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Neck Lump

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: Aug 24, 2021 | Replies (14)

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@nrd1

@h3ll0-this area you show in the photo is the SCM muscle. This is a muscle that runs from behind the ear, throat to the clavicle. It is involved in all neck and shoulder mobility.

I highly doubt the doctors you met with asked anything about your lifestyle. Meaning, overall what you do for work, excercise, diet and over all stress level.

Neck and shoulder blade pain is stress and tension. Stress, tension and pain lead to fatigue. Just the thoughts alone about what this “lump” could be contributes to more tension stress in those areas.

I would recommend seeing a PT/Massage therapist, one whom specializes in a whole body approach and works with myofascial massage / trigger points. Someone who can give you a better understanding of the musculature system.

You saw two providers that said it was nothing. People who go to a doctor are often expecting to hear something worse or have an “answer”. Be grateful that they both shared the same opinion.

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Replies to "@h3ll0-this area you show in the photo is the SCM muscle. This is a muscle that..."

I don't mean to be rude, but you are pretty much incorrect with all of your assumptions.

Both the ENT doc I saw and a Physical Therapy doc I did a video chat with agreed that the swelling appears to be in the posterior border of my trapezius. I also suspected this when I first saw it as I just graduated Pre-Med and Human Anatomy was one if the last classes I took. My SCM is diagonally in front of the swelling.

My primary care doc knows me by first name, remembers which college I attended, and always asks how my job in small animal Oncology research is going, so she knows me pretty well. She collected a full history on my lifestyle at this time and every doc I've spoken to has repeated that history to me and asked if there's anything I'd like to add.

I never said I was stressed out about the lump or about anything really. I actually decided to post here to make sure I was taking it as seriously as I should since the ENT doc told me we should do a CT if I notice more concerns. Otherwise my life is pretty golden right now, thanks.

I am doing the temperature therapy and gentle stretching I had mentioned at the advice of the Physical Therapist. He did not want to do anything further until we get the ultrasound results. I asked about massage at the time, he told me that any responsible massage therapist wouldn't touch me until after I get the results. He felt that since I am completely pain free and am not hindered physically, we could hold off for now.

None of my doctors have said that is was "nothing". THAT was what I wanted to hear from them. All of them have said they are unsure exactly what it is but they are not particularly worried. They have all agreed that it needed to be investigated further, especially since it did not go down in size, which lead to my referrals and ultrasound. I dont think an ENT doctor would tell me to be on alert for more symptoms and offer a CT if she thought I was just being dramatic.

I am grateful for tools like this discussion where I can connect with empathetic people who may be going through the same thing as me.