Expert: John R. Cross - 1/1/2010

Question
I have extreme breast pain.  I have had this for many years.  But it has gotten worse with age.  When I was menstruating, I would always get the breast pain/tenderness/swelling about a week before my period.  And it would go away pretty much after the first day of my period.  As I grew older, I would begin to get the breast pain/tenderness/swelling more like 2 weeks before my period.  But again, it would subside on day 2 or so of my period.  In April 2008, after suffering for years with extremely heavy periods, I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids.  And I had a hysterectomy (I still have my ovaries).  I understand that even though I no longer menstruate my body can possibly still “cycle.”  But the breast pain I have these days seems to last for weeks or more like months at a time.  For example, I am currently experiencing this extreme pain.  And I honestly cannot remember how long ago it was that I did not have the pain – it seems like I have had it for at least a few months now.  Please help.  I am miserable.  It even hurts just to walk or ride in the car.  I'm 46 years old, healthy (I have controlled hypothyroidism), I take vitamins, I exercise regulary, don't consume any caffeine, I eat fairly healthy, I'm 5’2”, I weigh about 129.  The pain is so bad I am imagining how good it might be to have a double mastectomy.

Answer
Hello Lisa,

I am so sorry that you have been suffering for so long. It would be good to know what you have tried to date. As you know, mastitis is usually of the acute kind and affects women who are lactating. I am assuming that you do not have infected mastitis but I doubt this as you have endured it for so long. In my experience of treating this condition using different therapies the cause is one of three and is sometimes a combination of all three.

1. There may be a problem with your thoracic spine (in between the shoulder blades). Sometimes if the breasts are heavy or as a result of an injury the nerves that supply the breast tissue are affected at the spine - if you think this is the case then a trip to a good physical therapist or chiropractic may help - please advise them that the treatment should be gentle!

2. There may be a chronic problem with the way your body deals with its lymphatic circulation and mastitis is sometimes caused by congested lymph glands either on the periphery of the breast tissue or under the clavicles. The treatment for this kind is, once again good physical therapy who will do some connective tissue massage or lymphatic drainage massage AND teach you how to do some for yourself. If you want to try this anyway, give yourself some finger or thumb pad massage underneath the length of the clavicles and also down the sternum

3. The third (and most common) is that you may have had a long term energy imbalance that has affected your spleen energy. In Chinese medicine the spleen energy is related to the uterus and breasts (as well as some lymphatic conditions). It may be difficult for you to treat yourself with acupressure for such a long term problem and I would beg with you to visit an acupuncturist (preferably one who uses his/her hands and does the soft tissue work mentioned previously). If you want to try and help yourself you need to massage the center of the sternum (breast bone) which is a point called CON 17. Do this for up to half a minute several times a day. You could also work on any tender points around the breast tissue itself. Please also massage (to the same extent) acupoints SP 6 and SP 9. These two points on the Spleen meridian both lie on the inside aspect of the shin bone (medial aspect of the tibia). SP 6 is 4 finger widths above the inside ankle bone and SP 9 is at the top of the tibia below the knee - both of them will be tender. Reflexology would also be an advantage.

Outside acupressure and bodywork, you should try Vitamin B6. There are also many homeopathic remedies that you could try but advice on these lie outside my remit. Whatever you do though, please be aware that recovery will not be instantaneous, as you have had the condition for so long. I hope this helps and please don't hesitate to get back to me with any queries. - John