So my blood work came back normal and so did Xrays. I just have to wait untill next Friday to get ABUS and if that comes back clear. I’m still going to have no idea what is wrong. I was wondering if anyone knows what test you would ask for to see if you have a hormonal imbalance?

Hi ladies,

I had this armpit pain (left) in my early 20’s and it was consistent with a mammogram showing dense breast tissue, much worse in left breast radiating to left armpit. I’m 2 years postmenopause (53) and the pain came back with a vengeance. I had all perimenopause symptoms you could possibly imagine.

I think it has something to do with fluctuations in estrogen and dense breast tissue. I’m not on HRT, still having hot flushes, weight gain, bloating, high cholesterol and triglycerides, borderline pre diabetic and sometimes high uric acid, which points to metabolic syndrome. All blood tests were normal before perimenopause.

Dense breast tissue is rich in glandular and connective tissue. Connective tissue diseases can be triggered by menopause and low estrogen levels.

Thanks Patricia! This is good info! I have dense breast tissue as well and still have the ongoing pain etc. The perimenopause/menopause symptoms are no joke and I only wish more healthcare providers took it seriously.

Hi Natalie,

I’ve just read an article where they have found an increased amount of pro inflammatory markers (cytokines) in perimenopause women with dense breast tissue. They haven’t found differences in estrogen blood levels but they present the hypothesis that cytokines may induce aromathase to produce estradiol locally (micro environment).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5087296/

If this is the case, anti inflammatory drugs could work for the pain!

Thank goodness for you ladies! I have been having panic attacks all day over this armpit pain. Mine is primarily left armpit, but both armpits are red. Anyone else have redness? I’ve been having multiple strange symptoms for about 18 months. I’m about to turn 40. The worst is the medical anxiety. Every symptom leads me to the conclusion that I have cancer. Oh! Like several others, this also started for me after switching to Schmitt’s!! I stopped it weeks ago but still have symptoms.

Hi Sabrina,

I don’t have redness. Yours sounds like a hypersensitive reaction. Stop using everything and see if redness goes away. If you’re entering perimenopause, be prepared for a lot of weird symptoms. You will think you’re dying or losing your mind. Good luck!

It doesn’t seem to be an allergy or dermatitis. The pain is deep in the armpit and radiates to my elbow and shoulder. I’ve also had heart palpitations, hot flashes, groin pain, and multiple UTIs after never having had a single one in my life. My (male) doctor has been perplexed, but I’m starting to wonder if it could all be perimenopause. I know I am young. My mom started menopause early, but she died five years ago so I can’t go to her for advice.

Oh, that’s why it’s important to know all symptoms! It looks like perimenopause and it can start as early as mid 30’s. Watch your diet, weight gain, decrease caffeine, sugars and alcohol.

Me too! Turning 40 in six months. Been to the doctors in December and they seem to not be worried about it. Going to the doctors again next month for my annual appointments. My armpit hurts between ovulation and my period. Then stops and starts back up again.

Mine seems to be constant., and strays to the ribs and around back ( that’s not constant though .. bloody menopause lol.

I have remembered that when I had these symptoms back in my fertile days, my gynae did prescribe me starflower oil (herbal drug) and it worked!

Edited: starflower oil is sold as a supplement in some countries.

Thanks , there are a few supplements i can’t take , but I will check this one out.

Hi Julieanne,

Yes, check the leaflet before you buy it. By the way, it’s not sold OTC over here (Brazil), it’s not a supplement, it’s a herbal drug.

Thanks Patricia, I will check with my GP , and Thank you.

You’re welcome. Hope it helps!

Ty so much everyone. Definitely the fear factor. What a relief to read others experiencing the same things. whewww.

Hello ladies, I’m back! I had the ultrasound done and the radiologist said I have breast cysts. He won’t confirm that they are the reason I’m having armpit pain and rib pain with some shoulder pain. So I’m still here losing my mind feeling like something else is going on. This site definetly helps me cope. I just wish I could get an actual disgnosis. The shoulder pain might be from all the stress over this but idk #stillfeelinglost

Hi, many women have breast cysts and don’t have armpit pain, unless there‘s breast tissue in the armpit area. I only have pain in my left armpit and mammogram shows dense breast tissue, including armpit.

I have very dense breasts. I was told that after the mammo. I’ve had a mammo and 2 ultrasounds. All they could tell me was that I had 3 cysts and they would like me to come back in 6 months. I just wish the feeling would go away. They do get a little worse before my period but they mainly stay the same all month.

Mine is also only on the left side.

Hi Courtney,

That’s interesting. Maybe we could set a poll. It could be just coincidence but who knows? My left breast is bigger than the right one.

Mine are pretty much the same.... but my armpit pain is on the right side.

Thanks Natalie, poll canceled

: D

My left is bigger

My left is bigger too!

