Sore Lymph Nodes

[6-paq]

The lymph nodes under my arms and on the side of my chest have been sore off and on for a few months (more "on" than "off").  This first occurred when some of my other symptoms popped up (hand tremors, tingling, pulsatile tinnitus, etc.).

My neuro says it's not MS related.  

I've had a PCP check them out and said that they were not swollen and that is was probably a sore muscle (yeah, I do know the difference).  I have regular mammograms and my next one is due in November.  

I saw one of you mention that your lymph nodes are swollen.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Has your doctor said if that is or is not common with MS?  Were any other tests run to check it out besides a CBC?

I know that sore lymph nodes are a sign of infection (local or systemic) and malignancy.   My WBC was 10.9 K when my PCP tested me back in March, but he said that was normal.  Was wondering if it may have something to do with my chronic sinusitis, but my lymph nodes in my neck don't appear to be sore/swollen.

Just maybe another piece of the puzzle???

TIA!  Pat :)

[nancihelp373]

I have swollen cervical lymph nodes. Actually one medium size one and "multiple" small ones on both sides of my neck. The CT states that are " non - pathological ".
In terms that means not diseased. My MD still wants me to have a biopsy done. Radiologists can make mistakes. I have no symptoms and have not had any kind of infection in years and no allergies that i know of. Does anyone know of waht else I should be looking at?

[Swivel]

I have been feeling off for 25 months now. I have elevated HHV6 levels,  EBV, C Pnemoniea, Coxsackie B4. I feel weak in my arms and legs. I get ringing in my ears 5 plus times a week. I have PostOsterialTachycardiaSyndrome. I have unexplained pain, tingling and burning sensations. I am always tired. One small area of demylenation in my brain and degeneration in my neck and a hemangioma in my thoratic region. The list goes on and on, I just want so bad to know what is wrong with me. Is it all the viruses or is it something more like MS? My brain is foggy, I cant remember things, cant get out what I want to say sometimes.

[Jazzyfizzle]

Goodness please overlook my typo's. My brain knows what it wants to say and how to spell things but they dont' come out like that, thinking through fog is aweful. sorry

Jazzy

[Jazzyfizzle]

Hi Anne,  I have had this going on for the entire 4 1/2 years, at time it is less severe. I haven't been confined to a bed per say, but spent nearly all my time there or the couch. :(    At times I could be up for maybe 1/2 hour and then be totally wiped out and have to lie down again. Some days the most I could accomplish would be a shower and that would knock me down for the count. I have been on the antivirals since last October and it has made a great deal of difference. The lymph node pain the first thing to start subsiding slowly, it took several weeks on the medicine for this. Then ever so slowly the fatigue would lessen. I am nothing like my original self, but I resemble and human being again somewhat. :)

Jazzy

[Annie62]

Thanks for explaining it.  So you had an old infection that became activated when your defenses were down--I guess that does make sense since most people are infected at some point in their lives (unless I am thinking of another virus).  I'm glad the antivirals are working for you and you are getting some of your energy back.  I hope it hasn't been 4 1/2 years since you've been sick with this infection and confined to bed, although maybe I misunderstood you.  Anyway, glad the drugs are helping.  

[Jazzyfizzle]

Hi Anne,

Mine is a regurgitated infection LOL, that jumped out when I 'crashed' about 4 1/2 years ago. My labs are sky high in all areas listed. So mine is an old infection that took new hold when it saw the opportunity. Luckily my Neurologist is open to treating it aggressively with anti-virals and the labs have come down between 200-300 points since the last blood draw. (yay) but they are still way above 'negative' range. I was pretty much confined to the couch/bed until he started me on the antivirals. Now I am up all day with only naps and resting when I feel I need to.

Hugs
Jazzy

[Quixotic1]

I think getting EBV titers is a good idea!  Quix

[6-paq]

Thanks everyone!!   :)

I was never tested for EBV, at least I don't think so...

Yeah, even though 3 docs didn't seemed concerned, I still am.  So, I think I'll pursue it further.  Is it a coincidence since they started bothering me around the same time as some other Sx, I don't know?   Just need to find the right doc to check it out!!

Take care everyone!  Pat :)

[Annie62]

6-paq, I have had a swollen lymph node for years under my chin (submental), but from what I have read and have been told by the doctor who felt it, those usually aren't of concern.  I have what I think is a preauricular node (though I'm not sure) that I have had on and off for 15 years.  I always thought it was a cyst that filled with fluid and then went down until I started doing some reading a few months ago and it sounded like it might be a lymph node instead.  Sorry, I don't have anything to add, but if you think what you are feeling under your arm and down the side of your chest is really lymph nodes, then maybe you should try to get in to see your doctor when they are prominent so he can feel them.  My sister has breast cancer and I know it is always a concern when one feels an axillary node.  

Also, I think I read that around 95% of people were exposed/infected with the Epstein Barr virus during their lifetime.  My previous PCP told me that I actually was one of the few people who, strangely enough, *hadn't* been infected.  I guess if you (Jazzyfizzle) are being treated for it it must be causing you symptoms and must be a recent/active infection?  

[Jazzyfizzle]

Hi Pat,
I have the lymph node sitation on one side of my body. You can pinpoint them starting at the bottom of the neck, down and under the armpit. I know mine are from the Ebv. If I stay on the anti-virals, they subside and will stop hurting. If I go off the antivirals, I can feel them start to steadily gain in pain and swelling. So I know 100% mine are from the Epstein Barr.
One thing is, I guess Epstein Barr is a precurser to MS? :(

Jazzy

[6-paq]

Thanks Quix!  I was unsure as to whether the sore lymph nodes were, indeed, common is MS.   Also wasn't sure about the sinusitis.  I can't think of anything else that is going on, except I do have a couple of spider/mosquito bites, but that's only been during the summer.  :)

Thanks for warning us about IBC.  I have read about this type of cancer and am always on the watch for it.  What I've read is very scary.  I have no symptoms indicating it.  I have had mastitis three times with my youngest, but it's always cleared with antibiotics.  

After my appt with my neuro tomorrow, I think I'll find another doc that will check out more things a bit more.  I hate this sitting and waiting!!

Thanks again Quix!!

[T.O.fire]

Is there something you don't know :-)

[Quixotic1]

Just a quickie here.  The most common cause of swollen and TENDER lymph nodes is infection or inflammation in the areas that they drain.  Typically nodes swollen from a maignancy are not sore.  When cancer invades the nodes they get hard and they don't move around normally when you push on them and they lose their smooth, clear edges.

Swollen nodes are NOT a part of MS.  I do know that things people brought to me as enalrged lymph nodes often were not lymph nodes at all, so I can't comment on the ones you describe.  That they appeared at the same time as many of your other symptoms makes me think of one of the viruses like EBV, or CMV.  Or an inflammatory process in your breast.  Is the breast red, warm or even a little sore or swollen?  Also, the nodes in the armpit will swell with sores, big bug bites, rashes or injury with inflammation down in the arm or in the hand.

I've been reading about the occurrence (1% to 3% of BC) of "inflamatory breast cancer" (courtesy of Momzilla) and a breast that appears inflammed (red, swollen, tender) needs to be checked out ASAP.   It looks like an infection in the breast (eg.  mastitis), but the WBC will be normal and it won't go away with antibiotics.   It occurs about a decade before other more common breast cancers, so in younger women, and not infrequently during lactation.  It is very aggressive and needs to be checked out promptly.  Diagnosis is by biopsy and mammogram (will appear diffusely denser).  It does not present with a lump.

The pain you describe, if it is nodes, would not have anything to do with sinusitis.

A little public service announcement.

Quix