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ruth	Jun-24-04, 08:37 PM (CMT)
"Painful lump on neck"
For a couple of weeks now I have had a small painful lump about 2 inches back from my left ear. It also hurts a little to press the area just above it. My question is, do you think I should see the doctor or just wait and see if it goes on it's own? It's not a boil or pimple. It's a fairly hard lump about the size of a pea. I just hate to keep going to see my doctor if it's something insignificant, I see him so often with migraines and to get new migraine medications that he must get sick of me! What would you do? Thanks
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muscle, nubbyjenn, Jun-25-04, (1) RE: Painful lump on neck, Elise, Jun-25-04, (2) RE: Painful lump on neck, nubbyjenn, Jun-25-04, (3) RE: Painful lump on neck, ruth, Jun-25-04, (4) RE: Painful lump on neck, jOdi, Jun-25-04, (5) RE: Painful lump on neck, Loualice, Jun-25-04, (6) RE: Painful lump on neck, ruth, Jun-25-04, (7) RE: Painful lump on neck, nubbyjenn, Jun-25-04, (8) RE: Painful lump on neck, thetsarisa, Jun-25-04, (9) RE: Painful lump on neck, Loualice, Jun-25-04, (10) RE: Painful lump on neck, Loualice, Jun-25-04, (11) RE: Painful lump on neck, nubbyjenn, Jun-26-04, (12) RE: Painful lump on neck, ruth, Jun-26-04, (13) RE: Painful lump on neck, MOM OF 6, Jun-26-04, (14) lump in neck, diane, Jun-26-04, (15)

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nubbyjenn	Jun-25-04, 01:14 AM (CMT)
1. "muscle"
LAST EDITED ON Jun-25-04 AT 01:15 AM (CMT) The area you are referring to is a large muscle attachement for a couple of different muscles. There is a bony protrusion called the Mastoid Process at this point also. If you have really tight: Sternocleidomastoid Muscles or Splenius Capitus Muscles You could become more sensitive to this area and it can raise up with tension of the muscles. With that said...don't be surprised if your MD has no clue. At the same time....if you are worried you may want to go anyhow. If you know a qualified massage therapist and/or a physical therapist..they could help you more thoroughly. Do you stretch? Jen
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Elise	Jun-25-04, 01:14 AM (CMT)
2. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
sometimes a little sore on the scalp or a slight infection somewhere on the head can make that little node swell. If it were me, I wouldn't worry. If you are worried, by all means, see the doc. E
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	nubbyjenn	Jun-25-04, 01:17 AM (CMT)
	3. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Oh - and I have a small pea sized lump behind my left ear...right at the top of the SCM muscle attachement. This is a lipoma - a small fatty lump that often appear at muscle attachment areas.... Not to worry either. J
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	ruth	Jun-25-04, 07:29 AM (CMT)
	4. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Thanks Jen and Elise, perhap I'll wait and see if it disappears on it's own, it does hurt to push on it and of course I'm thinking 'what if it's cancer?' I don't know if cancerous lumps found on the neck are painful. I'll just wait it out and perhaps mention it next time I see the doc. Thanks again.
