What Does A Painful Lymph Node Without Swelling Mean?

Posted on Thu, 10 Apr 2014

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

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 Answered on

Fri, 2 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : What does a painful lymph node without swelling mean. The pain is not all the time. It comes and goes and it hurts when i drink something cold. Under left arm.

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Are you sure it is a lymph node? Detailed Answer: Hi Mrs XXXXXXX Hope you are in good health. Are you sure it is a lymphnode? or could it be somethin like a pustule or a cyst? A lymphnode in axilla in a female is something that should be taken seriously.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (1 hour later)

I had breast cancer 1 year ago dcis stage 0 noninvasive partial breast radiation neg lymphnode went to the oncologist in Feb and said come back in six months no problem. But i started hurting the week after i saw the doctor. Had mamo and ultrsound in Nov, 13 and radiologist does not want to see me until this coming november. Everything was fine. Im on tomoxifin since last september. I dont hurt all the time just sometimes through out the day it hurts when i drink something cold

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Most likely in your case is spontaneous pain Detailed Answer: Hi, Yes, that is what i was suspecting. Now that you were diagnosed and treated, let us consider some possibilities. 1. Most likely in your case is spontaneous pain, an ignorable one. 2. An infection in the previously irradiated drainage area can bring in pain. 3. An on going progression of malignancy, which is least likely in ur case. However, the golden rule is : ANY CHANGE / NEW ONSET SYMPTOMS THAT WERE IN HIGH RISK ZONE (In ur case, the breast, axilla and nipple), SHOULD BE EVALUATED. Hope i am clear.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (10 hours later)

Thank you for your answer. Makes me feel better. I went ahead and made an appointment with the oncologist for next week.

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: ok then. all the best. Detailed Answer: Ok then. All the best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar