Do you feel the lymph nodes or bumps on your neck?

[burgundyplace]

Hi, I'm a 22 year old hypochondriac.

For many years, I've struggled with this lump behind my right ear. My ENT specialist examined it and concluded that it was just a swollen lymph node which never came down. He also said that if it were there for many years and had not caused me any trouble, I shouldn't worry.

However, last December 2012, I was poking on the side of my neck and discovered this soft and small lump on the right side of my neck. It's sort of a size of a small grape and I can move it around. I thought it would go down in a few weeks, but now it's March 2013, it's still here.

I don't think it has gotten worse. It's non-painful. My positive side is saying that it's another lymph node that has never gone down.

I just wanna ask if people here feel lumps on their necks (or elsewhere) and turns out to be nothing?

There are times that I go on with my life without worrying but nights like this make me worry about this lump.

[JunoX]

Yes, I have the same identical lump on the side of my neck as well. I found it by accident when I was massaging my jaw because of TMJ. I dont know if its always been there and I just found out now or if it was new but its still there so I thunk its just always been there. Doesn't worry me. Lymph nodes like this are quite common.

[mollyfin]

Yep, a lot of people have these.  I've had them on the back of my neck before.  In my case they eventually go away after a while.  Try not to poke at it - that'll just irritate it and make it sore and bigger.

[stockwiz]

I've had some in the neck for a good 15 years now. I wonder if they may be related to a root canal and crowns I had to have on my two front teeth.. I should get it checked out sometime. I've heard those crowns can rot after so many years anyways... it's been over 15 now.

[burgundyplace]

Thank you stockwiz, mollyfin, and JunoX.

I'm just really bothered by this. Just one of those days when I have nothing to think about but this. It's the size of a small grape. Not so large and not so small. It is soft and I can move it around. I think.

Anybody else here who can feel lumps around their neck?

[eddarun]

YES! And they drive me crazy!!! I've got two sidebyside under my jawline...one is 2,5 cm and the orher 1,5 cm.  I've also got one on each side of my neck, both about one cm.  Ive had it checked by an US technitian, she said they looked fine but I'm still not convinced!

[burgundyplace]

Hi eddarun, thank you for your reply.

May I know if you've gone to a doctor as well to have them checked?

[eddarun]

Yes i've been to my GP 4 times and 2 other GPs in the past 4 weeks, each time they have felt the nodes.  They dont seem concerned at all.  To me it doesnt feel normal, but theysay its very common....are you skinny? They say that skinny people usually can feel some of theire nodes....

[JuneFly37]

Hi Eddarun,

I have a few of these too. My doc has told me the same thing: in skinny people, the lymph nodes are easily palpable. They are even more so when they've been inflamed in the past (even just from a cold when you were a kid) and have never fully gone back down.

They feel weird, but if your doctor has checked them out, don't drive yourself nuts over them. (Easier said than done when you have this kind of anxiety, I know.)

- June

[burgundyplace]

Eddarun, thank you for your reply. I think it's been reassuring that your tests and GPs have said that you have nothing to worry about. I wish I could sa th same for me. I agree with JuneFly on this one.

Argh I just discovered another beneath the right side of my jaw. It's rather sore and it is moveable.
The lump on my neck is still there as well, no changes I think.

I have a lot of acne at the back of my neck. They are sore right now and quite red. I think it's because of the dirty environment I'm in lately.

Can acne or pimples cause enlarged lymph nodes? I know they are pockets of infection but I'm not sure if they can cause this...

[Moebearocka1980]

My lymphoma fears are crazy out of control right now. I have two larger nodes under my jaw in the submandibular area. The one on the right has been there 2-3 years at least. However, when I first felt it 3 years ago my HA wasn't flaring up. I didn't even give it a second thought. Because my HA is flaring up now and every other test and disease that I've been worried about has been checked out, I am now worried about this node. In the process of poking around near my right sided node, I also felt another node on the left side under my chin. Both nodes feel marble sized or smaller. They are soft and moveable. The logical part of my mind says the one has been there at least 3 years and hasn't grown. I did have alot of dental issues about 8 years ago. Maybe that's why these nodes are swollen. Maybe they swelled and never went back down? I have heard that acne can make nodes swell as well.

I have an appointment on the 19th to have them checked out by an ENT but I've just had a cervical spine MRI that stated - "multiple scattered nodes were noted in the neck with NO PATHOLOGICALLY ENLARGED nodes seem." I just don't know what nodes they would have seen in my neck since the MRI was for the purposes of looking at my cervical spine. Sigh.

[chilly water]

Inflamed Lymph node on right neck after bad ear infection a year ago.

Has not gone down. It is a hard not and visible on my neck.

I'm still alive, and have worried extensively about this too.

Its common and the anxiety will pass into something else.

Be mindful of how anxiety travels through your body. Next week it could be something else.

[burgundyplace]

Thank you moebearocka and chilly.

I'm currently on my way to work. I'll reply to you soon.

[vwgreen]

I have some on my head and in my groin I've been able to feel my entire life, and 2 on the left side of my neck under my jaw and 2 on the right side of my neck I've been able to feel for about 2 months now. Pretty sure the 2 on the right side have been like that except in a less noticeable state since I had mono 5 years ago and they flared up due to a strange throaty irritation I had back in January, I noticed them, and have been poking the absolute crap out of them all ever since and they've never had a chance to go down. Do you poke at yours a lot? Because that just keeps them noticeable. My biggest one is maybe a touch over 1cm. I think as long as they're under 2 cm and they don't grow you're probably fine. It's worth getting checked out, I got mine looked at and was told they weren't even enlarged lol. I also noticed the days I do we'll not touching them they don't seem to stick out as much and once I break and poke they go back. Try not touching them for a few weeks, I bet you'll notice a difference

[skyisblue]

I get this all the time!