, as well as the pains, are normal symptoms of common cold or even the flu, and they can cause pain under armpit; this is true if there is any congestion or even an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms usually subside within a period of 5 days, and once the infection has disappeared, then the armpit pain should as well subside.
3. Sweat Gland Infection
Lumps are a very common symptom that is accompanying the pain under armpit, and they can appear if a sweat gland infection is available. They can as well be accompanied by itchiness and also redness.
These infections are able to arise from having poor hygiene, moist conditions, and also excessive sweating. They might even cause boils and hard patches which give blunt pain.
4. Lymphadenitis
Swollen lymph nodes can as well lead to pain under armpit. Lymph nodes are able to be infected by bacteria, causing enlargement as well as the swelling. The inflammation leads to armpit pain and is usually a reaction to a fungal or even the bacterial infection.
Lymphadenitis is able to happen anywhere in the body, so armpits can as well be affected due to the concentration of lymph nodes in the area.
5. Heartburn
Sharp pain under armpit can be due to the heartburn. Also called the acid reflux, this is when some amount of stomach acid moves up the stomach. It can lead to pain in the torso and also a sharp pain in armpit.
Pain Under Armpit Right Side
There are several reasons as to why you will develop pain under armpit, which might range from being a mild thing like a muscle strain to a serious condition such as cancer. It is thus important to look into the problem and find out the reason that might be causing the symptoms then find the right treatment. The common causes of pain under right armpit include:
1. Muscle Strain
The pectoralis muscle is a muscle that is found on your chest. It might be strained when you do a very intense exercise without having warmed up. A pulled muscle under the right armpit might lead to pain, but this is not very serious.
2. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are the small and also oval tissues that are found all over the body, but mostly in neck, armpits as well as the groin. The lymph nodes can also swell up when the infection invades the body, which might be brought about by viruses, bacteria or even the parasites.
Other conditions that can lead to swelling of lymph nodes causing pain under the right armpit are cancer and also the autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Diabetes
This condition is usually characterized by the uncontrolled increases in the amount of blood sugar levels. If left untreated, the complications such as the nerve damage or even the peripheral neuropathy are able to happen.
It affects mostly the legs as well as the feet when excess amount of sugar damages the tiny blood vessels that are around the nerves. Pain that is experienced under right armpit might happen when the armpit nerves are affected, leading to sharp pains.
4. Breast Cancer
Pain under armpit can be a symptom of the breast cancer which is one of the common health problems amongst the women. Breast cancer is usually painless in most of the cases. If a woman has a lump in the breast or even the armpit, it is better to consult a doctor urgently for proper diagnosis as well as treatment.
Breast cancer might as well come with several other symptoms, which includes thickened tissues or even the lump in breasts, changes on shape of breasts , dimpling of skin in breasts area, skin rashes around nipples, discharge or even blood-tinged discharge from nipples, changes of appearance of nipples, etc.
5. Shingles or Herpes Zosteri
Herpes zoster is a painful condition brought about by virus attacking the nerves. It is usually accompanied by uncomfortable skin rashes which tend to affect only on a single side of the body, usually on face, back or even the arms. If a person is affected by the condition, then the underarm might as well experience very severe pain.
Pain under Both Armpits
Numerous conditions can lead to pain under armpit. For instance, an armpit is a common location for the lymph node enlargement. Other structures that are in or even around the armpit like the nerves, bones and blood vessels are able to lead to underarm pain or even the discomfort. See your doctor for a diagnosis if you have underarm pain that might be as a result by any of the causes below:
1. Brachial Plexus Injury
Brachial plexus injuries is able to lead to pain under armpit. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that are located in the neck as well as the shoulder through the armpit. These nerves are able to be damaged by exerted pressure, stretching or even trauma.
Traction of the nerves is one of the common types of injuries, happening when the head and neck are forced away from affected shoulder, towards the opposite side. In very severe cases, the nerves might tear away from the roots in cervical spine or even the neck.
