Enlarged lymph nodes after hitting back of head

[HardHead11234]

I am a middle aged very athletic women who fell backward and hit her head on the ice while skating yesterday. All I remember was the sound of my head  when it hit the ice and then getting up as soon as possible to avoid embarassment. I got up and skated a few more laps almost immediately after. My jaw was sore, but otherwise I felt OK. I was just a bit skaken up. The next morning I woke up with a mild headache and sore neck muscles. I went to work and by about 24 hrs from the time of injury, I  was feeling better. After work I noticed that the lymph nodes under my jaw were enlarged and a bit tender. Is this lymph node enlargement typical after a head injury?

[Rcoughlin]

I was cheering, (I am 14) and they dropped me. My head landed on the mat and I got a head she but a few hours later my right side of my neck started hurting, like I strained it. I dont know if I have a concussion or just strained from the hard blow.

[Triximc]

Another candidate I slipped on wet rocks yesterday, hit the back of my head hard & got a headache, during the night & realised I can not lift my head while lying down & pain all in my neck no other symptoms though

[Lkgo2223]

I am having very similar issues. I fell on the ice and hit the back of my head hard enough to knock me out for a few seconds. My neck became very sore but now a week later I'm noticing my lymph nodes have been swollen too.

[philnoir]

Allow me to repeat your doctor's order -- go to the ER.

You need someone to examine your neck, which you may have injured during the fall, and aggravated that injury when pushing the mattress today.

Try applying an ice pack to the swelling, and go get examined, please.

[bluehoratio]

I fell hard on my back about a week and a half ago.  I'm a 34-year-old woman.  I slipped on a small hill, slid down the hill and fell hard, hitting my upper back and the back of my head.  My head snapped/bounced forward when it hit.  I did not lose consciousness, but the breath was knocked out of me.  When I slid down the hill (in slippers and no socks), something became lodged in my foot.  It was full of grass and dirt that had been dragged with it.  

I went to the ER almost immediately.  There was a nail in my foot (inch and a quarter long rusty roofing nail).  They pulled it out and checked me over (chest x-ray and EKG, because I have a pacemaker and also because my complaint was extreme chest pain).  

They said I did not have a concussion, that my pacemaker wires were still in place and that I had no broken bones or fractures in the area that was giving me pain.  

They sent me home with a pat on the shoulder.

I spent the first 72 hours trying to stay off my feet and unable to put weight on my injured foot (per my regular physician's orders).  He later prescribed me some pain killers.  I also took some antibiotics I had leftover previously to make sure I didn't get an infection.  Much of our focus was on my foot and the avoidance of an infection.

My foot is healed enough that I can walk on it with a slight limp and mild pain.  My chest and neck pain got better after about 72 hours and was better for two days.  After that, it became excruciating again.  I had pushed a very heavy mattress and thought it was muscle pain.  The pain began to radiate up my neck and is so severe, I have trouble sitting up in bed or getting out of a sitting position.  It hurts when I walk and is only better when I hold my hand in place on my chest.

The past 48 hours, the pain and swelling has climbed up the side and back of my neck into the back of my head.  I called my doctor's clinic and spoke to my doctor's nurse, who said I needed to go into the ER right away, because there were no available appointments.

So far, I have not gone.  I wanted to try a couple of things at home before I waste another 5 or 6 hours in a day.  My lymph nodes are swollen all over my neck.  I did use some muscle cream (over-the-counter) yesterday and it did help.  I try not to take too many pain killers, but when I do, they help for about 2 hours.  Nothing stops the back of my head from hurting and being swollen.

[HomeoHealth]

Hello everybody. I'm a 54 year old woman in good health and a week ago I also fell on the ice playing hockey and had a big egg on the back (slightly right) of my head. I got a concussion and quickly developed pain in my neck lymphs running down both sides in the front and back of my neck and swelling under my chin. I've treated the concussion for a week with homeopathic Arnica, Nat-sulph and some Hypericum and it's doing well, the bump is gone, and there is just a little bruised feeling. But also an Osteopathy session really helped balance the fluids in my head which had been thrown to the right side. Chiro session day before yesterday also helped further, then yesterday I got a massage and spent time in the sauna and rested at a spa which helped even more. I found it very interesting that the nights after the Chiro and the massage I had very wet night sweats but just on my neck, and my lymphs are feeling much less swollen and my neck is less stiff. I feel the sweats were burning up some kind of inflammatory toxins that had been created from the fall and were being held by the lymphs. It has been really beneficial to give my brain a rest from stimulus of all kinds, even reading and loud conversations. I realize now that I have accumulated head injuries from the past and now is a good time to address them all. The chiropractor told me my eyes are not reacting well, so I have an appointment with a neurological chiropractor who is supposed to be life changing for people who have suffered from head trauma. If you would like to treat yourself homeopathically you can take 2 pellets of Arnica 30C twice a day or more if needed at first, and you will see steady improvement. It is important to stop taking it when the benefits stop. Even better of course would be to be followed by a professional homeopath. Best of luck to you all and I hope you all have complete recovery.

[philnoir]

Your head weighs approximately 15 pounds -- like a bowling ball.

If you whip a bowling ball around, and slam it on the ground, I'll bet your shoulder, arm, and chest muscles are going to be pretty sore the next day.

So, you whipped your head around and bang! (You're very lucky that you landed on grass and not concrete.) Your neck muscles are sore, and rightly so. Bet you had a pretty good headache, too.

Tylenol, OTC NSAIDs (always take with food), rest, ice for a few days, them warmth, will relieve symptoms of pain and soreness.

If pain does not improve this week, seek medical help.

[Chewbarkargh]

Hi, I too am in the same boat, 26yr old male, showin off on my nephews bmx bike and went over backwards with a hard blow to the back of my head luckily on grass. But less then 6hrs later front of my neck very swollen and saw. No pain elsewhere.. Laying flat trying to raise my head is very uncomfortable. Obviously not a coincidence.

[rgsoni]

I fell yesterday and hit the back of my head on a concrete floor.  24 hours later, all of a sudden it feels like my lymph nodes in the neck are swollen and hurting.  I initially thought that it was muscular pain but after a self examination, it appears to be my lymph nodes.  My post makes it three people here on this board who experienced lymph node swelling/pain after a fall and hitting the back of the head.  It can't be a coincidence (as stated as responded by Dr. S Kaul)
For me too, there is no symptom of being sick.

[usa614]

I too hit my head after falling in a soccer game last night.  I am a 38yr old female in very healthy condition.  I eat a freakishly healthy diet and never get sick.  Immediately after the fall I got a pretty good headache in my forehead and the back of my neck stiffened up which I thought was to be expected.....however, about 1.5hrs after the fall the right side of my neck got really stiff and sore and the lymph node under my tongue on my right side and also under my right armpit are both swollen.  I am 100% positive I am not sick and had no symptoms of being sick before my fall.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

No lymphnode enlargement is not common after head injury and is unlikely to be related to it. Aside the injury there may be some infection/ inflammation present that has caused the enlargement. You may consider having this evaluated by a primary care physician for appropriate management.
Hope this helps.

Take care!