Bump on neck/jaw line under ear

tuscloud311

Back when i was 2 years old, i had tubes in my ears from massive ear infection. Then i had a spinal tap and nearly died. 13 years later, my ear drum blew out due to an ear infection. I'm talking about the worlds (of course, for a guy without kidney stones) worst pain ever. Loudest screech ever. EVER. sounded like someone pinching the ends of a balloon and letting air pass through screech. anyway, loud pop ensued, warm liquid....warm liquid = blood.

that was when i was 15 (for those who dont know math). 6 years later (today) i have an ear infection. Ive had about 2-3 ear infections WITHOUT discharge between here and 15 years old, so nothing big there. However, this ear infection has been going on for almost TWO MONTHS. The draining has *finally* stopped last week.

Before you throw it at me...ive been to 3 different doctors. Even an ENT specialist. Threw me on medications, nothing seems to work.

Anyway, ENT dude said that my ear seems to be looking better, and he will see me in 3 months.

1 week later, im at work, doin my shit, and im like "zomg, below my ear kinda hurts"...of course, its the bad ear. the ear that blew up years ago, the ear that blew out AGAIN last month, yeah...THAT ear.

sure as shit, theres this bump. its below the skin so its not like a bug bite, no scar, nothing. something under the skin and it feels bruised like all hell. Now if you take your finger (yes, DO IT) and touch your left earlobe, and drag it down your neck. youll feel your jaw line. Did you? you should. its not ON the jaw, but just to the left of it. RIGHT THERE!

(btw, i love to write, going to go to college for it) So, i did some quick research on wiki and other sites, and ive come to the conclusion that its a swollen lymph node.

Can anyone clarify or....? Apparently, lymph nodes only swell when an infection/bacteria/virus/disease is near the lymph node (theres like 360 lymph nodes in your body so uhh, yeah). Hence, my discussion about my blow/infected ear.

Anyone?

Bob Sapp

Sounds like your lymph node. Mine last flared when I was in the early stages of poison ivy. Probably something brewing in your body...might want to get it checked out if you think your bad ear might be having problems.

EggyToast

Could be a lymph node, could also be a subdermal pimple. But it's the kind of thing that's really not diagnosable without seeing it, and even then if it's only really noticeable as a subdermal lump that you have to feel, only a doc could really diagnose it.

However, my understanding is that there are quite a few things that cause lymph nodes to swell. This link isn't very informative to your possible conditions, but is to show just how many things can cause the lymphatic system to respond:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/swollen_lymph_nodes.htm

Could be related, or could be entirely coincidental.

Raneados

then again, I've never had an infection in my life

and when I was a teenager, I'd get the bumpy thing below the ear and under the jaw

Prophetavius V

Dear God, could it be a wisdom tooth?

What's her face

I had a lump exactly where you describe. For a long time I was told it must be my lymph node. But, it wasn't. Turned out I had parotid pleomorphic adenoma which is a benign mixed-tumor of the salivary gland. Then it was parotidectomy time when it protruded the normal skin line and I started sleeping on it and it began to hurt.

So next time you go see ENT dude, mention it.

tuscloud311

Prophetavius V wrote: »

Dear God, could it be a wisdom tooth?

Do YOUR wisdom teeth grow from your neck? This isnt a part of my jaw, so unless thats true, then yeah....its a wisdom tooth...



anyway, 99% sure its a lymph node...so now that that is possible (not ENITELY confirmed unless ENT dude says so), should i be concerned? i read that they are common, and unless things get worse around that area, then i shouldnt worry...but with my background of ear problems, and it being so close...maybe go see him now?

really wouldnt be an issue if i wasnt so tight on money right now.

nexuscrawler

Swollen Lymph Nodes are very common. They can be sign of just about any kind of infection. I actually have one or two that have been swollen as long as I can remember. I took t to a doctor and was told that its so commo it's not even worth worrying about. what you have could eb that, a deeply ingrown hair or something serious. If it really bugs you jsut go to the doctor.

Szechuanosaurus

Isn't there a bunch of glands around there? It's probably one of them swelling up for some reason or other. It's not necessarily insta-death, but probably still a good, solid got-to-a-doctor.

tuscloud311

mixed replies here.

thats what i was informed that it was pretty common, but it kind of hurts when i move my head to the right (aka putting strain on the left part of my neck) and when i sleep on it. Like i said, it feels a little bruised. i dont know if they are supposed to hurt when the swell. i guess thats my main concern...

MuddBudd

tuscloud311 wrote: »

mixed replies here.

thats what i was informed that it was pretty common, but it kind of hurts when i move my head to the right (aka putting strain on the left part of my neck) and when i sleep on it. Like i said, it feels a little bruised. i dont know if they are supposed to hurt when the swell. i guess thats my main concern...

If it concerns you, call your Dr. and ask him about it.

Ant000

I can't really contribute to this thread, but that first paragraph was insane ;-).

Sk1nnyMan

Could be a spot under the skin, it could be a flared lymph node, it could be a tumor.

Stop asking people on a forum and talk to a doctor!

Incenjucar

I doubt it, but it could be lipoma; basically a benign fatty tumor that -tends- to occur due to minor injury; I have two in my lower back that decided to become padding to protect me from my backpack.

Is it semi-mobile under the skin?