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What Causes Swollen Gland Behind Ear, Headaches And Radiating Pain From Shoulder To Arms?
Question: Hi i have a swollen gland right behind my ear lobe at the bottom it came up last year stayed for a few months then dissapeared now its been back again 5months or so it seems bigger in the mornings and is generally pea size maybe a smidge bigger. I had glandular fever earlier on this year an was very ill with it but recovered ok. Ive mentioned the gland to the gp a few times now and they either tell me they cant feel it or just palm me off. I dont really have many other symptoms other than tiredness but im ok if i have enough sleep i have two small children work two night shifts a week im 26 i often get headaches now quite painful but can easily get rid of these with migraleave im concerned of lymphoma (anxiety) an what makes me concerned is that when i drink certain wines i get a shooting pain in my shoulder wich radiates down my arms after a sip or two then dissapears. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Brief Answer:
Regular follow up to watch how this develops will be needed
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Sub-centimeter sized lymph nodes are not considered significant you may keep a regular check on them. This one seems to be in the parotid or retro-auricular region and are very common.
2. Ideally, an ultrasound would settle the diagnosis. The most common cause for such lumps would be reactive lymph nodes. There are more than three hundred of these in the head and neck region alone. Normally lymph nodes are not palpable. After responding to an inflammation or infection, the lymph nodes enlarge and later do not regress to their original size. Hence they are palpable thereafter. This is normal.
3. A lymphoma will cause the glands to keep on enlarging and there will be other signs and symptoms. Hence this is not a cause for worry.
4. As regards the pain in the shoulder and arm after sipping alcohol, it is a referred pain from the gut. Yes, there is a rare relation to Hodgkin's Lymphoma, however as mentioned above, there are many other common symptoms of a lymphoma that will not be missed by regular examination and wait loss.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Regular follow up to watch how this develops will be needed
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Sub-centimeter sized lymph nodes are not considered significant you may keep a regular check on them. This one seems to be in the parotid or retro-auricular region and are very common.
2. Ideally, an ultrasound would settle the diagnosis. The most common cause for such lumps would be reactive lymph nodes. There are more than three hundred of these in the head and neck region alone. Normally lymph nodes are not palpable. After responding to an inflammation or infection, the lymph nodes enlarge and later do not regress to their original size. Hence they are palpable thereafter. This is normal.
3. A lymphoma will cause the glands to keep on enlarging and there will be other signs and symptoms. Hence this is not a cause for worry.
4. As regards the pain in the shoulder and arm after sipping alcohol, it is a referred pain from the gut. Yes, there is a rare relation to Hodgkin's Lymphoma, however as mentioned above, there are many other common symptoms of a lymphoma that will not be missed by regular examination and wait loss.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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