PASchoolSyndrome
09-03-17, 17:45
Hey guys, I just recently started my clinical portion of my PA training and I wanted to share some of the things I've learned, considering lymph nodes have been popular lately. Not trying to toot my own profession's horn or knock down other professions, but PAs are particularly very good at giving physical exams and taking patient history. I would argue we get more training and practice in this area than a lot of medicine programs. I've been working in general practice this past week and have had a lot of new patients and chief complaints which require an extensive physical exam.
And... LYMPH NODES.
Lymph nodes everywhere.
Ranging from 1-2cm, rubbery, moveable, non-moveable, a couple of hard ones that had been previously cleared as healthy, any type of lymph node I have felt within this past week. Cervial, axillary, groin, you name it.
Google, and most medical text books, will tell you all the bad things, signs and symptoms, that can happen to the body. Not enough time is put into telling us what is NORMAL.
Humans have over 300 lymph nodes in our body. They're most commonly able to be felt in the neck, armpit, and groin. Young and skinny people will most likely be able to feel nodes in all of these areas. Normal nodes feel like small little beans, rubbery and soft, and freely moveable (meaning they jump out of the way when you push on them, or you can move them with your finger). They range from size, up to 2cm is typically not concerning. Keep in mine when one of your node feels huge, you cannot measure it without an ultrasound. Using your finger will NOT be accurate and while it's a good estimate, it doesn't take into account the skin thickness and other underlying tissue. Plus our anxiety highly messes with our objective judgement.
Some people will have swollen nodes from an infection and they just will never go down.
I cannot count how many lymph nodes I have felt this past week. Even the particularly large ones I asked the patients and they either have already had it checked out or "oh, I've had that since I was 12".
So. I guess what I'm trying to say is if you feel a lymph node, try your best not to panic and remind yourself that it is a part of your anatomy. They get bigger when you have an infection. It is so normal, its disgusting the amount of anxiety they cause. If it's something that worries you, it feels "huge", or it is rapidly growing with no sign of infection, go see your doctor. Google and random strangers on an anxiety forum will never never ever replace a visit to the doctor/PA/NP office.
BUT. Once you do go to the doctor and they essentially roll their eyes and wonder why the school system failed so many people in the natural workings and anatomy of their body (I'm just kidding, they don't really roll their eyes), and they tell you they feel normal. Believe them. Do your best to let it go. Doctor's know dangerous from not dangerous. I've been in clinic for one week and I've felt so many nodes I could slap myself.
I'm proud to say I've 100% have gotten over my lymph node anxiety. I really hope this helps you too!
And... LYMPH NODES.
Lymph nodes everywhere.
Ranging from 1-2cm, rubbery, moveable, non-moveable, a couple of hard ones that had been previously cleared as healthy, any type of lymph node I have felt within this past week. Cervial, axillary, groin, you name it.
Google, and most medical text books, will tell you all the bad things, signs and symptoms, that can happen to the body. Not enough time is put into telling us what is NORMAL.
Humans have over 300 lymph nodes in our body. They're most commonly able to be felt in the neck, armpit, and groin. Young and skinny people will most likely be able to feel nodes in all of these areas. Normal nodes feel like small little beans, rubbery and soft, and freely moveable (meaning they jump out of the way when you push on them, or you can move them with your finger). They range from size, up to 2cm is typically not concerning. Keep in mine when one of your node feels huge, you cannot measure it without an ultrasound. Using your finger will NOT be accurate and while it's a good estimate, it doesn't take into account the skin thickness and other underlying tissue. Plus our anxiety highly messes with our objective judgement.
Some people will have swollen nodes from an infection and they just will never go down.
I cannot count how many lymph nodes I have felt this past week. Even the particularly large ones I asked the patients and they either have already had it checked out or "oh, I've had that since I was 12".
So. I guess what I'm trying to say is if you feel a lymph node, try your best not to panic and remind yourself that it is a part of your anatomy. They get bigger when you have an infection. It is so normal, its disgusting the amount of anxiety they cause. If it's something that worries you, it feels "huge", or it is rapidly growing with no sign of infection, go see your doctor. Google and random strangers on an anxiety forum will never never ever replace a visit to the doctor/PA/NP office.
BUT. Once you do go to the doctor and they essentially roll their eyes and wonder why the school system failed so many people in the natural workings and anatomy of their body (I'm just kidding, they don't really roll their eyes), and they tell you they feel normal. Believe them. Do your best to let it go. Doctor's know dangerous from not dangerous. I've been in clinic for one week and I've felt so many nodes I could slap myself.
I'm proud to say I've 100% have gotten over my lymph node anxiety. I really hope this helps you too!