lump behind ear

[Kate987]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but you all have been very helpful in the past.  I have been under a fair amount of stress lately just with exams and college.  I also had laparoscopic surgery on 11/22 to remove a dermoid if that has anything to do with the situation.  I noticed today that I had a dull pain/pressure behind my left ear that seems to be fanning to my left sinus area.   When I went to rub back there I noticed a small, yet noticable lump an index fingers width away from the back of my ear just before where my hair line starts.  I am planning on making an appointment with my doctor for Monday, but was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas as to what could have caused it or what it may be.  The weather here has been very high humidity and rain so I was wondering if it could be related to me getting a sinus infection.  I also wore sun glasses on my head a couple days ago for most of the day and the lump is wear my glasses would have rubbed my skin.  Thanks for your advice and for reading this post.  Feel free to use it as an open forum =)

[azhayonnab]

i too have this lum on the bone behind my lower left ear it hurts really bad..im only 15 so i dont really know what it could be and im kinda scared!

[pinupgrl]

I am a 33 yr old female and had a grandfather with melanoma and died from prostate cancer. We are both natural redheads. (Skipped generations) I have a tiny eraser shaped stingy lump behind my left ear located on the neck. I thought my husband pinched me, but that was a month ago and the lump is actually there. It's concerning me. Help!

[lioness1976]

I woke up with a hard lump behind my left ear about 3 days ago. It actully in the back of my earlobe. It has gotten a lil bigger now and is spreading back towards my jawline. It is red and it hurts a little. Today my cheek area closest to the ear is a lil swollen too. I had one a month ago on my left earlobe, that after a few days it bust in my sleep. Blood and some chunks of white stuff came out. It went away and has returned now on the other earlobe. Only this time my cheek at the jawline is starting to swell. I'm scared. What could this be? Can anyone tell me if they know or have an idea. Thanks

[creamcheesemonster]

I forgot to add that I had also just got over some sort of viral sinus infection/cold/cough a week ago! Went to a walk-in clinic for that and the nurse didn't think I needed antibiotics. It dragged on for like a good three weeks.

[creamcheesemonster]

I also have a painful bump - very small, maybe smaller than the size of my fingertip - that I just noticed a few days ago directly behind my right ear, in the "middle" and sort of on top of my skull, not near the soft part beneath the earlobe. From what I've been reading, there are glands around the head on the soft parts where the skull meets the neck, and thus also under the earlobes, but I think mine is too far up to be a gland, although I feel that the gland on my left side near my earlobe is swollen a bit and hurts to the touch. Anyway, my bump was actually whitish-colored and hurt mostly when I was touching/fiddling with it (when I left it alone, it would feel better), but seems to be shrinking down now. I put ice on it and have been taking ibuprofen.

No health insurance here, either. I just keep thinking that if I were to pick up something, like meningitis, for example, I probably could wipe out my parents' entire savings and pension. God bless America.

[leelee905]

i have i dimeish size lump behind my left ear near the middle back and 2 smaller size ones in my right ear...i have a cartalidge peircing in my right ear but im pretty sure thats not the cause. it kind of hurts to touch them...it like a bruise thats benn healing for a while. they are a little soft to touch..a little.  they are not hard or soft...kind of inbetween . they dont move around....what are they?

[felsha]

What you have is a swollen lymph node.  That usually swells up behind your ear whenever you have a cut, scratch, or lesion to your head.  That may be sore to touch, but will usually subside in about a wk. (the time a cut usually takes to heal.)

[Ender]

CORRECTION: (oops) it's about the size of .. well I couldn't think of what to compare it to, possibly a golfball except it's really not that big and not round. It's more like an inch, and kind of flat like.

