Neck - is this a muscle knot or just a lymph node?
 

I spent a day stripping wallpaper from a ceiling recently which really flared up my burning symptoms in the right side of my neck (sternocleidomastoid and scalenes) so I've been looking into trigger point therapy and discovered what I think are a few knots in right side of my neck though I'm not sure if they are just lymph nodes due to their position so I just wanted to check to make sure before I start deep massaging them and possibly damaging a node or something.

Here's a photo of where the biggest 'knot' (my finger is directly on it). It's about halfway down the side of my neck, but closer to the back than the front. It feels like the size of a small pea and there feels like a couple of smaller knots just below it. I also seem to have a smaller knot directly on the opposite side of the neck. These have been the only bumps I've found.

http://i.imgur.com/dHTT8.jpg

Got the exact same thing on my right side, and never got an answer, let me know when you find out. Mine has been like that for almost 2yrs, and it gets bigger and smaller. IDK? but exact spot.

me too :hug:

check these -
lymph nodes
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...pages/9554.htm
http://www.painneck.com/lymph-nodes
http://catalog.nucleusinc.com/enlarg...t.php?ID=14534

and for trigger point info/locations-
http://www.google.com/search?pq=lymp...w=1360&bih=668

I've experienced lymph issues pre and post op ( first rib excision) but some nasty flares especially post op. Recently I've undergone a few sessions of acupuncture and mentioned this prob to my healer ( I now think of her as my miracle worker).... after 4 sessions I feel so much better. I'm pretty sure or prehaps hopeful thats it's helping to drain the lymph system.
Food for thought.....You have nothing to lose but maybe something to gain???? Take care if you do self massage, gently does it.:winky: