Lymph Node Pain with No Swelling

Hi Everyone,

I have had SLE for 13 years.  I am currently having a problem with my left breast (pain, rash) and pain under my left armpit and in the collar bone and neck lymph node areas.  However, my GP and Ob-Gyn cannot feel any swelling in any lymph nodes despite my pain.

Has anyone ever heard of SLE preventing swelling of the lymph nodes despite having pain or a problem associated with the pain?

Any advice/comments would be sincerely appreciated!

Pam

Gatsby,

I read your post in the breast cancer forum and can tell that you're scared out of your mind, as I would be too. A few months ago I had pain on the left side of my left breast which turned out to be shingles, to my relief, but prior to the diagnosis I had a mammogram already scheduled. The films were normal but the radiologist asked to have me wait so she could take a look at the "rash" on my breast. She took a look and told me it resembled the surface of an orange peel which could indicate IBC. Like you, I knew more than I ever wanted to know about IBC. She asked me to return in 10 days if it hadn't gone away so she could perform an ultrasound. I was so lucky because as the pain got worse I realized myself that it must be shingles and went in to my PCP and she concurred. I had felt a great deal of pain for several days prior to the diagnosis.

I mention this because if you have a good breast institute in your area you might call and talk to someone there and see if your insurance would pay for an ultrasound. Our breast institute has two sides - one for regular mammograms and one for high risk patients and in that area the doctor herself performs the ultrasound after she sees the films from the mammogram. It's very comforting to get that kind of attention. If I were in your place I would call around and see if there's someone at a state of the art facility that will talk to you and give you some guidance. I'm surprised your OBGYN hasn't given you either more information or more reassurance.

Whether or not it could be the result of your SLE is something I can't answer. Have you discussed it with your rheumy?

Good luck and please let us know what you find out. Don't hesitate to come here and post as often and as much as you want. That's what we're here for. There is a wonderful group of folks here who are supportive and understanding of each other and we're always here for anyone who needs to vent or get support. There is no need to hang out there alone when you can come here and make friends who will support you any way we can.

Hang in there and let us know how you are.

((((((Hugs))))))

Pat

Hi Pam--
I had terrible pain there and docs could feel no swelling, sometimes the nodes get so big and if you have some fat like me on top, its hard for them to feel them. Also, I got a gallium scan, which I would recommend you talk to your rheumie about and it shows cancer or inflammation in any part of your body, it is really good for lymph nodes because they tend to not show up on other stuff, also for any cancer. It does from the top of your head to your knees and can uncover alot of problems.
What I meant to tell you is that lymph nodes can calcify and you can see them on xrays as white spots, they tend to do this when they get burned out from chronic inflammation. They hurt alot when they calcify and they don't usually swell. I've had a lot of benign swelling and removal of lymph nodes and salivary glands and often the problems are benign chronic inflammation from our diseases and the lymph nodes calcify eventually--if they calcify it means no cancer.
Docs often drag out the dx and movement on lymph nodes since calcified lymph nodes require no tratment and stop hurting once they finish calcifying. Also, fibroids can hurt like that too and they are benign.
But I would definitely get the gallium scan, cat scan and/ or mammogram done asap so you don't worry. If you have been getting bad night sweats not from hormonal stuff but unusual for you occuring with this problem, you need to get them on the stick immediately. I'm sorry you are going through this and it is really painful, but the surgery is pretty easy, they don't keep you overnight usually and the scars are minimal if done by a ENT that is also a plastic surgeon and many are. Well, take care and let us know what happens. I hope you feel better soon and that some good radiologic studies show the problem and some really strong antibiotics clear it up for you.

Oh for the armpit, you might avoid hard stick antiperspirants try a roll on or gell for a while. I used to get infections from the stick and I think that contributed to the calcification of those nodes. But you have millions of lymph nodes and calcification of them is normal part of aging, just happens earlier in people with diseases.