Does a swollen lymph node hurt?

[Corny]

I got a swelling in my left armpit for a bit more than two days now. Not sure what it is, I know that there are many lymphnodes, but whatever is swollen there seems to be right under the skin. And it does hurt if you only slightly touch the skin above it, it feels a bit like a "subdermal pimple", and I think the skin above it is also slightly red (or I just imagine that), you can locate the swelling visible, no need to "touch" the skin.
Is this the lymph node - do swollen lymph nodes hurt? Wouldn't other lymph nodes (neck?) swell as well? Or could this be something like a pimple? The swelling is one-sided .. but on the same side my shoulder hurts since a few days, too (no clue where that is coming from, didn't do any sports lately due to a excessive learning phase)
I am a bit confused whether I should go to the doc with that or not.

 

[KaraBulut]

There are a couple of possibilities.

1. It is not uncommon for oil glands in the underarm to get infected in the summer. Sometimes it is a natural occurence from a plug. Sometimes it can happen from the use of antiperspirants. It's analogous to a pimple or a cystic acne on the face. The gland gets infected, swells and makes a tender knot that is under the skin. The distinguishing factor is that the lump will move with the skin.
   
2. The other possibility is a swollen lymph node. These nodes drain the area between the pectoral area and the underarm. In women, these are the nodes that drain the breast and often swell in response to breast cancers. Factors that can cause swelling in an axillary lymph node are infection of the breast or nipple (including an infected nipple piercing), cancer of the breast or an infection in the oil glands in the armpit (as in #1) below.
   The diagnostic feature of a swollen lymph node is that it is deep in the armpit- you usually have to press hard to feel them and feel like a small pea or a bean (although they can get to be as large as a walnut in extreme cases) and they remain stationary when you move the skin on top. They are usually a bit tender from infection. They can be tender or non-tender in response to cancers of the breast.
   In very rare cases of massive infections such as mononucleosis, the nodes in the armpit and groin can swell indicating massive infection of the lymph system.
   

You can see the big picture of where the drainage tracks of the lymph system here:

You can see the breast drainage tracts into the armpit here:

 

[JoeyJoeJoeShabadu]

Go to the doctor.

A swollen node will be sore and tender (the skin is extra-soft and mushy) to the touch. It will hurt to gently poke it with your finger. It is possible to have swollen nodes under your arm but not in your throat, but I have never heard of a swollen node on one side of the body only. Also, swollen nodes wouldn't make your shoulder ache.

 

[Corny]

I don't think that the node would be responsible for the shoulder ache, but maybe that the swollen node is a result of this (tendosynovitis could be possible in the shoulder, and could lead to lymph nodes reacting that was my train of thought).
I also found the 2nd pic from Karabuluts post, and unfortunately it didn't made me any wiser - BUT you also said that you cannot move the lymphnode with the skin, and that decides it for me - I can "grab" the whole lump with the skin. So I will give this a few more days before going to the doc .. and if the shoulder doesn't stop hurting I will go anyway

 

[KaraBulut]

The second picture shows you the location of the nodes and the areas that they are draining from. Practitioners memorize these charts so that if find a swollen node, we track back the draining pattern to determine where the issue may be.

What the picture shows is that there is a chain of axillary lymph nodes that start under the clavicles and they continue under the pectoral muscle into the armpit. You can feel them usually with deep pressure by pushing them against the adjacent musculature.

The upper nodal chains drain the lower neck and upper chest.
The middle nodal chains drain the breast and part of the pectoral muscle
The lower nodal chains drain the upperback, upper arm and lower pec


The nodes typically don't swell in response to inflammation. So, if you do have a tendonitis, bursitis or capsular inflammation, it's probably not related. There are rare occasions where you can get infections in the bursa in very rare cases but in all of these years, I've only seen once instance of this.

For now, I'm guessing you've got an infected axillary apocrine oil gland or hair follicle (aka folliculitis). Usually the causative bacteria is S aureus. If it doesn't resolve in a couple of days, you may need to have it tested for MRSA just to be sure. In rare cases, an oral antibiotic combined with a topical antibiotic clears it up when it doesn't resolve on its own.

 

[Corny]

Hm I switch antiperspirant constantly - but the one that I am using at the moment I have used before twice, so I guess this is not the cause. But thanks for the pointer

 

[payit4ward]

It could also be a cyst or and abcess possibly

 

[Corny]

My mother advise me to try some kind of "abcess cream" which would "pull" the inflammation "out through the skin" (her words .. ). However I was unable to get it yesterday, and today it is still swollen but doesn't hurt any more.
I'll see how it looks tomorrow, but I guess it will resolve soon

 

[purina]

My mother used to insist on using Wonderful Dream Brand Salve to "draw things out". Though the modern tin lists no such use.

Is your mother's "abscess cream" something like this?

CONTAINS: Phenyl Mercury Nitrate - 1:5000, Oil of Tar, Turpentine (Oil and Resin), Olive Oil, Linseed Oil, Rosin, Burgundy Pitch, Camphor, Beeswax, Mutton Tallow.

WARNING: Discontinue use if rash or irritation develops or if condition for which used persists. Frequent or prolonged use, or application to large areas may cause serious mercury poisoning. In case of rectal bleeding, consult physician promptly.

 

[Nelson]

Just to follow up - how are you doing and has the swelling gone down? Has you gone to see your doc. ?

 

[Corny]

As I said it stopped hurting, and the swelling is gone. You can still feel a small lump at the place though (similar like the small lumps under the skin that I sometimes get after an injection, they disappear after about a week)

 

[Nelson]

Happy to hear for you that it is improving and that the swelling and pain has resided.