Swollen Lymph Node

I'm 13 weeks post-op from a liposuction surgery of the abdomen and flank.  I've followed the doctor's orders to the very letter - low sodium diet, 5 days a week at the gym, daily self-massage and weekly lymphatic drain massage at a therapeutic spa.  I look great - I'm 2 dress sizes smaller and have hardly any swelling.  So everything seems to be healing well except that a lymph node in my groin is swollen and still very sore.  I've had this problem since the surgery and I noticed it just after the initial swelling went down.  I've been to see my surgeon several times during the 13 weeks and each time I see him he indicates that I'm "doing great" and to keep doing what I'm doing.  However, when I ask about the lymph node he tells me that it's "unusual to have this problem at this late stage" but not to worry.

Now the pain has radiated up from the groin area to my right side and into my jaw, neck and face.  I'm also having trouble swallowing.  Should I see an M.D. at this point?  Why would my lymph node still be swollen and sore?

Thanks in advance.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Swollen lymph nodes can be a result of a multitude of problems, the most common being infection or inflammation.  At this stage, I would guess the tender, painful node is not related to your liposuction, but incidental to it.  I would be examined and have this investigated by your primary care physician.