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Constantly swollen and sometimes sore gland in my neck
Sent to Health Experts July 24 03:07 PM

I am an 18 yr-old female and I have noticed a little less than 2 years ago until now that I have constantly swollen lymph nodes...I have never noticed this before, but it might be because I always check to see if they are swollen. Could this irritate them and keep them from reducing in size and make them tender and sore when I swallow? I would like to know how I could prevent from making my glands so swollen all the time. Usually its both but one is a lot more swollen, usually on the right side..I don't understand how these symptoms just came out of no where. Please help me undestand why.

 

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 18

Already Tried:
Vitamin C, gargling with Salt Water or Anisceptic mouthwash,drinking lots of water

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $9
Answer
July 24 5:22 PM (2 hours and 15 minutes and 7 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Hello:
Lymph nodes swell as a result of infection in the area that drains to that node. The lymph nodes in your neck would be swollen from infection arising in your mouth or possibly your sinuses. It is not uncommon to have infections that last for years... especially when teeth are involved.   There are also other types of conditions that may be causing this swelling, including chronic tonsillitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a few others. You are saying that you have pain when swallowing? I believe you should see a physician first to rule out chronic tonsillitis. Also, your wisdom teeth may be impacted on that right side. These are all things to be considered.

I hope this helps you.

Please help me by giving me feedback. I do appreciate it!
Thanks
DrAustin
DrAustin -- Dentist (DDS or equivalent)No feedback on 7 Health accepts
Doctor of Dental Surgery 20 + years experience
Reply
July 24 6:07 PM (44 minutes and 17 seconds later)
         
Reply to DrAustin's Post: I recently got braces and since then it has been happening more frequently...but i try and always rememeber to brush my teeth and rinse with anisceptic...does this help. The pain is very, very mild...doesnt really hurt at all but it feels like there is something else in my throat and around the node...maybe mucus or something of that consistency. the pain only got really bad one time and i took z-pac, the 5 day antibiotic and the doctor said that the swelling shiuld go asy in 2 weeks but it never did, only the pain. its not bad pain, at least enough to see a doctor. i was just wondering what caused it orhow to prevent it w/ braces.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
July 24 7:02 PM (55 minutes and 26 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Ok, yes, you are probably having a secondary low grade infection from the braces. Movement in the teeth causes inflammation and swelling to occur. What you are describing though sounds like a chronic type of tonsillitis that can linger for many years. If antibiotics took away the pain then it was definitely bacterial in nature. The lymph nodes can remain swollen, really, forever because of scarring that occurs to the lymph nodes after having been infected for such a long period of time. This is my very best guess without seeing you (you need to realize I am going strictly on what you are telling me and I cannot actually look at the situation!) (smile!!)
I know that when tonsils become scarred they may catch food and other materials back there. Yes gargling with Listerine is good but also gargling with straight peroxide (the one in the brown bottle that you buy at the grocery store.... not the peroxide you put on your hair!!). The peroxide your mother used to use to rinse off a cut or scrape. You can rinse your mouth out with this and gargle with it. This gets a lot of healing oxygen to the tissues back there and many times will begin to clear this area. Also hot salt water rinses really do kill infection. Get as much salt in it as you can.

I hope this has helped you. Would you please give me positive feedback!!!

Thank you
DrAustin
1 Other Expert Agrees with this!
DrAustin -- Dentist (DDS or equivalent)No feedback on 7 Health accepts
Doctor of Dental Surgery 20 + years experience
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