Suggest Treatment For Painful Swelling In The Neck

Posted on Mon, 26 Dec 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 26 Dec 2016 Answered on

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My neck is swollen and painful to touch on one side. There are a couple of large knots or lumps on that side and my neck is very stiff when turning my head or bending my neck. I have been caring for several kittens and have several tiny cuts from where they have clawed my feet and hands. One of the kittens likes to lick my eyelids in the morning to wake me up. I do not have a fever. I do have joint pain frequently from rheumatoid arthritis and it seems to be flaring up now too. Is this neck pain something for which I should seek medical attention or could it be tightness from stress of the holidays? I do not have health insurance at the moment.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Shruti Rijhwani (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It needs evaluation.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,

Thank you for posting your query on HCM.

Based on your description, you may be having enlarged lymph nodes in your neck which requires medical attention . It needs to be examined and if found FNAC of lymph node should be done . It can be related to your previous disease or cat exposure , but it cannot be said at present without investigation.

Dr. Shruti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad