Therapy
The choice of the most appropriate therapy for severe breast tenderness depends largely on the underlying cause. Since many of the typical causes for the occurrence of pulling in the breast are based on normal hormonal fluctuations, treatment is not always necessary. In the case of breast tenderness associated with premenstrual symptoms, pain-relieving medication can be taken if necessary.
If, a few days before the onset of menstruation, there is even a severe pain in the area of the breasts, the dose of painkillers can be increased if necessary. In addition, some of the affected women find the local application of cold or heat to be pain-relieving.Even if the breast is pulled in connection with an existing pregnancy, no medical treatment is necessary. Breast tenderness as an early sign of pregnancy is caused by the hormone-induced growth of the mammary gland tissue.
This growth is necessary in order to produce sufficient breast milk after birth. Severe pain in the breast can also be relieved during pregnancy by taking painkillers. However, expectant mothers should always consider whether the intake of an analgesic is really necessary.
In addition, only paracetamol should be taken during pregnancy if possible. With other painkillers, possible damage to the unborn child cannot be ruled out. Even when taking paracetamol, the dosage should always be kept as low as possible.
Women in whom pulling in the breast can be attributed to inflammatory processes can already relieve the symptoms at home. Above all, the local application of ice packs is perceived as particularly pleasant by affected women. In addition, compresses with acetic clay and/or curd compresses can help to contain the inflammatory processes.
If the pulling in the breast is caused by a tissue alteration, for example a cyst, surgical treatment may have to be initiated. Diagnosis of pain or severe pulling in the breast usually involves several steps. In particular, the detailed doctor-patient consultation (anamnesis) plays a decisive role in this context.
During this conversation, the affected patient should describe as precisely as possible what symptoms are present. Since pulling in the chest can have a variety of causes, the accompanying symptoms in particular can help to determine the reason for the occurrence of the complaints. In addition, the affected patient will be asked questions about her menstrual cycle during the anamnesis.
These questions can help to determine whether the pulling in the breast is possibly related to cycle-related hormonal fluctuations or pregnancy. The doctor-patient consultation is usually followed by an orienting examination of the breasts. During this examination, particular attention is paid to possible redness and visible swelling.
By palpating the four quadrants of the breast it can be checked whether there are any changes in the breast tissue. If the findings are unclear, imaging procedures, such as an ultrasound examination, can be useful. In addition, a blood test should always be performed if there is persistent or severe pulling in the breast. If there are inflammatory processes in the area of the breasts, these usually lead to a significant increase in the inflammation parameters in the blood.
