What Causes Armpit Pain?

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.

Keep reading to discover more armpit pain causes.