I haven't seen anyone mention this and I couldn't find any previous posts mentioning it - SO HERE GOES.
For the past month I have had growing tenderness in my chest - as if I drew a line from my clavicle to just under my armpits. I know it is following the lymph route but I can't find any swollen lymph nodes. It is bilateral. Breasts are not tender at all nor is there anything of concern as far as lumps or swellings in either breast. When I try to rotate my arms it feels tight like I have overworked them. But I haven't.
Has anyone had anything similar that you can relate back to sjogrens? or should I be suspecting something else at play?
I don't really know what this is, but I have it, or something similar. Mine is not always bilateral, and at times the tenderness feels like it is under my breasts. Mammogram ok. It started under my right arm, which I use to walk the dog, so I thought perhaps I had pulled something.
I guess my plan is to give the rheum. a call if it continues......
Let me know if you figure it out!
I have had the tenderness under my left arm for years. Sometimes its not bad but other times the tenderness follows the lymphnode accross my chest and is quite uncomortable. Mammograms are fine. My rheumatologist didnt think anything of it, even though there are hardended lumps there now. And my regular doc says tbey are just active when they are sore.
I am just going o keep bringing it up every time I see a doctor until I get a good answer
I would suggest that you do lymphatic drainage massage. One problem with Sjogren's is that we can trend to lymphatic problems. (dry and infected as in non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
Any chance that this is some type of chest wall inflammation? What you describe sounds like it may be some type of inflammation which could be typical of Sjs. I have Costocondritis and it seems to be fairly common in folks with Sjs.
If you are worried about lymphoma since you mention Lymph nodes, please see your doctor to rule it out. Just be aware that the only way to diagnose Lymphoma is thru an excisional biopsy of a lymph node. I have Non Hogkins Lymphoma presently, caused by severe Sjs and prior to being diagnosed, I had several enlarged lymph nodes as well as all the B symptoms associated with Lymphoma, significant weight loss, soaking night sweats, terrible itchiness etc... One thing to note however, is that lymph nodes affected by Lymphoma are quite enlarged and almost always painless as mine were.
Hope you are able to find something to help.
Daisy
Thanks to Jellyb, Joe, and Daisy for your ideas!! Will not sweep this under the rug!
Costocondritis usually follows just one or two ribs around your side.
The inflammation pain from Costocondritis can radiate throughout the rib cage and around the side to the back along the spine, so the pain/inflammation from the joints can and will radiate from the breastbone all the way to our spines in back.
If there is anything irritating the nerves, then one might feel it all the way around as I do when I get a Costocondritis Flare.
Not saying that any of you have Costocondritis as I am not a doctor. I would also add the caveat that with any chest pain it is always best to mention this to one's doctor to ensure that anything more serious is ruled out.
I do love this board for all the quick and insightful suggestions and experiences! I thank all of you.
It is feels on top of the chest muscle , not under the rib cage or even part of my inter-costal muscles really.
Joe I think the lymphatic massage is a grand idea- something is definitely active in this area and needs to move out!
I do really worry about any kind of lymphoma, although I have no signs of it other than these two tender areas. if I can't work them out in a few weeks I will have to go get my family doctor to have a look.
sorry to find a few others here also experiencing the same issue but it is nice to know I am not alone :)
I ihave had something similar to this all my adult life. I get the pain that feels like bad brusing and hurts when palpated above the breast area into the underarm area. I also have one breast that will get so darn sore that I could hardly wear a bra. Thankfully that has gotten much less since I reached the old age mark. Yea, something good about old age.
I also have mammograms on a yearly basis and they have never found anything. Just something to keep aware of. I put heat on the area and that helps the most. I can feel the small swollen nodes at times too. Irish ;D
Years ago I had half the usual number of lymph nodes removed from my left armpit, following an excisional biopsy of a very small cancer in my left breast. The surgeon was certain he got all the cancer -- that I didn't even need radiation, though I got it. The cancer has not returned.
BUT now I have pain on the right side of my chest. Last visit to the rheumy, he checked it out, and agreed there was some pain there, but not lymph nodes, because there weren't any. He suggested I check it out with my PCP, which I haven't done yet. Not due for a visit until May 29th, but I'll be moving around then, so I'll probably move up the visit.
Actually, a lot of the chest wall in front is painful, not quite at the level of everyday awareness -- just take a tylenol and forget it, sort of thing. But still I wonder.
Thank you everyone for this thread. It reminds me to keep mentioning it, and to make my PCP aware.
Soycoffee