I have stinging throbbing pain in my neck collar shoulders and ear pain.

[Luna2911]

Hi i hope everyone is well. I am a 24 year old female that has had some imaging biopsy and blood work done this past year. I started teaching this year and started worrying about my health and looking for lumps in my neck and I found one. My pcp checked me out and said I did have enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and under my jaw. She checked me for mono and it came back negative. I was referred to get an MRI of my neck and the report said that I had multiple swollen lymph nodes mostly at level 2b with the biggest measuring 1.8 cm and that it could be do to lymphoma. I was than referred to an oncologist who performed blood work that came back perfect. He checked my spleen neck stomach under arms etc and said he couldn't feel much but noticed an enlarged thyroid. So he ordered. Chest abdomen and pelvis ct. Everything came back normal. I was than referred to an ENT who requested a neck ct that showed exactly what the MRI did enlarged lymph nodes in the neck submandibular space and supraclavicular space. She said it was normal but that she would have me get a fna biopsy. My ct also showed a normal thyroid. I got the fna biopsy and it was inconclusive and had another done and was poked many times because the radiologist said that at this other hospital he would get a read and he did it came back negative for cancer cells. I've had zero symptoms accept body aches but after the ok biopsy they left. Four months later I've felt daily ear pain and pain in my lymph nodes like a stinging sharp pain in lymph nodes in my left and right neck by my collar bones on shoulder and armpits. It'd very scary I hate the pain that I get and I also feel pain behind my left eye. I feel like I get a pressing down pain in spots in my Stomach and knees also but the most pain comes in ears neck and shoulder nodes. Can anyone give me suggestions about what may be going on and headaches but not too painful. Thanks

[Ken_PA]

Hi, checking for EBV is expected. In addition, do you live in Lyme country? I knew somebody who had a tick in her ear and that gave her Lyme. Borrelia can have neurological effects, but they usually some later.

Or had you been swimming before the ear pain started? Anything unusual happen at that time period?

Are you around cats? Bartonella can make for painful nodes.

What location do you mean exactly by "shoulders"?

Supraclavicular nodes can be a red flag for tumors, because the whole insides region drains through them, especially the left (Virchow's) node. I'd suppose that's why they did scans in that region twice, but you have not to worry because the scans were okay.

"I got the fna biopsy and it was inconclusive" What was the exact language on the path report?  Is the word "atypical" used?

I'd forget about lymphoma and wonder whether you have an unusual infection or... do you have a personal or family history of unusual immune reactions or conditions?

[Luna2911]

I would appreciate anyone's insight.

[Luna2911]

Thanks for your help. The fna was done on my biggest lymph node in my neck. The Ent said that it wasn't abnormal to have enlarged lymph nodes becuse my biggest was only less than 2 cm I guess after 2 cm it's to be concerned about. My thing is the pain they are not sensitive to the touch, but rather I get random pain go through them like a sharp throbbing pain. I am also experiencing pain in the ears it is very short pain and doesn't last too long maybe 2-3 seconds. I also get the throbbing pain on my shoulders. I use to pay for my own insurance not throught my job because I worked at a private school. I cancelled my insurance because I could no longer afford it. I Will be getting new insurance through my new job but it will not be effective until October. I'm just trying to eat healthy juicing and staying away from meats and sugar. Finally, I never went back to see the ent for the follow up I needed.

[Mochadelicious]

Hi Luna,
Welcome to the forum.  It is strange to me that you are feeling pain for 4 months after your biopsy.  I can tell you that with lymphoma, pain is not usually a symptom as the lymph nodes are usually swollen but painless.  Have you talked to your doctor about the pain you are now experiencing?  4 months is a long time to have pain and it really should be addressed.  

I was wondering why a fna was done on your lymph node?  Usually doctors opt to do excisional biopsies (where they remove the whole node and biopsy the whole thing) rather than an fna.  Fna's tend to be a little more hit and miss.  If you think of your lymph node like a loaf of bread with a few raisins baked in it...the raisins representing cancer, you can see how the needle from an fna could potentially "miss" hitting the raisin.  I do know that in some cases it is impossible to completely remove the lymph node due to where it is located, which may be your case (and maybe why your doctor poked you multiple times).

Also, did your ENT suggest what is causing the lymph nodes to be enlarged?  You mentioned she said it was "normal", so I'm assuming she gave you some sort of reason why that is normal?

Sorry for all the questions.  Diagnosing lymphoma (or any other disease) for that matter isn't what we do here, but I know how hard it is to go so long without any answers.  Sometimes asking questions can help to steer you in the right direction.