Swollen and tender lymph nodes

[katalyn08]

In May around finals week I noticed a rather painful sensation in my chest. It felt like pressure every time I was resting on my back. It would go away from time to time but it came back more persistently in June. So I went to my doc, he found a slightly swollen lymph node and ordered me some antibiotics (which I have finished taking) and celebrex (still taking). The pain has now changed, it feels more localized in my armpit now instead of upper chest above left breast. It is a radiating pain I feel when I have my arm in front of me like when I sit at my computer or drive. I have done minimal working out because I worried it would stress it out too much and apply heat presses occasionally. My Uncle just was diagnosed with cancer and two of my grandparents died of it so I am having a melt down about it. I am scared and do not know what to think. I cannot really feel a bump anymore but it is tender as all get out and I am not going to be able to return to the doctor for a while due to finances and I am just... So scared.

[katalyn08]

Now I am worried about moving in the upcoming week. I am tired of taking the celebrex because it feels like it has stopped working and gives me terrible insomnia.

[Ken_PA]

Trauma can cause a lymph node to enlarge.

But maybe this is the reverse. Some inflammatory process is going on, maybe from infection, and that causes lymph node enlargement and also causes the shoulder blade to pop because the connective tissue is inflamed.

[katalyn08]

I just had a thought.. Several years ago when I started taking yoga, my shoulder blade would sometimes pop really loudly when I stretched a certain way. Well, my chiropractors never made a comment about it so I didn't think anything of it. But I just had my shoulder blade (on the left side, btw, my right one does not pop) pop and now I am more aware of the pain in my chest.. Could my shoulder blade being out of wack have something to do with a pain so close to my clavicle?

[katalyn08]

It is not like where you shave in the armpit, like right beside it. Like, if you put your fingers in your armpit and let your hand rest on your chest, in that area more so. I do not think i was a shaving accident or anything.

Also I do not know... I wasn't really exercising at the time it started.

[Ken_PA]

"I cannot really feel a bump anymore"
Do you mean under the arm? Is it possible you nicked yourself while shaving?

Nodes that are enlarged from cancer don't really go down much. There is sometimes a small amount of 'waxing and waning', probably due to changes in inflammation. In your case, the node disappearing likely means there was no cancer.

Also, pain and tenderness are usually signs of infection, very rarely from cancer.

I'm assuming that you'd know if your original pain in the chest was from exercise, something like intercostal chondritis. True?