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jOdi	Jun-25-04, 08:17 AM (CMT)
5. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
Hi Ruth I just got over a painful lump under my chin that turned out to be an infected salivary gland. I didn't go in to the doctor until I started running a vicious fever, and it took a couple of courses of antibiotics to clear it up. He told me I should have come in as soon as it started getting bigger, and warm/painful to the touch. Take care, Jodi
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Loualice	Jun-25-04, 09:26 AM (CMT)
6. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
Hi Ruth! I just wanted to mention something, though 'diagnosing via cyberspace' isn't 'my thing'... it's kind of hard to do...ha... BUT... The one thing that I'd tell you to go see your GP about, or if you have an ENT, or an Otorhinolaryngologist that you know and trust, I'd go see her/him because there is a rare possibility that it could be the beginning of Mastoiditis, which is rather rare... but, you CAN get it even without the presence of an ear infection. If the lump is painful, I doubt SERIOUSLY that it's a lipoma... that isn't a spot that I have ever seen a lipoma, though I do suppose one could appear there. I don't like to say that it's a lipoma without palpating it and doing a general head and neck check up because even a pea sized lump can turn out to be something rather nasty, especially in that particular area. My best guess would be that it's some form of lymphadenopathy (swollen node), because your system is trying to shake an infection on or in/around your head. Back to Mastoiditis... When it's discovered early on, antibiotics can be curative, and with the wonderful antibiotics that we have nowadays, it wouldn't shock me if it cleared right up after a normal round of the good stuff. Mastoiditis can be pretty painful and will, if unattended, get bad. It'll make the bone behind your ear swell up because it's like the bones of your sinuses, in that it's porous enough to harbor infection very effectively. BUT... like I said, that IS pretty rare, but it does happen, even without the presence of Otitis media...(middle ear infection). I have about 8 pages of information that I could recite to you about that particular (Mastoiditis) malady, but I'll spare you those facts, unless you actually WANT them, then I will be more than happy to write it all out... in the Reader's Digest Version of course short, to the point... I actually hated rounds in Otorhinolaryngology. really... probably because the title of it is just so dang impossible to say or spell without thinking hard...sigh... It was the opposite end of the body from where I usually did most of my work...ha... BUT... I couldn't help the fact that memorization of materials given was an integral part of making the grades...sigh...so... IF you want a recitation of information regarding Mastoiditis and the symptoms, which you have... I'll give it to you... By the way, have you had fever? Fever is common with that, if, in fact, THAT is what this is... however, you may take enough Tylenol or Ibuprofen to keep a fever under control, so you haven't noticed it. Also, you may be early enough in the process to not be running enough of a temp to have it be a serious bother to you, yet. I'd tell you to go see your doc. Okay... Enough from me... xo tell me if you want more information. xo lou
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	ruth	Jun-25-04, 10:11 AM (CMT)
	7. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Thanks Jodi and Lou! By the way that is a long word Lou!! No I don't have any fever, I feel fine. I did have a four day migraine earlier in the week which is unusual for me. I don't think it's a lipoma as I looked the word up, and they are not painful. This lump hurts to touch. I remember my doctor explaining lumps that are found on the breast. He said if it feels like the tip of your nose it's usually harmless, but if it feels like the knuckle when your finger is bent, it should be checked out. This lump I have is sort of in between! I think if I still have it on Monday I will go see the doc just to put my mind at rest. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated.
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	nubbyjenn	Jun-25-04, 12:35 PM (CMT)
	8. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	LAST EDITED ON Jun-25-04 AT 12:36 PM (CMT) Well. Whatever it is I do hope you get it sorted out. My point I was making was just that it is a tender area on most (esp m people)... Lou..I do have a lipoma behind my ear..and, I have treated quite a few people with them there. Wee tiny ones. They seem to form there and at the SI joint..and at the wrist....Also - from my experience lipomas can be painful if they are "invested" in the tissue. Sometimes they are sort of inside the muscle a bit...and if its tight then it presses on it. Who knows huh? Lou's suggestions are good too..I hope you figure it out either way.