Hi Everybody, I've been having armpit discomfort for about four weeks now. It started with a shooting pain in my left armpit and after that has stayed a dull ache which feels like I've shaved and left them sore but no redness, no lumps and it also goes into my right arm pit. It isn't painful as such, just annoying like a burning feeling. my right breast hurt like mad a few days ago, it was awful, really shooting pain and went all through the breast. I never know if that is coming from where my gallbladder was ( I had keyhole surgery October 2017) and somedays it's still sore and did wonder if the pain was after I had a scoop of ice cream and it shot into my breast. About 5 years ago I got diagnosed with a small breast cyst and didn't know it was there. Things improved but I think it might be back as it feels tender when pressed on, but no lumps.

I have been to the hospital and a doctor twice in a few weeks, they can't feel any raised lymph nodes, feel any lumps and don't feel the need for a full blood test

I am 58 this year and went through menopause about 8-10 years ago. It's really worrying me.

The only change I made was a roll on deodorant which I bought about 3 months ago, but haven't used that for about 5 weeks and the armpit thing came on a month ago.

I'm going to ask for a mammogram although I had one January 2018.

Well at last the armpit thing seems to have disappeared over the last few days. Really odd

Hi Belinda that’s good to hear. I’ve booked in to see the doctor as I’ve had the same weird achey pain in left armpit for a month now. No lumps as far as I can feel.

I'm almost 43 and just the past year have been noticing some weird "menopausal" symptoms.

The first was hot flashes all of a sudden...all day off and on but worse at night.

Headaches, low libido, dry and brittle hair and nails, irritability and horrible social anxiety!

Now, yesterday, I noticed a soreness in my left armpit I've never experienced before. I kept trying to think back if I did something yesterday that would have made it sore and I can't think of anything!!

Now after reading this thread it fits....I did have bloodwork done about 6 weeks ago with my Gyno and he said I'm definitely in perimenopause....YES at only 42!! He put me on Progesterone pills at night and occasional estrogen Vag cream when needed for dryness. I've only been taking this about a week now. Not sure if this sparked the soreness or if it's just "that time of month"?

I had an ablation done about 2 years ago so i dont experience a "cycle" anymore but still get the other monthly symptoms like headache, tiredness, low libido and facial acne..etc. so I know that IF I were to actually have a cycle it would be right around that time !

I've also started having horrible facial acne especially around my jawline. I've NEVER had acne my entire life and now it seems to spark up worse when I'm experiencing my perimenopause symptoms the worst.

Hi there,

Sorry you're having so many symptoms, same thing has happened to me in my early 40's. Why did you have the ablation?

The acne is a sign of high testosterone when compared to lower estrogen levels. It's very common when estrogen levels fluctuate madly during perimenopause.

Hi all. I'm 37 years old. Not sure if Im' having perimenopause, but my mom did go through menopause in her 30's. This thread is a relief. I've had on and off armpit weirdness for the past 8 months. At first it was a fullness on the right side. The doctor ordered an armpit ultrasound which came out fine. Then, four months later, there was pain which lasted a few weeks, then stopped. Then it came back again like a month ago. Sort of a deep pain in the armpit, especially when I move or pick something up. It went away for a week or two, then came back. Now I'm not sure if I'm imagning things because it feels more like an irritation. If I push deep, deep inside the armpit, I do feel like I feel a little lump that moves around. My husband keeps telling me it's nothing but I can't help but jump to cancer in my mind. My dad died of cancer last year and I've been quite a bit of a hypochondriac since he started battling it. I've had 4 breast ultrasounds which have all come back normal. (Last one was a year ago.) But I keep convincing myself of breast cancer, and it's always on the right side. I mentioned it at my OBGYN visit two months ago. He said he didn't feel anything concerning. It's comforting to know others also have this mysterious sensation. Sometimes I wonder if my mind is exacerbating it.

Now I am wondering if my arm pit ache is due to me wither wearing a Bra which I can't seem to get the right fit. I might have a bit of Costochronditis which is inflammation of the chest as the other day I could hardly move without the rib cage and bone in the sternum hurting. I gtot measured for a bra thursday at M&S and all was well, The day after I wore it, but had to take it off after a few hours, it was pressing wear my gallbladder had been removed and was so sore. That area has been sore again after 20 months of having it removed. Once I took my bra off the ache went into my armpits again, I massaged them a bit and it went. So maybe it's a combination of wearing a bra and cos I'm overweight with fatty arm pits which were getting trapped making my lymph nodes sore.

