Painful lymph nodes

[Indie1234]

I have enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and they are quite painful, but my haematologist says CLL nodes are not painful or sore. Any comments?

[Hidden]

Hi Indie

Pain from lymph nodes is very common.It could be your more sensitive due to an added infection or cold putting more pressure on your lymphatic system.

[Hazel33]

I have the same causing me to have a very stiff neck, but only hurt if I prod them. My doc says not to worry as they need to be the size of golf balls before they will do anything about it. On the other hand, they sometimes do go down.

I hope yours are not too painful.

Hazel

[Indie1234 in reply to Hazel33]

Yes Hazel, my neck is stiff and aches a lot. The actual nodes are sore to touch. They do come and go, although one particular node stays the same size all the time. I have rheumatoid arthritis and at times everything hurts. Hope yours aren’t too painful.

Indie

[Hidden in reply to Indie1234]

Hi Indie

I’ve just made a post with a link to dietary changes and foods to avoid which might help you with your nodes and arthritis. It might be of some help

[HJ_2 in reply to Indie1234]

Hello Indie, I’ve suffered with exactly the same. I tried using Vicks VapoRub on them and found it helped a lot with the discomfort of painful nodes. One of the ingredients in it is camphor which has been mentioned previously on this site as being helpful in treating the pain. A camphor compress is apparently messy to apply so thought I’d try this instead and for me it has worked well.

Helen

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to HJ_2]

I have never heard of camphor being used on nodes. People have used Castor oil compresses. Vicks sounds a lot less messy if it works for you.

[HJ_2 in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

Read it somewhere maybe not on here? It apparently has anti inflammatory and anti septic properties but Vicks has a mixture of ingredients in it like eucalyptus oil. I just thought I’d try it and have found it very helpful for the last couple of years.

[Indie1234 in reply to HJ_2]

Thanks for the hint,

. I’ll give Vick’s vapour rub a try. Any relief would be welcome.

Cheers,

Indie.

[HJ_2 in reply to Indie1234]

It might be just the warming effect of vaporub that helps ( similar to a warm compress ) but it’s much more convenient to use than a compress. Hope it helps for you. I know how horrible painful neck nodes are!!

Helen

[Newdawn Administrator]

Your haematologist has obviously never had swollen neck nodes himself Indie!

They are more prone to pain if there’s infection but they impact on other things so could be pressing on a nerve. Mine have taken residence as a permanent feature now under my chin and jaw but the one on my clavicle hurts if I lay on it.

Warm compresses help ease as well as castor oil packs but the latter is too messy for me.

Newdawn

[TimHB]

Yes, of course swollen lymph nodes in the neck can be very painful! Mine aren't only painful but they're putting presssure on my inner ears causing headaches, dizziness and blurred vision, confirmed by my docs. I take a lot of ibuprofin (Advil).

[MsChief in reply to TimHB]

My understabding is that Ibuprophen is contra-indicated in patients with CLL. Anyone care to comment further? You definitely need relief frim these debilitating symptoms, Tim. All best, MsChief in CT, USA.

[TimHB in reply to MsChief]

I've never heard that. All my docs, including 3 top CLL specialists I've seen, all recommend ibuprofin. They DON'T want me taking acetaminophen (Tylenol).

[Redlion]

I am afraid it is not uncommon to get incorrect advice from Consultant Haematologists. My previous Haematologist refused to accept that the fatigue and tiredness I experienced both prior and since diagnosis had anything to do with CLL - I knew he was wrong because I had made it my business to become very well informed about CLL so that I could take some control and be able to advocate for myself, and in that this forum has been an invaluable resource of information. Unless you being seen by a CLL specialist (and most CLL'ers are not) then advice gained from this forum and many of it's very knowledgable contributors will be a great help in answering questions and doubts that many of us have in the course of this journey. Wish you well.

[Trish67]

Hi Indie1234,

I have painful enlarged lymph nodes under my armpits. I think this is due to the number and size of them. It feels as if I have a tennis ball in my left armpit and a golf ball in my right one. I also have enlarged lymph nodes in my neck, under my jaw, in my groin and at the top of my legs which are painless, I’m pleased to say, but my consultant at St James’s in Leeds was perfectly ready to accept the pain I complained about under my arms.

[MsChief in reply to Trish67]

Poor advice! You need better responses than you are getting . Care to share your lab values? Can you go elsewhere for a second opinion?

All best. MsChief.

.

[Trish67 in reply to MsChief]

Hi MS Chief,

Thanks for your concern but I obviously didn’t explain myself very well. What I meant was my consultant readily acknowledged that my nodes were painful. I am very well cared for at Leeds, in fact I consider myself very fortunate to be cared for by the team there.

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to Trish67]

Are you under Prof Hillmen’s team Trish? If so, it’s one of the best in the business!

Newdawn

[Trish67 in reply to Newdawn]

Hi Newdawn,

Yes I am, so I’m really fortunate!

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to Trish67]

Yes you are Trish, I’m hoping to be referred soon once the FISH test is completed.

If your nodes required action, I’d be confident that his team would be onto it pronto!

Newdawn

[Tvettes5]

Are you also having Night Sweats along with the enlarged nodes. Check you WBC and see if they have increased over the last couple of months. If so contract your Dr. and discuss.

[Indie1234 in reply to Tvettes5]

I have night sweats every night, but apparently they are not drenching enough to be considered a problem. I have bloods done every 4 to 6 weeks.

Thanks,

Indie.