Possible signs and symptoms that are associated with injuries are the underarm pain, numbness, tingling in the arm and reduced motor control of the arm muscles.
2. Lymphadenitis
Lymphadenitis is usually an infection of lymph nodes, is a common complication of some types of the bacterial infection. The lymph nodes are usually small structures which are responsible for filtering of the toxins out of the body.
The lymph nodes have an amount of white blood cells which assist in warding off infection. The condition manifests when lymph nodes are enlarged because of inflammation. The inflammation is a reaction to invading bacteria or fungi. Swollen lymph nodes are normally located near areas of the underlying infection, inflammation or even the tumors. Lymphadenitis is able to happen in any lymph node, which includes the axillary lymph nodes, or even the nodes in the armpit.
Common symptoms that are associated with lymphadenitis are swollen, tender and also the hard lymph nodes and red, tender skin over affected nodes.
3. Shoulder Dislocation
A shoulder dislocation is able to lead to underarm pain. The shoulder is the most mobile joint, thus making it prone to dislocations. A shoulder subluxation is a partial dislocation of the shoulder where the head of the upper arm bone partially slips out of shoulder socket.
A dislocation implies that the head of upper arm bone fully slips out of shoulder socket. Both conditions lead to a significant pain as well as discomfort in shoulder and underarm. The majority of shoulder dislocations involves having a downward as well as forward slippage of the upper arm bone.
Common signs and symptoms that are associated with the shoulder dislocation are swelling, weakness as well as bruising in affected shoulder and also the underarm.
Pain under Armpit Male
If you’re having a lot of pain in one or even in both armpits, the cause could be one of several conditions, ranging from skin irritation brought about by shaving to lymphedema. Following are some common causes for the armpit pain in male people:
1. Muscle strain
There are many muscles of chest and arms that can lead to pain under armpit from the overuse or injury.
The pectoralis major is a large chest muscle which runs up into the shoulder. It is able to be injured playing sports or even lifting of the weights.
The coracobrachialis is usually a muscle that is located in the upper arm that can become strained from sports, such as baseball, or even from several other activities, including tennis.
If any of the muscles of the chest or upper arm is sprained or even inflamed, you may feel the pain in armpit.
2. Skin conditions
Shaving or waxing under the arms is able to irritate your skin. Certain deodorants or even the laundry detergents is able to trigger an allergic reaction. That can lead to a rash known as contact dermatitis.
These skin conditions are normally minor and temporary problems. Rashes and several other skin concerns might be due to a more serious health problems. For instance, hidradenitis suppurativa appears like acne under the arms but is a more serious problem that might lead to scarring. Fluid is also able to be released if the breakouts rupture.
3. Breast cancer
Breast cancer is painless in early stages, but if you notice some amount of pain or even feel a lump under the arm or in the breast, then you should seek urgent medical attention. The cause of discomfort might be a benign growth, but it should be evaluated by a medical doctor.
Pain under Armpit Female
Women are concerned when pain under armpit appears because this can be a symptom of breast cancer, especially if firm lumps appear at the same time. Knowing the likely causes of the armpit pain can help you decide if the sensation that you are feeling needs any further examination. The common causes of pain under armpit in female people:
1. Glandular Infections
If sweat glands are infected with bacteria it is able to lead to inflammation. Excessive sweating, poor hygiene or even the exposure to high heat can lead to the problem to happen. If the glands are infected in armpit it can cause a hardened patch or even the boils that are accompanied by a dull, radiating pain.
2. Lymphoma
Cancer of white blood cells might lead to radiating pain under armpit, and in some cases to the fingers. Pain in left armpit which does not stem from indications of an infection might be a sign of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
3. Connective Tissue Degeneration
If the connective tissue is breaking down in armpit it can make the body area to become sore, especially when arms are stretched. In this particular case, you should not have a lump accompanying the pain.
4. Sporotrichosis
A fungal infection in the armpit can lead to a rash and also a lump. Gardeners experience a fungal infection called the sporothrix schenckii that is spread by contact with moss, rose bushes and also similar environments.