So grateful to find this thread! I have the left underarm pain for 24/7 for the past 6 months or so. It is similar, tho more so, to the pain I used to get monthly. No lumps or swelling, feels kinda bruisy, pain moves around a bit day to day and I also have the tenderness right underneath the left breast by my ribs. I am assuming it is hormonal, but I had decided it was cancer and was pretty nervous awaiting my imaging and mammo appt. this past week and found these messages last Sunday. My tests were all fine yesterday so I'm going to try an anti-inflammatory and see if it helps. But so reassuring to hear from others when my doctor, at my annual exam, pretty much blew me off. I had a period about 7 months last year but nothing since January, so I'm assuming perimenopause. Thanks so much for sharing your symptoms and confirming it is legit!

Yes it’s legit.. I’ve had it for about a year off and on. I also get a bruised feeling on the ribs below my breasts circling all around .. have it at present , but not there all the time. It’s a nightmare this menopause isn’t it. Lol.

I use Organic castor oil which I buy from ebay and rub it on the breast, or stomach near where the liver is and put a hot water bottle over the top of my night dress, do this three or four times a week for a few weeks, really helps. Leave the hot water bottle on for at least 30 mins to an hour, really helps with inflammation. I'm also trying to reduce gluten to see if that helps

I’ll definitely give that a try , I have some organic castor oil. Thank you.

Castor oil is great for allsorts. Bit greasy I know, but I put on directly on the skin, cover it up with old nightie and water bottle on top or a heat bag. I found the info on youtube and definetly helps with the soreness. I haven't tried it in the armpits though, lol.

Don't do it 7 days a week, only 3 or four for a few weeks, then maybe once a twice a month if needed.

Don't know what my excuse is then as I finished menopause many years ago.

Well, as of a day or so ago, around July 7, 2019, my right side of my breast has been driving me up a wall with dull twinges. Sighs. I am finished with my cycle just a day or so ago. Hormones are a PITA!

Hello! I am 44 years old. Not sure I am in peri menopause yet. I also have tenderness in my armpit with no lumps or redness. It is on my left side. It has been happening on and off for sometime now. Possibly over a year. Strange as others say..I noticed it after I started using Schmidt’s deodorant. I probably used 2 sticks before thinking it might be related to the deodorant. I quit using and did not use any for a long while. I still have the feeling there sometimes though. However the other day I put some Schmidt’s on and it seem to be more of a pronounced pain than before. I always thought it had something to do with my bra. My breast are uneven. My left size is almost a cup size larger(the side where it is on). I do sometimes have pain in that breast. But usually not in the other I have also wondered if it is hormone related too. Because seems to be more irritating during ovulation and before/during period.

I was glad to see your post and all the responses from everyone feeling the same. Was starting to worry. I made an appointment with my doctor just to be sure. Last time I was there I mentioned it and during breast exam they felt in that area but didn’t feel anything. So they acted like it was no reason for concern. I have yet to have a mammogram.

oh dear lord ! thank you for this .. I have been worried sick for 2 weeks with this horrible armpit boob swelling feeling .. its intense and sucks.. getting checked anyway..thanks for all the comments .. bra no bra it hurts .. Im going to be 44 in a month. (sips burbon) ahhhhh

Hang in there kimberlynn1975...I feel your pain! Try not to stress and worry yourself! Prayers going up!

Hello everyone,

I too have been experiencing all of the above and have spent countless hours and days worrying and scouring the internet for answers. I was overjoyed to stumble upon you all here and learn that I am not alone or losing my mind.

A little info about me.... I am a 45 year old woman who started peri & menopause early!! I started at age 38/39 and had no clue what on earth was going on with me. The usual menopausal symptoms were downright awful but like the rest of you, I suffered through the whole time thinking “ok new symptom, dying again of some mysterious illness or I seriously need my head checked.” Fast forward.... I had my last menstrual cycle right after my 44th birthday (so over a year now) and I have to say the menopausal symptoms have lessened overall thankfully.

Then SUDDENLY, about 2 months ago, just when I thought the worst was behind me, my body introduces to me, a new scary “oh no I’m dying again” symptom. THE ARMPIT ACHE!! I had just finished my routine physical, pap, mammogram, breast ultrasound, had bloodwork and urine tests done as well.... all came back normal. I was so relieved!!! However, my armpit ache started right after that, within a few days, which threw me for a loop. I thought ok maybe I strained a muscle working out?? Maybe I’m feeling after effects from the Mammogram “trauma”??? No clue and of course, panic starts to set in!! Over the course of 2 weeks, the ache in my armpit (right side for me) became an ache in the right shoulder, ache in my right breast and some days the ache even extended all the way down my right arm.

It really is terrifying and consuming when you don’t know what’s going on or why and the Doctors can’t find anything either. So I started experimenting with different things to hopefully find a remedy or at least some peace of mind.

Fast forward again..... long story short.... I accidentally stumbled upon a video on YouTube regarding Magnesium deficiency and it’s symptoms and I thought hmmmm, could it be my issue?? So I started taking Magnesium supplements and within 24 hours, my armpit ache started to disappear!! I have been taking the Magnesium faithfully every day for a few weeks now and I can say the ache is 95% gone and most days I don’t even remember having it at all. I don’t know if it’s merely a coincidence or if the magnesium really helped but I felt compelled to share my findings with you all in the hopes that it may help you as well.

