excessive breast pain after mammogram

I had a mammogram today and I am having a constant throbbing pain in my right breast that feels like it hurts all the way to my back. I don't know if I should call on Monday to see if anyone else has had this problem or see how long this lasts. After reading these posts, it seems like this is a common problem that no one ever talks about.

o.O
I was reading these posts because I am trying to figure out why my nipples are so horribly sensitive after my mammo last week. I am sleeping with a bra on and they feel like sandpaper has been rubbing on them. This was my 3rd mammo and it is about a year ago I had my second. My first was years before that.
No more for me. I don't trust our chiseling medical industry to tell the truth about what these things REALLY do to a woman!! (Look at the mercury in the vaccines which kills our immune systems and the lovely flouride they insist is so good for us and is not optional in our water and reduces our inteligence. Google these and you'll know what I mean.
Thank y'all for all the info about mammos. They have always been presented as such a "must"

I am a Breast Imaging Technologist with 11 years of expirience. All mammography facilities are require by law to have consumer complaint policy in place and in plain veiw for patients to see. We have ours at the front desk and in all the patient dressing rooms. We are accredited by The American College of Radiology and the Federal Mammography Quality Standards Act. 

Yes, mammograms are uncomfortable but if you have a compassionate and knowlegdable technologist it does not have to be a bad expirience. Breast compression does not adversly affect breast tissue when done properly and the amount of radiation that we use is minimal. Since we are only imaging soft tissue we do not need a lot of radiation. I have always said that not every x-ray tech is cut out to be a breast imaging technologist. The girl that trained me, I thought, was very pushy ad short with the patients. After I was trained I told her that I would like to do all the mammograms since she didn't care to do them anyway. She was always amazed that I got better films than her. Well, I believe that it is because my motto is treat the patient like you would like to be treated. I always tell my patients what I am doing and why I am doing it and if it is going to hurt I warn them first. I also, always say if it gets too tight please tell me and I promise to be very quick. I can honestly say that I have never had a patient complaint and I have lots of patients that request me and some even followed me to the hospital that I work at now.
So, please get a mammogram it could save your life! We can see breast cancer when it look like little pieces of salt in a patients breast. You could not feel that and if we find it at that state it is 100% cureable. I have seen ladies die from untreated breat cancer and it is a horrible and painful death. If left untreated the cancer eats through the patients skin, become extremely painful, and produces drainage and a terrible odor.
Thanks, Laurie

:!:

I am 47 and had my first mammogram a month ago on my mother's bday just before Thanksgiving. I was called back for a second mammogram due to a spot which turned out to be my skin flapping on top of itself. I have had severe pain in my left side bad enough to warrant an ER visit. They gave me Flexiril, Vicodin and Naproxen to help combat the symptoms. I have gotten excellent rest through the pain meds but I'm still in severe pain with my chest. It hurts so much, I find my arm curling up around it to help protect it.

I am otherwise in good health and have managed my healthcare relatively well. I have put off having a mammogram for seven years due to my intense breast sensitivity.

I am also..paranoid now that they have started something within me and will have a bad memory when thinking about it. I think the professionals were okay but when I walk out with a ribcage pain for a month it gets me wondering.

Let's all update these posts and keep on it. Something has to be said or done to help those of us who have suffered. More than anything...I just want the process to change if it is indeed causing problems.

I had a mammogram 2 days ago and my breast are so sore and tender that I was afraid that I might have Cancer, But after reading these posts maybe that is not the case, my right breast is extremely painful and tender, I hope this doesn't last much longer. I am just waiting on the results from my Dr. The technician did have kind of a dry attitude towards me like she didn't want to be there or something. I just hope this pain subsides very soon because it is very uncomfortable.

These posts have been very comforting. I received the dreaded call back letter after my yearly mammogram. Next available appointment was 1 1/2 weeks away. Very nerve racking!! Went for the appointment, was told the compression had to be greater to get better shots of the questionable areas... saw STAT on my file while this was going on. Just about "Freaked out"!! Went back to sit while the pictures were reviewed, then told I would have to have an ultrasound.(I was about to burst out crying) The tech came to get me for the ultrasound and told me not to worry they do this all day long and mostly there were no problems they were just double checking. (of course when it is you and you do not do this everyday it does not feel that way) After looking at the ultrasound and mammogram, the radiologist said I had two small cysts in my right breast and the left was just a lymphnode they were picking up since they had to compress hard and had to get more of my breast in the shot.( I am fairly small breasted) They said I should come back in 6 months for pictures of just my right breast. Since then my left breast/under my arm has been painful.
All that said... reading the other posts make me feel a little more normal. I will be following up with my gyno to make sure she agrees with the recommendation. ( She is a breast cancer survivor, so I know she will not take any chances if there is room for concern.)

