Infection or something else
 

I had my wisdom teeth removed but was not told if they were infected or not.
But they had started to rot.
But even before I had the out I developed some odd lumps on my neck, dentist said infection, doctors said swollen glands.
The lumps are on the side as well as the front, To be honest I am finding it hard to tell what is normal and what isn't!
Also I have little hard lump in my ear pop up, doctor said it was a cyst or something.
I am really worried I have infection in my neck, I have had blood work which came back normal and i've not had a fever.
But what sort of tests should I ask my doctor for to figure out what is wrong?
I am thinking a neck x-ray to start off with?

Hi Emma,

Just to help clarify a few things... teeth that have cavities... or rot, as you stated... are actually infected because a cavity is the beginning of an infection. The deeper the cavity, the larger the infection. It is not unusual for infected teeth to cause swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck. So that could explain why you had the "odd lumps" on your neck prior to the extraction of these teeth.

Throughout the body, we have several clusters of lymph nodes and they help the immune system to filter and remove infection, dead cells, toxins, etc. They also assist the circulatory system by carrying nutrients, oxygen and hormones from our blood to our cells in an attempt to rejuvenate or make them healthy again. The healing process can take a long time which could cause the lymph nodes to remain swollen for awhile.

Some indications that the lymph nodes are overwhelmed and may not be able to filter properly is if the nodes are tender... stay very swollen... new swellings develop in other areas of the body... develop a fever... malaise... fatigue... sore throat...slow healing from a cut....

Some things your doctor can do to test for infection.... blood testing that would include a CBC w/ differential and C reactive protein....physically exam your lymph nodes in your neck, arm pits, groin, chest....

An xray of your neck is probably not going to be of diagnostic value unless you have a mass of some sort. The cyst in your ear may or may not be related. What did your doctor suggest you do about that?

Bryanna

I m hoping the lumps are just swollen nodes, I think I will go back to my doctor and get him to feel them again as I have now had my wisdom teeth removed.

I had tones of blood work before the surgery, from my doctor and then again as part of the pre-op. They definitely tested for infection, white blood count, liver function and thyroid.

The lymp nodes if that is what they are have been swollen for months now.
I even went to the ER where they tested me for mumps, I got a bit paranoid that day but luckily the ER was empty and the nurses were lovely.

The swelling under my chin, near my jaw, is soft and about half and inch in width.
The rest are rather small in compassion.

I should add I have been on antibiotics a few times, to try and get rid of the lumps.

The little hard lump in my ear, the doctor didn't say much, but asked me if I scratched my ears, which I don't do and then mentioned I had a hole in my ear drum. I think my ear drum ok now as far as I know.

Hi Emma,

Yea, I think a return visit to your doctor would be a good idea.

Keep us posted.
Bryanna