Side note, I had just started taking other supplements approx 2 weeks before the aching started so I thought perhaps they too may have been the culprit so I stopped taking them completely. (Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin C). 1 week later, I started Magnesium which I had never taken before!! Just to clarify.

Together, we will get through this.

Anita

Hi Anita ~ Your post sounds so familiar!! Glad you have found something that is giving you some relief! Thanks for sharing your experience and magnesium info....I actually have some at home and will give it a try.

Glad you found this thread too!!!

Take care!

Heading in for my annual mammogram this morning - still have the weird pain. Praying all will be well..for all of us!

Hello girls, I am 43 and was just told by my Obgyn that I am menopausal. 5 days ago I started having left armpit pain and it’s so painful. Taking corticosteroids. Mammogram and exams all normal just the strangest thing. Side affects are real. And so is early menopause. I’m blessed I had my children young ❤️ Relax and enjoy life girls. Menopause is a condition not a disease. All women have to go through it let’s just get it done ✅

I am having the same armpit pain that started in one armpit and went to both. I took some Magnesium as Anita suggested and it helped with other symptoms, but my right armpit is still sore. I’m really panicked. I have irregular periods, but was put on the Nuvaring. I was 6 days late refilling my Nuvaring and this is when the armpit pain started. It is more of like a sore, bruised feeling deep in the armpit. I am 35, have weight gain, facial hairs, and I’m loosing hair. Is this periomentopause?

Hi ya, I am 47 and have been having this armpit pain with increasing frequency and intensity for at least the last two years. I'm fairly sure it got worse after the mammogram too. Having said that I am not getting any younger lol. After the Mammogram I noticed an almost immediate development in skin issues. I asked my mother how she responded to mammograms and she said she'd never had one as she was warned off them by a nurse who said the mammogram can actually cause issues because of the radiation and your sensitive hormonal state. Funny how they don't mention this (or maybe I just didn't take it in from nerves) . After learning this I was recalled for another one (fibrocystic breasts it turns out) so insisted they do the less invasive ultrasound as they use both to be thorough anyway. I totally get the freaking out thing. I have ectopic heart beats and high cholesterol. Even when within my healthy weight range my cholesterol is only just within normal and that's a high normal. That coupled with the costochondritis and fibrocystic breast pain, Meant I have been to the ER a few times not knowing what was going on. Despite all my symptoms I have low to normal blood pressure and have never had alcohol or smoked so they fob you off alot just on those risk factors alone. A women Doctor acquaintence of ours said as GPs they really don't know much about perimenopause/menopause at all, I'm guessing because it's so individualised making it varying degrees of normal. So keep at them and if you have no quality of life let that be the first thing you tell the GP. So grateful for the chance to be heard.

OH MY GOD!!!! This thread!!!! I could kiss all of you ladies!!!

I'm 31 next year and I've been experiencing this strange armpit pain in my left arm for about 7/8 weeks along with 4 weeks of awful left breast pain (which thankfully has seemed to of subsided) but I'm left with this armpit twinge! I can only describe it as though someone is plucking under my underarm like a guitar, it hurts for all of a few seconds and then goes until it happens again! then I have tingles running down my arms through to my fingers every now and again.

I went to the doctor who said it was Nerve Inflammation and put me on 50mg of Pregablin, this hasn't worked at all.

I've had two breast examinations, of which they have ruled out the potential of Cancer. Which I can honestly tell you, I've never had anxiety like it! I'm exactly the same as a few of you who have said every symptom makes you think your dying and going to have this awful terminal diagnosis!

The problem with Googling anything about Armpits is it leads you straight to Breast Cancer and the more you read, the more you convince yourself!

But no swollen lymphnodes, no redness or swelling. Its so bizarre!
Ive switched deodrant from Soft & Gentle (which I've used for years with no problems!) to Dove - but it hasn't made a difference.

My bloods came back fine all except my ESR levels which said there's about 30% inflammation in my body somewhere, so possibly an infection? but I'm due to have my bloods taken again on the 6th of Jan.

I had a full thyroidectomy in April 2017 but my levels seem to be okay. however I was told that the breast pain could be down to hormones changing.

Now I started my periods at 10 years old, so the topic of going through perimenopause early has been mentioned to me.

But I feel like I'm going crazy at the moment, no-one really understands me! So thank you ladies, thank you so much - please keep me updated xxx

These comments have been so helpful! I’m 33... I started getting left armpit aches about a year ago. I wouldn’t say they are constant, but they are always coming back! Just the left side too. My cycle is still pretty regular, but my Mom and Grandmother both went through menopause at 30. Anything armpit related is so scary!