I think if men had to have their testicles flattened out like we have to have our breasts, that the designer of the mammogram would design a more mammory friendly machine XD Depending on the clinic, the nurse, her mood etc. The experience can be fine or horrorfying! I had both, the 1st said the dreaded - "can you come back in please"... "we found something on your left breast" Started crying, she looked at me like I had three heads! Waited to see an oncologist, who then sent me to a womens breast health clinic, where the nurses were the best in the world, they really cared if I was in pain or not, and tried everything in their power to not make it hurt. I had the ultrasound too, they saw something, but in their words "doesn't look like cancer". One thing you all should know is that technology is growing by leaps and bounds, and like the specialist told me, "we are seeing things now that we couldn't see a year ago, but cancer is cancer and that doesn't change, so we know what is and what isn't cancer" So more and more women, just like myself and others of you on this site are having the same conversations. What I was told by the angel nurses is to put warm wash cloths on your breasts, and under your arm. Also ibuprofen helps. You have to remember that say youg get your arm pinched, you will have a bruise right? Same thing with a mammogram, they are "pinching your breasts" It really depends on the time of the month for you, the agression or lack of from the nurse. ALSO - there's one thing I've learnt is, if the nurse is being a cow, ask for another one. This is your body, your health, and you are in charge. Remember warm wash cloth or as my great aunt said - and it works like a charm. Boil some cabbage leaves let them cool down a bit, and place all over your breasts. It is fantastic! It also helps when you stop breast feeding. Good luck and good health

I too am in a lot of pain on my right side of my chest. What is the cause of this? Bruised or worse?
I just want it to stop. I have an appointment with my doctor to check this pain out.
It has its own schedule, light pain then pain so rough I don't want to breathe.

I recently had a mammogram and was called back for a bilateral diagnostic mammogram due to a micro calcifications. I have since done a lot of research and I am very angry. There is a lot of information out that about how harmful mammograms are. Each mammorgram increases the risk of cancer by 2%. The crushing of the breasts can spread the cancer cells. Women have a 50% chance of having a biopsy in their lifetime. 80% of biopsies are benign. In other nations they do not screen pre menopausal women. Other women are not screened annually. We are being sold a bag of lies. I am sure there is a lot of money made on this. Ductal breast cancer has increased by over 300% of which they contribute 200% to the increase of mammorgrams. I have scheduled an appt for a breast thermography as my course for follow up. It has no radition, no pain, no side effect, no risk of cancer. Why haven't we been told this information so we can make educated decisions? Why is someone keeping this from us and makeing these decisions for us? I felt like I was doing the responsible thing by having my mammogram done now I realize I was just being manipulated. I will never have another mammorgram again. Look it up for yourself on the WEB don't take my word for it. Spread the word, the lie is out!

The American Cancer Society advocates mammography screening for all women from age 40, whereas in Europe it is not recommended for women below the age of 50. Randomised prospective studies have failed to show a significant benefit from screening women aged under 50 and five potentially harmful effects of screening should be considered: lead time, overdiagnosis, radiation exposure, false positive results, and cost. Younger women must be properly informed about the potential for harm as well as for benefit before screening.

I think this says a mouthful. Here in American we almost always tend to overdue things. How many times have you heard that 1 out of 8 woman will get breast cancer? Translated that means 87.4% of women will NOT get breast cancer! Is the glass half empty or half full? Since some cancer (ductal) has been attributed to the increase of mammograms perhpas the number of women diagnosed with cancer would be less if we were more selective with our screening. There are other safe alternative. Mamograms lead to unnecessary exposure to radiation, invastive bioposies, and surgery. Get the word out!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see I'm not the only one with discomfort after a mammogram!

I'm 56 and it was my first one. I just had to get the nurse (?) that should have been apart of the concentration camps in Germany - terrible person! I personally feel she was definitely sick -

Being it was my first one, I was understandably - nervous, and the tech or nurse knew it was the first. She was a year older than I (and really looked it!) and I knew most feel I look 20 years younger - so I think we both knew, I was really going to get the torture!!!

I didn't know what to expect, and trusted her when she said, "remove your gown" (sharply) and then she grabbed my right breast and shoved it on the machine, while telling me to look the other way (I kept thinking which way and why?) and to grab the top of the machine part (sorry, I'm still in shock over the entire ordeal) - she then starts slamming the machine together quickly over my breast , while I wince and tell her "that really hurts"! She shouts at me, that cancer hurts more and slams it at least twice as hard as first try! I was absolutely stunned with this much pain but hear her yell at me to get off my tippie toes. GET OFF!!!! Meanwhile she raises the machine more and I can't stay on my feet, she yells again, and then slowly walks to see her computer screen, and i guess snap a pic.

I had no clue what to expect... And this all continued but worse.

I became a little disorientated from the shock and terrible pain, humiliation and embarrasment - she shouts for me to sit between photos and when I consider sitting she rushes me to take another photo. I'm shaking between each photo and she shpouts for me to "stand still!!" I remind her that I'm new to this and the pain, but she doesn't care. I say, can't this hurt someone, cause more problems. She says "NO!, now stand still! And be quiet!!!"

After a few more photos, she seems delighted. I feel alot of fatique and the room feels like it is swimming a bit, but we take more photos on all these weird angles, and the same sharp yelling, screaming continues. It was very debasing....then it ends, and I say I'd like to wait and see the doctor.

