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Published on: 3/5/2025

What Are the Possible Causes of Sharp Pain under My Right Armpit?

Sharp pain under your right armpit could come from swollen or irritated lymph nodes, infections, strained muscles, or skin issues that affect the sweat glands or nearby tissues.

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Explanation

There are a few things that might make you feel a sharp pain under your right armpit. One cause is swollen lymph nodes—a condition called adenopathy. Lymph nodes can become painful when they swell because your body is fighting an infection or dealing with an autoimmune condition like mixed connective tissue disease or psoriatic arthropathy. When the lymph nodes are enlarged and tender, you might feel a quick, sharp pain in your armpit. Another possible reason is a skin issue affecting the sweat glands, such as axillary osmidrosis. Although this condition usually changes how your skin smells, if the bacteria balance on your skin is disturbed, it can sometimes lead to irritation or even infection, causing pain. Also, besides these, injuries or strain in the muscles or tissues around your armpit may cause similar sharp pain. If the pain continues, gets worse, or comes with other symptoms like fever or swelling, it is important to check in with your doctor. They can help find out the exact cause and decide the best way to help you feel better.

(References)

  • Li P, Chen S, Li P, Xu D, Tang X, Liao J, Xie H, Li G, Kuang Y, Su J, Tang S, Zhou J. Treatment of Axillary Osmidrosis by Rebalancing Skin Microecology With _Lactobacillus bulgaricus_. Front Microbiol. 2022 Apr 14;13:821696. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821696. PMID: 35495721; PMCID: PMC9048734.

  • Giambersio E, Magni V, Sardanelli F. Bilateral lymphadenopathies on mammograms: a case of mixed connective tissue disease and psoriatic arthropathy. BJR Case Rep. 2023 Jan 23;9(2):20220077. doi: 10.1259/bjrcr.20220077. PMID: 36998332; PMCID: PMC10043603.

  • Maini R, Nagalli S. Adenopathy. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558918/

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