Lump on back of sons neck

[AnneBoleyn 50]

So my son told me on Friday night that he had a lump on the back of his neck.  I felt it and it feels like a lymph node.  It .  has gotten smaller since then but it's still there.  But I'm freaking out.  Are there lymph nodes in  he back of your neck?  Like next to your spine?  I figured I would give it some time before having it looked at.  It's tiny like smaller than a pea.  Someone please talk to me.

[MARC 431]

There are lymph nodes on the back of your neck. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

Smaller than a pea? If it's a lymph node then that's a normal size and you don't need to do anything about it, IMO. But obviously I'm no doctor, and you can definitely take him to the doctor if you see fit.

[AnneBoleyn 50]

Can they swell for no reason?

[MARC 431]

I once had a swollen lymph node below my jaw line near my left ear. I went to my physician and he felt it and it was movable and not hard. He ordered an ultrasound of the entire neck area and everything was unremarkable. My physician thought it may have been from a cut I got while shaving. My physician told me the most common causes of swollen lymph nodes are infections. It is a good sign that it has gotten smaller. Mine was swollen for weeks. 

[Otherside 3]

Yes, can swell up. Usually just a sign that the immune system is fighting off an infection. Should just go back to normal in a few weeks if it's just that. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

On 7/28/2021 at 8:39 AM, AnneBoleyn said:

Can they swell for no reason?

There's always a reason, but the reason isn't always obvious, nor does the reason always require immediate (or any) attention.

[Jennifer1 8]

I've learned a lot about lymph nodes and neck lumps over the years. 

Yes they can enlarge for no obvious reason (to you).

Yes, if you look for them you'll always find some, they are little bumps normally. 

In thin people or in places with thin skin you can always feel them and often see them. They are in their normal state. 

Lymph nodes have a poor drainage system and can swell quickly and drain extremely slowly. 

Reactive lymph nodes can smell and scar and never go away. 

My younger son at around 3 years old had very visible neck nodes for a long long time complete freaked me out. Multiple drs apts and the last dr said they may never go away completely. 

He's 27 now and if he turns his head a certain way I can still see them. 

Lumps and bumps are horrific for HA. 

[AnneBoleyn 50]

Now I'm not so sure it's a lymph node.  It feels different.  It's still small but it feels like it's deep in his neck.  It feels like it's in the muscle that runs up the back of your neck.

[MARC 431]

Speculation can be very stressful, so if I were you, I would call his pediatrician. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

I agree, call the pediatrician if unsure and concerned. But if it's deep in there and you have to dig for it, it's probably normal anatomy, IMO.

[AnneBoleyn 50]

I just checked it again and it does in fact feel like a lymph node.  It's small and moveable.

[MARC 431]

My advice to you is to have your son see his pediatrician to end all speculation and to put your mind at ease. It will take a health care professional to know for sure what it is. 

[Ellebel 67]

My son has an enlarged (peanut sized) lymphnode on the side of his neck, behind/below the ear. It started when he was about 8 months old, or thats when i noticed. Its still there now, he is 16 months old. Still scares the crap out of my, but the doc didnt seem very concerned. She ordered and ultrasound to be safe. Looked all good. Another one 2 months later as follow up; no change. So she said we should leave it at that. I am a bit less concerned now, but still uneasy becasue i would think a reactive node would go down by 8 months...

[Jae 211]

6 hours ago, Ellebel said:

I am a bit less concerned now, but still uneasy becasue i would think a reactive node would go down by 8 months...

They can scar and say enlarged for ever 

[MARC 431]

My ENT physician once told me that in some cases lymph nodes can stay enlarged for a lifetime and cause no problems. 

[Ihadcancer 321]

I'll be 71 in December and have a 'shotty' node in front of my ear.  I had lots of ear infections as a child.  My GP told me I have two there but just didn't know where to look.  They're very hard, movable and round and have never changed. 

 

Shotty: Resembling shot or pellets of lead, shotgun pellets and, hence, hard and round. The term "shotty" was in use in the 19th century. It is now generally obsolete but it is still in medicinal usage.

Shotty is very commonly used in describing the feel of lymph nodes  when they are palpated (felt) through the skin. "Shotty" lymph nodes are ones that are not only hard and round but also small and surely of no consequence.

[BeautifulDisaster 68]

On 7/27/2021 at 7:31 AM, AnneBoleyn said:

So my son told me on Friday night that he had a lump on the back of his neck.  I felt it and it feels like a lymph node.  It .  has gotten smaller since then but it's still there.  But I'm freaking out.  Are there lymph nodes in  he back of your neck?  Like next to your spine?  I figured I would give it some time before having it looked at.  It's tiny like smaller than a pea.  Someone please talk to me.

@AnneBoleyn- did you ever find out what this was?  Is it still there or did it go away?

[AnneBoleyn 50]

Just a normal lymph node

[BeautifulDisaster 68]

56 minutes ago, AnneBoleyn said:

Just a normal lymph node

Thank you - I actually have this going on with my child too.  Did it end up going away?  How long did he have it for?

[MARC 431]

Glad to hear all went well with your son. 

[AnneBoleyn 50]

On 10/23/2021 at 11:54 AM, BeautifulDisaster said:

Thank you - I actually have this going on with my child too.  Did it end up going away?  How long did he have it for?

Honestly, After the Dr felt it I haven't paid any attention to it.  I can't see it anymore so I'm assuming it has gone down.

[Wonky 92]

5 hours ago, AnneBoleyn said:

Honestly, After the Dr felt it I haven't paid any attention to it.  I can't see it anymore so I'm assuming it has gone down.

Great news 🙂

[BeautifulDisaster 68]

22 hours ago, AnneBoleyn said:

Honestly, After the Dr felt it I haven't paid any attention to it.  I can't see it anymore so I'm assuming it has gone down.

Thank you for your response.  I have done some searching on this and it sounds like they can take weeks to even a couple months to go away.  I am glad to hear you were able to let it go.  My child had what looked like an infected bug bite near the gland so we assumed the gland was from the bite - I can see the gland too though it is small.  I, of course, want the gland to go away now, but from what I am reading, it sounds like it can take a long time - quite a few weeks and very common with a skin infection or bite.  I appreciate you taking the time to respond - it is helpful.