What Causes Armpit Pain?

Armpit pain is medically referred to as axillary pain. It has many possible causes ranging from nuisance to severe, including injuries, irritations, infections, nerve compressions, or even cancer. Also, armpit pain might occur alone, or it can be accompanied by other signs such as rashes and swollen lymph nodes. Whenever it happens, the diagnosis process starts with a careful examination of a patient's health history followed by a physical exam, followed by blood tests and imaging tests. Uncover the various causes of armpit pain now.

Shingles

The varicella zoster virus, which is responsible for chickenpox and shingles, can result in armpit pain, along with a painful rash. Usually, this rash will occur on the chest, underarms, and back. Shingles can also have other signs of infection, including burning or itching in the affected area and blisters. Additionally, patients can experience intense pain before the rash starts to develop, as well as tingling in the affected area. Treatment for shingles requires an oral antiviral medication, which controls the virus, and at the same time, improves symptoms. If after medication the pain does not reduce, doctors might prescribe medication to relieve pain and inflammation.

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Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease, a circulatory condition, results in the narrowing of the arteries. When the arteries are narrowed, the amount of blood flow also reduces. However, in this condition, blood flow is usually reduced in the arms and legs. Reduced blood flow means both the patients' arms and legs will not be receiving enough blood to keep up with the body's demands. The result is pain upon moving because there is less oxygenated blood reaching the tissues as well as muscles, which requires lots of oxygen to prevent pain. Peripheral artery disease, therefore, often results in armpit pain, as well as pain in other areas.

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Swollen Lymph Nodes

The presence of enlarged lymph nodes may cause armpit pain. In the beginning, patients might not find any swelling or visible lumps. In some cases, swelling might occur on one side while in others it might happen on both armpits. However, lymph nodes can become large due to many reasons, such as infections (both viral and bacterial), autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. If infections occur on the arm, chest, hand, upper abdomen, and the chest they can also drain into the nodes and cause swelling and pain. Additionally, when different cancers spread to the axillary lymph nodes, they cause lymphomas. Therefore, swollen lymph nodes in the armpit can be an indicator of early cancer. The enlarged lymph nodes caused by infection are mobile, soft, and tender. Those resulting from cancer are fixed, firm, and non-tender.

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Muscle Strain

Muscles located in the arms and chest can be the cause of armpit pain due to injury or muscle overuse. Individuals can injure their chest muscles, such as the pectoralis major, which runs from the shoulder to the chest, by playing sports. This muscle can also be hurt through weight lifting. Another muscle in the upper arm that can cause armpit pain when strained is called the coracobrachialis. The coracobrachialis can suffer from muscle strain during sports such as such as tennis and baseball. Throwing can overstretch the muscle, and in turn, the muscle becomes tight and painful. Typically, muscle strain and armpit pain from minor injuries improve within a week. Stretching and rest can also reduce pain. However, if the pain persists or a lump appears, patients should visit a doctor.

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Skin Conditions And Irritation

Individuals can also deal with armpit pain if the skin around the area becomes irritated, or if they have a skin condition. Tight clothes or garments made from rough materials can cause skin irritation, as can shaving, particularly without shaving cream. Other things that can irritate the skin include laundry detergents, deodorants, lotions, and soaps. Additionally, noninfectious rashes, such as acanthosis nigricans, can occur in the armpit and cause pain. This rash is commonly found in patients with diabetes and psoriasis, as well as individuals who are obese. Another skin condition that can cause armpit pain is hidradenitis suppurativa, which is a chronic condition similar to severe acne that involves sweat glands in the groin and armpit. Treatment for this condition involves antibiotics, acne medications, and immunomodulators, and in severe cases, treatment will require surgery.