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What Causes Hard Swelling Over Carotid Artery, Stiff Neck And Ear Pain?

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Posted on Fri, 18 Sep 2015
Question: My sister has a hard swelling over her carotid artery, a stiff neck and ear pain.no other symptoms according to her.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would need some info though seems like tender node

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to Health Care Magic.

I am Dr.Muhammad Ahmad, I have read your question in detail, I understand your concern and will try to help you in the best possible way.

According to your sescription it seems to be an abcess or most probably a tender lymph note. Though its hard to tell exactly what could it be due to vast majority of neck swelling we come across but I will try to short list the possibilities for you.


In order to help you better , I would like you to give me some more information,

I will here by ask you some relevant questions to fill up the information gap.

1) Did you sister have any mouth or throat infection lately? any cough etc?
2) Did she get any fever?
3) Is it warm red and highly render?
4) Can you upload a picture of it if its big enough?
5) Does it pulsate with the carotid or its just a swelling above it?
6) in how much time did it develop?
7) Is it increasing in size?
8) How does it deel to tough? rubbery? stoney? fluid filled? hel filled?



Waiting for your input


Regards.

Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.

M.B.B.S ( Licensed Family practitioner)

Resident M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (18 minutes later)
Answers are: no recent illness or cold symptoms, no fever, very tender but not red. It started with pain in a molar, she thought it was a canker sore and that was Thursday night. Friday (yesterday morning) the lump appeared suddenly but has not gotten any bigger. She said it feels very hard and it is about 3-4 cm in length. She is currently on vacation in a small town in Oregon and it is a 2 hour drive to see a medical provider. That is why we need advice!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Here are a few suggestions

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing back,
According to your sister's history and how the problem developed it seems to be one of the two things.

1) Infectious swelling.
2) A tender node.

For this lump one in her circumstances can do some icing of it and apply any good anti inflammatory gel or cream available in local pharmacy.
Along with that she can keep taking advil. If this lump is not increasing in size it might well start getting healed up as body's natural defence and immune mechanisms come into play.

I would suggest her not to panic if she has or can find an antibiotic topical cream she can apply it, or else she can wait by icing it taking advil and applying some OTC topical. If this doesn't get better of gets worsened then she might will have to drive to a medical facility because the doctor might want to run some tests then and write some prescription meds for better cover.

She shouldn't panic this doesn't seem to be anything much dangerous.This is expected to get better in 2-3 days.


I Hope this answers your question, if your have more queries feel free to ask, otherwise close the discussion and rate it. Wish you the best of health.



Regards,

Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.

M.B.B.S.(Licensed Family Physician)

Resident M.D.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Muhammad Ahmad

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 1308 Questions

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What Causes Hard Swelling Over Carotid Artery, Stiff Neck And Ear Pain?

Brief Answer: I would need some info though seems like tender node Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to Health Care Magic. I am Dr.Muhammad Ahmad, I have read your question in detail, I understand your concern and will try to help you in the best possible way. According to your sescription it seems to be an abcess or most probably a tender lymph note. Though its hard to tell exactly what could it be due to vast majority of neck swelling we come across but I will try to short list the possibilities for you. In order to help you better , I would like you to give me some more information, I will here by ask you some relevant questions to fill up the information gap. 1) Did you sister have any mouth or throat infection lately? any cough etc? 2) Did she get any fever? 3) Is it warm red and highly render? 4) Can you upload a picture of it if its big enough? 5) Does it pulsate with the carotid or its just a swelling above it? 6) in how much time did it develop? 7) Is it increasing in size? 8) How does it deel to tough? rubbery? stoney? fluid filled? hel filled? Waiting for your input Regards. Dr.Muhammad Ahmad. M.B.B.S ( Licensed Family practitioner) Resident M.D.