Underarm Shooting Pain

Underarm or armpit pain can be caused by a variety of reasons. By taking note of the specific type of pain you experience, you can help your physician diagnose your condition faster. A cerebrovascular accident, heartburn, peripheral artery disease, neuropathy issues or a swollen underarm lymph node can cause sharp, shooting pain in your armpit area. The pain is not a disease in itself but a sign that alerts you to a number of different issues within your body. It is best to consult with your physician, especially when the pain is recurring and unbearable.

Cerebrovascular Accident

When you experience a cerebrovascular accident, certain portions of your brain may be damaged, which can cause headaches, dizziness or the overall faulty operation of certain brain functions. Nerve endings in your underarm area may be the victim of this type of damage, which can manifest itself through a painful, electric-current-like sensation of pain in your armpits.

Neuropathy

Issues with your nerves can cause very sharp, shooting pain radiating from your underarm up to the inner section of your elbow. Neuropathy issues can stem from a variety of causes, such as adult chicken pox or vitamin B complex deficiency. Essentially, the nerves misfire because of some minor damage, producing radiating pain.

Swollen Lymph Nodes

Swollen lymph nodes mean that there is an ongoing fight between your white blood cells and an invading bacteria or virus in your body. Lymph nodes are collections of white blood cells. When they are fighting an infection, more white blood cells are produced, thus enlarging the lymph nodes and making them appear swollen.

Heartburn

Heartburn is a form of indigestion in which your stomach acids travel upward. The burn travels through the esophagus and sometimes up towards your heart area, giving the impression that your heart is burning. This heat can sometimes extend to your underarm region, where a sharp pain can be felt, which often goes away after a minute or two.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease is an obstruction of any of the arteries outside of those found near the heart or the brain. This includes arteries running through your arms and legs, which can also become clogged and hamper proper blood flow. When this happens in the area near your shoulders or armpits, it manifests itself through a sharp pain that can spread from the underarms to the rest of the shoulder area.