5. Hyperthyroidism
If the thyroid is not functioning as required by the glands in armpit might thus swell and also become painful. Those who take a high dose of iodine are at risk for the symptom.
Sharp Pain under Armpit
Sharp pain under armpit is usually not a disease in itself but an indication which alerts you of several issues within your body. It is better to consult your physician, especially when the sharp pain is recurring and also very unbearable.
Cerebrovascular Accident
When you have the condition, some portions of the brain might be damaged, which can lead to headaches, dizziness or the faulty operation of some brain functions. Nerve endings in the underarm area might also be the victim of damage, which manifests itself through an electric-current-like sensation in your armpits.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes imply that there is an ongoing fight that exists between your white blood cells and a bacteria or even a virus in your body. Lymph nodes are usually collections of the white blood cells. When they are fighting an infection, more of the white blood cells are produced, therefore enlarging the lymph nodes and also making them appear swollen.
Heartburn
Heartburn is a symptom of indigestion where your stomach acids travel upward. The burn then travels through the esophagus and up towards the heart area, thus giving the impression that the heart is burning. This heat might sometimes extend to the underarm region, where a sharp pain is felt, which normally disappears after a minute or two
Muscle Pain Under Armpit
Several converging muscles, as well as the chest wall, form the axilla. Major muscles that are forming the axilla include pectoralis major in the front; subscapularis and teres major in the back; and also the serratus anterior overlying the chest wall.
A muscle strain injury is able to happen in any of the muscles that are forming the armpit. Common movements in weightlifting, baseball and football, for instance, strenuous use of the muscles. Pulled muscle damage might occur all at once or even develop gradually from long-term repetitive actions.
There are various Signs and Symptoms of muscle pain under armpit. A pulled muscle describes minor to severe tearing of the muscle or all the associated tendon fibers. Pain under armpit is a common symptom of an armpit muscle strain, which is aggravated by an arm and shoulder movements. Swelling might as well be present during the first day with a severe strain.
Pain under Armpit Lump
An armpit lump usually refers to enlargement of at least one of lymph nodes under the arm. Lymph nodes are small, oval-shaped glands which are located throughout the body and play an important role in your body’s immune system.
Most of the lumps are harmless and are due to the abnormal tissue growth. But, armpit lumps may be related to a serious underlying health problem. Any given unusual lumps should be evaluated by the doctor.
The common causes of the armpit lumps are:
- bacterial or even the viral infections
- lipomas
- fibroadenoma
- reactions to vaccinations
- fungal infections
Pain Under Armpit and Neck
The lymph nodes are normally widely distributed throughout the entire body. Some appear to be very deep. Others are close to skin surface. Swellings in superficial locations are usually noticeable. These include lymph nodes that are in the:
- armpits
- neck and also the
- groin
A lump at one of the sites does not necessarily indicate a person experiencing lymphoma. Swollen lymph nodes are likely to be brought about by infection than cancer. For instance, swelling in nodes of the neck is usually linked to sinus infections. During the infection, white blood cells flood the nodes.
Pain Under Armpit And Chest
There are several reasons why you can have pain under armpit, or in the general area of underarm such as the chest. Structures which lies your armpit might cause some pain or even discomfort. You might also have experienced a traumatic injury, a type of medical condition, or you might be developing a disorder of the nervous system.
Some of these cases need medical attention, so it’s a very good idea to call your doctor if you have any kind of armpit pain which seems to be beyond minor.
This pain might be a feeling of numbness or a burning sensation. It can as well be caused by a strain in your muscles, or it can be more serious. It’s better to look into the pain and also find out what leads to it, so as to treat it properly.
Pain under Left Armpit and Shoulder
Other causes of shoulder pain are pinched nerves, broken arm and also the shoulder separation, which is tearing of ligaments which connect the collarbone to shoulder plate.
Home remedies for shoulder pain are using over-the-counter pain medications, resting the shoulder for some number of days and also compressing the affected area using an elastic bandage so as to relieve swelling.