She gives me verbal directions to get back to my (I'll call it) "phone booth room" after repeating over and over "DO NOT GET DRESSED - I CAN NOT SAY THIS ONE TOO MANY TIMES - DO NOT GET DRESSESD!!!! " I try to find my room, and simple things like that, right, right, now left, then right - I can't do these things when tramatized like that...but somehow I find my stall....and then wait for at least half hour for her return.

Upon returning, she appears delighted and quite satisfied now - remarks that the doctor found all sorts of things and it was indeed a good thing I didn't leave. It is worse the second time - she presses in harder and faster, while pulling my "nice thick breast" very hard, and yelling at me to stand still over and over. (By the way, I'm barely breathing from my stillness.....)

The pain was so bad I think i went into some sort of shock and after what seemed like forever she actually loosened the machine, but took her time to walk to the computer. What brought me out of the shock was the screams to "cover up!.Take your breast off the machine!!" By now, I'm much like a robot. We're on the fourth one, and she slams even harder on the machine and I hear her yelling me all sorts of directions - then she just stops - she says with disgust tht this is all she can do with me, as I'm not acting properly (or something like that) ....she tell me to leave and wait for the doctor which won't be long now....and another half hour goes by.....I hear more new people coming and going.

But no sign of her.

A new nurse or tech comes and simply says, "All done now! Get dressed and you can leave!" I say, hey, wait a moment. The last nurse told me i can all these probems, made me go thru all more pics...And the nurse gives a VERY PUZZLRD look on her face. And i tell her, I want to see the doctor.

Again, I wait. maybe 15 min. The entire ordeal was about 1 hour 45 min.

I getr taken to the doctor who doesn't even have my pics up on the coomputer and he says, "well, we thought there were problems, but then when we looked it was just like poof, all gone!" And then says, "now that wasn't so bad was it?"I couldn't help thinking, he's a male, I'm a female.....and once again, I felt so embarrassed to mention the pain. I was confused - how can anyone treat someone like this and get a way with it?

Never again will I go thru one. It took 4 days for the pain to somewhat go away and my husband upon driving me home felt so disgusted and in total shock that this could go on, and folks call this medical science! And the right thing to do! Never again!

I found that I had to drink 4 tall glasses of juice, one quart of soymilk, one glass of milk as soon as I got home. The pain was so bad I couldn't sleep on my left side. My husband felt these things need to be reported, as he feelas it can cause cancer. It has been nearly a week and I still have some internal pain.

Wonder why the 57 year old nurse never returned?

o.O >;) o.O I am ABSOLUTELY disgusted for you, BUT not surprised. The 1st thing I want you to do - if your up too it - is too report that *ow!!!! There is NO way that she should be even dealing with people. There have been MANY nurses that I have had too take a strip off. One of them almost killed my mom by injected her with the wrong medication.

This is YOUR body, we get soo caught up in the fact that these people are so called professionals. They are just people, who like it or not some of them shouldn't even be dealing with ANY animals never mind the human kind.

You do need to have another mammorgram hon, don't let this deter you. I had a nurse from hell once, when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. She hurt my belly - using the ultrasound - So badly that I was bruised and I had signs of early labour!!!!! I had her fired actually, I took it too the top. She put my health and my childs health in jeoprady. I was in a LOTof pain! So I totally relate too your experience.

A great thing for the pain is this, boil some whole cabbage leaves, let them get soft and when they are REALLY warm to the touch, hot enough too tolerate but not too burn. Place them over your breasts too totally cover the area and underneath your armpits. Lay on the bed, with a towel underneath your back, relax and put some cucumber slices on your eye's might as well get a beauty treatment as well as getting better! ;-) XD

This is an oldwives tale, but BOY does it work. It is not only the warmth, but the cabbage leaves contain an analgesic properties. Use ibuprofen and ice packs too. I really feel for you hon!!! But on behalf of ALL the women out there who have been abused - and that's what has happened too you - by medical "professionals" you have too have her!!! There are SO many men and women out there that would love too have her job and do a 1000% better job than she did. Empower yourself, and let her have it!!!

I wish you luck, health and too never have another experience like that again. Like I stated in another post on here. IF you ever come across anyone like her again, you tell her INSTANTLY "Get me another nurse right now" It's your body!

I am so glad to know I am not alone! I had a mammogram on Tuesday July 21 and I will never have one again. I am in so much pain it is not funny! I feel like I have been violated and assaulted! If I get breast cancer so be it!

Wow, glad I am not alone! Had a mammogram (#2) on July 21, 2009 and it was very painful! I can barely lift my arms three days later now and my breasts hurt! I feel violated and like I've been assaulted! The "nurse" was rude and idiotic. It wasn't "cute" ... :'(

I had my first mammogram about 2 years ago. My doctor has tried to talk me into another one, but everytime I go to make the appointment the pain I felt floods my memory. I was literally bruised on my ribs for almost two weeks and my breast and rib area was tender to the touch for over a month.

I too have noticed zings of pain in my breasts in the last couple of years. Maybe this is from the mammogram. I just know that for some reason this experience and pain was even worse than natural childbirth.

I think women need to demand better options. If we could get a few male pieces of anatomy put in a mammogram machine we'd have another option quicker than you could say mammogram.