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	thetsarisa	Jun-25-04, 04:08 PM (CMT)
	9. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Dear Ruth I don't understand well whewe the lump is located, but it remined me of how my Mom once had an infection of something related to the ear. I think it was called Eustachian's tube ??? It manifested itself as a little lump, pea sized behind the ear, closer to the neck that up the head. So I too would go and see the dr just to be sure. Because if this is it, then you might need an antibiotic. Risa
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	Loualice	Jun-25-04, 11:00 PM (CMT)
	10. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Hey Ruth, ya want to hear something weird? this evening I started running a wee bit of fever... I felt my neck and my regular nodes under the square of my jawline are swollen on the right side... and right behind my right ear I have a pea sized lump on the mastoid bone... it hurts like I got shot with a steelie from a sling shot... I know mine is a lymph node. I have done this before... I have some ulcerations in my mouth along my gums on the right side, so I KNOW why they are swollen... I just thought it was rather peculiar and quite funny that tonight, I'd develop this exact symptom... How utterly obvious is this sympathy pain? ha! xo lou I bet you didn't know that I loved you THAT much, did ya? lou
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	Loualice	Jun-25-04, 11:13 PM (CMT)
	11. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Hey Jen, I have seen people have lipomas under the skin on their scalp, but not as a hard knot on the mastoid bone. Since lipomas are soft and quite palpable as a soft, obvious marshmallowie lump (maybe even a stale marshmallow), and this one was ON the mastoid bone, and diagnosing a tumor as a benign fatty tumor rather than just saying, go see the doctor, was mostly what I was taking issue with. I won't say that something is a lipoma and nothing to actually look into (which is what is implied when it's a fatty lump and benign), without having someone who has diagnosis of tumors be they fatty or maybe a cyst above the bone, or maybe a lymphnode, or maybe the lump that is symptomatic of mastoiditis, when it's right on the mastoid bone...as part of their scope of practice actually LOOKING at the lump... That is all. Cyber diagnosing a lipoma is a dangerous thing, when the tumor (if indeed it is that) isn't being palpated and looked at by a physician who does that sort of thing as part of their scope of practice. Fortunately Ruth is someone whom we know well and she is very responsible for her health, therefore, she will go have the lump diagnosed by a doctor. I just get worried when someone who is new could read that it's probably a lipoma and may, for whatever reason, decide that their next lump is 'probably' that... and nothing to worry about, and that conclusion was decided, not because a doctor diagnosed that 'it was nothing to worry about' but because they read somewhere that it was most likely a lipoma... xo lou
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	nubbyjenn	Jun-26-04, 00:55 AM (CMT)
	12. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	LAST EDITED ON Jun-26-04 AT 00:58 AM (CMT) I was totally just making suggestions..not trying to "say" anything. However, in my own life..I have diagnosed several lipomas and have seen them invested in the tissue. One client had one removed at his SI jt. and it was quite a surgery! Anyhow, I am totally on your side..know where you are coming from. I am not in the best frame of mind lately so my muddled mind is not perhaps as clear as it could be. Dreadful depression. Ick. I agree that all lumps should be checked...this is a fact and true. However, you may be good at diagnosing them (wish you lived here). So far I haven't had one person with cancer be properly diagnosed by their MD. I even had one woman who's MD refused to do a breast exam because she said that "it was too early"...the client ended up with cancer! Insane. It is too bad that many MD's are such idiots, but then I don't have to tell you that. You have the crazy horror stories about the "god complex" docs. Nutsos. I am off on a tangent. Again, just so you know I still think she should go to the doc. J
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	ruth	Jun-26-04, 08:25 AM (CMT)
	13. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Thanks for the sympathy pain Lou!!! Sorry, hope you feel better soon I really appreciate all your input. I am going to phone my doctor on Monday just to get this checked. This lump is about level with the bottom of my ear and 2 inches back. Whatever it is, I wish it would go away! Sorry you're feel very depressed Jen, shouldn't you be feeling the opposite with the upcoming wedding? Or do you suffer from depression? Or maybe it's all the planning etc. that's getting to you. Hope you feel better soon too!! Take care.
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	MOM OF 6	Jun-26-04, 12:30 PM (CMT)
	14. "RE: Painful lump on neck"
	Ruth, I have a small lump there too. It showed up when I was about 20 and it's still there but smaller now. Mine is a lymph node. When I first noticed it, I had myself dying with some sort of rare, tragic cancer. (the nurse in me) I asked my favorite general surgeon to check it. He said "well Karen if you would leave it alone it might get better" with a laugh. (he had checked it once before and KNEW how worried I was about it) He was right. It DID improve. and I'm still here. Hope yours is nothing more serious than that Ruth. Love, Karen
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diane	Jun-26-04, 12:57 PM (CMT)
15. "lump in neck"
Hi, Hopefully I am not repeating anyone, I didn't have time to read through all of the posts. Something similar just happened to me(lump in base of scalp), and I felt the same way about "bothering" my dr. I had also been having alot of sinus type headaches and some other weird things and because of the area I live in (eastern massachusetts) I decided to get a lyme disease test. It came back positive, and I am now on a regimen of antibiotics. I don't know where you live but if you are in a high risk area maybe it's something you should consider. Diane
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