[Ender]

I have a painful lump about the size of  which is both moveable and hard, located right below my right earlobe just above the jaw where it curves to meet the ear. Though the lump is hard sometimes I swear the area around it is squishy. I've have a low white blood cell count, itching, nech aches esp. that area and below that are on my neck. Sometimes my chest hurts but I don't know if it's related to this. I'm really not sure what could be related to this. I've seen a Doc. all she did was feel it. She told me lymph node's (s/p?) aren't located in this ear (pre-say) or at least not ones this large and if it was one there would be more bumps. I don't have insurance.. so it is going to be harder for me to get a biopsy.

[Arlinda]

I too have a lump behind my ear, have thyroid issues, fatique, irregular periods, anemia, iron defiecency, and just this morning had blood work and ultrasound done of thyroid. I am 28 and a single mom. I understand the stress. Most of this started yesterday because of a headache I thought was a migraine. This morning I woke up and decided I can't change anything. Whatever happens happens for a reason. But no matter what I know I can beat it, there's a child who needs me. Stay positive! I'm sure it will help you as well.

[Mestizamama]

I woke up this morning after a painful night with a similar lump as described above. I went in to the Docs. office and after some further examination I have some unexplained hair loss, fatigue and a history of irregular periods. The docs took blood to check my thyroid for certain things. She was not too specific, with that being said I am extremely worried. I have been looking around on the internet feeding my fears of some sort thyroid cancer. The doc wont have any word for at least a week, should I be worried? I am a single mom and only 27, my life is beginning to flash before me!

[tay1970]

i found, what sounds like, the same lump behind my left ear. It's hard & stationary & a little painful if I push on it. I just noticed it today.  I have been a little stressed out lately...planning my wedding.  I does worry me though even though I'm only 36 & otherwise healthy.  Should I be concerned??

[mrs canada]

It definitely sounds like a swollen lymph node. One thing to bear in mind - I had (actually still have) a pea-sized lump on my jaw and had it checked out last year. My doctor said as a rule of thumb, if the lump is soft and can be moved around, it is generally harmless, but if it is hard, it needs evaluation. So it's a good idea to have it looked at as soon as you can.

[Trialanderror]

Emzilou`s bump sounds a bit more like the lymph node bump which would sit lower. Not sure. Anyway, mine - and my dad`s - is hard as well and feels rather like part of the skull bone, about 3/8" diameter. That`s all I can add....

[Kate987]

Hey,
Thank you all for your advice, I still am going to try and get in to the doctors tomorrow.  It seems a bit smaller today and isn't as painful, but I'm still semi-concerned and am just hoping I'm battling a sinus infection or am run down. It's hard to explain about the lump, it is above my jaw joint and is still fairly hard and hasn't moved.  Thanks!

[Emzilou]

hey,
i have never posted here in reply to a question so i hope i can help, I occasionly have a lump behind my ear that usuallly appears when i am stressed or rundown and it can be painful not unbearable just noticable so i went to the doctor and he explained this lump is caused by my body fighting a bug or not being 100% well and trying to get rid of it,and even if you feel 100% you could still be fighting a bug. i have noticed that when i have a colds or feel extremly run down it appears again. the after a while it goes again.
hope this helps,
Em x

[Kate987]

ha sorry for leaving out that kinda detail, it feels hard and is stationary. I just noticed it this afternoon when I was driving home from work and felt some pain coming from the area of the lump.     I'm not sure if it is coincidence or not that I happen to be having signs of a sinus infection coming on or not.  I also called my parents after the post and my dad apparently has a large lump on his head that he was told was harmless so maybe I'm taking after my father.  Thanks for your help.

[Trialanderror]

I will not be able to give you any advice but I know there are a lot of different kinds of lumps behind the ear and very different causes. So, now that we know the exact location... it would be good to know the size and what it feels like. Having had a hard "lump behind my ear", same location, all my life, I was wondering whether you may have had that lump for a long time and only discovered it now due to the sinus infection pains? My dad had the same lump I have and we were told it was some kind of harmless calcification. Hope it turns out harmless for you too.

[Kate987]

I just thought I'd add that the lump isn't by my jaw, but rather half way up my ear and directly behind that.  Sorry if that's even more confusing than what I posted.