Pain Under Armpit and Down Arm
There can be several factors that lead to pain under armpit, but the most occurring symptom you have is the numbness down your arm. This is usually an indication of nerve damage, so I may be wondering if you have ever seen a neurologist for the problem.
Have you ever experienced an injured shoulder? Have you had any imaging tests of the area, such as X-ray or CT scan? Since you haven’t gotten any kind of relief from your current medical provider, I think that you should ensure to seek an orthopedist or even neurologist for a more workup.
Pain Under Armpit Near Breast
Breast pain can be an indication of menopause and can lead to sore, swollen breasts and also a persistent throbbing pain in your armpit. Breast pain can grow so severe that walking or even contact of any kind leads to discomfort.
It is very much crucial to understand what you’re experiencing so as to treat pain under armpit as well as breast pain.
Other factors that can lead to breast pain;
- Breast cysts: Fluid-filled sacs that are tenderer just before the menstrual period can lead to breast pain.
- Breast size: Large and also dense breasts are able to lead to breast pain.
- Oral contraceptives: Birth control pills are able to lead to side effects, which includes breast tenderness and pain. Women should tell to their doctor to find out a method of contraception would work best for them.
- Mastitis.
Pain under Armpit and Lymph Nodes
Your lymphatic system is a network of several organs, vessels as well the lymph nodes that are situated throughout the body. Most of the lymph nodes are located in the head and also the neck region.
Lymph nodes that frequently swell are in the area and also in your armpits and sometimes the groin area.
Swollen lymph nodes are an indication that something is not right somewhere in your body. When the lymph nodes first swell, you will notice:
- Tenderness and also some amount of pain in lymph nodes
- Swelling that might be the size of a pea or even the kidney bean.
Home Remedies for Pain under Armpit
If you do believe that the pain under armpit is not very severe, some of the home remedies can be used before seeking for medical assistance:
- Cold compresses. Use an ice pack or even a cold washcloth directly on your armpit so as to reduce inflammation as well as relieve some amount of pain.
- Warm bath. Add one tablespoon of baking soda to the warm water, then take a bath so as to reduce itchiness, pain as well as inflammation.
- Massage. Gently massage your armpit so as to reduce swelling and also improve blood circulation.
- Avoid oily and spicy foods. Some types of foods can make you sweat more, more especially in the underarms. Bacterial growth is likely to happen in the areas, which might as well worsen the problem, so it is better to avoid such kinds of foods.
- Good hygiene. To avoid any kind of infection, practice good hygiene. If you have very painful lumps in armpits, then they will heal faster if you keep them dry and also very clean.
Treatment for Pain under Armpit
Most of the pain under armpit isn’t that serious. It might just be symptomatic of something that is more sinister. But ensure to see your physician if any of the symptoms happen:
- Inability to normally move fingers or arms
- Firm lumps occurring under the surface of skin
- A tingling sensation in arms
- Unusual inflammation of the underarm skin, severe burning sensations in your arm
- Pain under right armpit which radiates toward the chest – This might be an indication of heart disease.
Our Sources and References
- Underarm Shooting Pain: http://www.livestrong.com/article/437740-underarm-shooting-pain/
- Lymphoma Symptoms: http://www.healthline.com/health/lymphoma/symptoms#Overview1
- Pain under Right Armpit: https://www.medhealthdaily.com/pain-under-right-armpit/
- Pain Under Right Armpit: http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/Pain-Under-Right-Armpit.html
- Understanding Armpit and Breast Pain: http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/breast-pain-tenderness/articles/understanding-armpit-and-breast-pain.htm
- Swollen lymph nodes: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swollen-lymph-nodes/symptoms-causes/dxc-20258981
- 5 Natural Remedies to Relieve Armpit and Breast Pain: http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/breast-pain-tenderness/articles/5-natural-remedies-to-relieve-armpit-and-breast-pain.htm
- Armpit Pain: Causes and Treatments: http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/pain-articles/armpit-pain
- Armpit Lump: https://www.healthline.com/health/armpit-lump
