What's going on with breast swelling and pain and also arm soreness?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on April 06, 2025
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Breast swelling and pain, as well as arm soreness, are considered to be caused by mammary gland hyperplasia and accessory breast syndrome. Mammary gland hyperplasia often manifests as cyclical swelling and pain in the breasts, commonly occurring or worsening before menstruation and alleviating or disappearing after menstruation. While mild cases might not be noticed by patients, severe cases can impact daily life and work. However, some patients do not exhibit obvious cyclical changes, and symptoms can include unilateral or bilateral breast swelling and pain, resembling needle pricks, which can extend to the shoulder, upper limbs, or chest and back areas. A few patients might experience nipple discharge, which can be yellow-green, brown, or bloody. The condition can sometimes persist for a long time, with symptoms automatically disappearing or reducing after menopause. When breast swelling and pain occur, it is necessary to regularly recheck the breast with ultrasound and mammography.

Other Voices

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What is the cause of breast pain before menstruation?

Many female friends experience breast pain during the premenstrual period, what exactly is this? Mild breast pain may be due to hormonal changes in the body, which is a normal physiological condition. Of course, it could also be caused by diseases, such as the most common fibrocystic breast changes, which cause cyclical breast pain along with the menstrual cycle. Of course, other diseases can also cause cyclical breast pain, which needs our attention. Especially severe pain, or pain upon slight touch, we recommend going to the hospital for relevant examinations as soon as possible.

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What causes breast pain after menopause?

After menstruation stops, if there are symptoms of breast pain and swelling, one should first consider whether it is related to pregnancy, as hormonal changes during pregnancy often lead to such symptoms. Some people experience breast pain and swelling due to ovulation, which is a typical symptom for many before menstruation. Occasionally, ovulation may be delayed, thus delaying the symptoms of breast pain and swelling. Others might experience these symptoms in relation to factors such as excessive staying up late, high stress, or considerable pressure. It is common to undergo hormonal tests and breast ultrasound examinations in such cases.

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Will having sex with breast pain lead to pregnancy?

Women may experience breast tenderness before and after menstruation, or during ovulation. However, merely relying on breast tenderness to determine the likelihood of pregnancy during intercourse has no scientific basis. One should consider their menstrual cycle to see if it coincides with the ovulation period, which is typically about 14 days before the onset of the next menstrual cycle. The ovulation date, the five days before it, the four days after it, plus the day of ovulation itself, make up a total of ten days known as the ovulation period. Intercourse during this time is more likely to lead to pregnancy.

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What to do about breast pain before menstruation?

Under normal circumstances, if there is also breast swelling and pain usually, it is essential to go to the hospital for an ultrasound to check if there is breast hyperplasia or any organic breast diseases. If organic diseases are excluded, premenstrual breast swelling and pain are generally considered clinically, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver meridian accumulates in the breast. For example, patients who are prone to anger or have liver depression and qi stagnation may experience premenstrual breast swelling and pain. At this time, treatment can generally involve taking some liver-soothing and depression-relieving medicine, such as Xiao Yao Wan, Ru Ning tablets, and other medicines for symptomatic treatment. Occasional one or two instances are not a big problem, but if premenstrual breast swelling and pain occur frequently, it is definitely necessary to take medicine for symptomatic treatment, as this condition is generally related to liver meridian and liver depression qi stagnation.

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What is the cause of postmenopausal breast pain?

Under normal circumstances, if breast swelling and pain occur after menopause, it is necessary to visit a hospital for a breast ultrasound to check for any organic diseases in the breast. If the ultrasound reveals any abnormal masses or conditions, further examination with a mammogram is generally required. Normally, there should not be any swelling or pain in the breasts after menopause. If such symptoms occur, they should be taken seriously, and a hospital visit is necessary for relevant examinations to rule out malignant breast tumors. If there is no malignant tumor and the breast ultrasound does not show significant issues, merely presenting with breast swelling and pain, at this point, some medicinal treatment for regulation can be taken. Traditional Chinese medicine generally considers that the liver meridian passes through the breast, and patients with liver Qi stagnation may experience breast swelling and pain. In such cases, taking medicine to soothe the liver and alleviate depression can be symptomatically appropriate.