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.

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Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is the reason for breast pain during menstruation?

Menstrual breast pain is considered to be caused by two factors. First, the patient experiences breast pain during menstruation due to the stimulation of estrogen and progesterone secretion before the onset of menstruation. The pain symptoms may be more pronounced before menstruation and can be alleviated after menstruation. Second, if the patient's symptoms are severe, it is generally necessary to consider whether the pain is caused by mammary gland hyperplasia. Mammary gland hyperplasia can be caused by long-term staying up late, depression, and excessive stress. It is recommended that the patient undergoes a breast ultrasound to check for conditions like mammary ductal hyperplasia or fibroadenomas, and then receive targeted treatment.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
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How to deal with breast distention and pain?

There are many reasons for breast pain, and the methods of treatment vary according to the different causes. During our adolescence, before menstruation, and during pregnancy, many people experience breast pain, which is often caused by hormonal changes in the body. Generally, the symptoms are not particularly severe, so there is no need for excessive worry or special treatment. However, many diseases can also cause breast pain, such as mastitis during breastfeeding, fibrocystic breast changes, and various breast tumors, all of which may lead to breast discomfort and require significant attention. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with breast pain seek timely medical examination to identify the cause and receive targeted treatment.

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Written by Zhao Yang
Breast Surgery
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What should I do if my breasts are swollen, painful, and not producing milk?

Breast engorgement and blocked milk flow can be attributed to the accumulation of milk. The simplest method to alleviate this is by clearing the milk ducts. You can either allow the baby to nurse more frequently or use a breast pump to assist. The most effective solution is to seek help from a lactation consultant or a professional medical practitioner to clear the ducts through milk expression. Both manual expression and nursing the baby are the best methods to relieve engorgement pain.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Breast swelling and occasional stabbing pain, what's wrong?

Breast swelling and occasional stabbing pain are considered to be caused by fibrocystic breast changes. The symptoms of fibrocystic breast changes include cyclic swelling and pain in the breasts, often appearing or worsening before menstruation and reducing or disappearing after menstruation. It may manifest as swelling and pain in one or both breasts, or prickling and painful sensations, and can extend to the shoulders, upper arms, or thoracic regions. Few patients may experience nipple discharge. During physical examination, nodular lumps of varying sizes, which are firm but not hard, can be felt in one or both breasts. Sometimes these lumps are tender, and their boundaries with the surrounding breast tissue are indistinct, but they are not adherent to the skin or pectoral muscles. Regular follow-up with breast ultrasound is advisable.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Can breast engorgement and blocked milk ducts be treated with scraping therapy?

Breast pain and blocked milk ducts are not recommended for scraping therapy, as scraping can easily cause inflammation of the mammary glands and result in breast damage. Breast heaviness and blocked milk ducts are likely caused by the accumulation of milk in the ducts. It is advised to visit a regular hospital for a breast ultrasound to determine if the issue is caused by inflammation or lipid accumulation. If the condition is merely an accumulation, using a warm towel for heat compresses and massage can achieve the effect of unblocking the milk ducts. However, if the condition is caused by inflammation, and the symptoms are mild and the lesions are not severe, breastfeeding can still be continued. Nevertheless, the affected breast should not be used for breastfeeding. A breast pump can be used to extract the milk.