How to deal with a lump behind the ear?

When my son was an infant he constantly had bumps behind both ears, and I was told it was his lymphnodes being swollen from a general infection of some sort

There's a lymph node right back there. I had a hard one there for years that cropped up after a tick bite. It eventually went away. Try to hope for the best, but see a doctor anyway.

Think positive

Could be a lymph node that has gotten infected. I just went through a round of antibiotics for the same thing, only the node was in a different place. Probably good that you're seeing the ENT to be sure, but I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck!

Sounds like it could be a lymph node. My first guess would also be infection. Couln't hurt to have it check out though. Sometimes they can get quite big, if the infection is bad enough. Don't panic, just be proactive.

I get those every once in a while. They tend to be when I have had allergies with lots of drainage. They are usually painless, but sometimes they become tender like they are inflamed. The Dr. told me they are glands that have become irritated. Molds are terrible right now and I am really struggling with drainage and a cough. It is so green where you are, I am sure it is also affecting you.

It is good for you to go to the doctor, but I am sure it will all be fine.

I have TMJ and when it flairs up I have knots. The emt said that it was actually the end of the cartilidge/bones of my jaw and that they were inflamed when the TMJ flares up.

B.,

My son gets these all the time. Every once in awhile it gets pretty infected and he has to get it lanced and take anti-biotics. It is kinda assumed that nutrition plays a big part in these cysts getting absessed. I know my son's nutrition is not good (he's 26).
Hope this helps!
J. Dirmeyer, Midwife

Is the lump a hard, little lump right on the back of the ear itself? If so, no worries! My husband gets those all the time. They are little benign cysts. Sometimes they get infected and hurt, sometimes he has them for years without problem.

When they cause a problem, he gets them removed at the dermatologist.

If the lump is behind your ear in your neck, you were right to go to the doctor. But a doc once told me the lymph glands that hurt or tender to the touch are usually infected and NOT cancerous. They worry more about the ones that you can't tell are there.

Not sure where exactly your lump is but it could be your mastoid that is causing the issue. I've had more ear problems than you can shake a stick at. If you've had the lump for several years you might should have had it checked before now considering the other issues you say you have in your family. I would venture to guess though that it's just an infection in the mastoid that is causing this and the antibiotics will do the trick.

cyst's can also be the cause

My daughter had a lump under her chin. The Dr. said it was a sebaceous cyst. Then about 5 months later it was huge, swollen and hot when you touched it. They said it had become infected and she had to have surgery to have the fluid drained out. She also took a round of antibiotics for the infection. The bump is much smaller now, but still there, because they couldn't remove it while it was fluid filled!

Hi, my son has had 1-2 of these bumps behind his ears too! My pediatrician said that it was swollen glands/lympnoids from allergy/infection swell ups. But not to worry!!! If yours doesn't go down after the medicine in your 7 days, I'd check back & even get a 2nd opinion if your not satisfied with your Doctor. I am married, but still do a lot on my own with my 19.5 month old son!!! So I feel for you :) I hope all will get better for you! Keep me posted, my email is ____@____.com care, Jules :)
(Stay At Home Mommy/Nanny)

One of my coworkers actually just dealt with a similar issue earlier this year, and it turned out to just be a cyst. It was causing major hearing loss for her, so when she had the minor surgery to remove it, her hearing improved alsmost immediately. She was very anxious about the surgery, but recovery was quick and it was no big deal. She's also a single mom, so it was a major concern for her too.

Best wishes. I hope everything is okay and goes as smoothly for you as it did for her!

Yep, sounds like a lymph. Mine swelled up after I was stung by a wasp on the head and I was 4 months pregnant. Freaked me out but it went down after a week or so. They say the lymph swells up like that to help with infection.

Hi B.,
I had the same thing only in front of my ear. It was there for several years & never really bothered me & then this past January it flared up, got really sollen & really hurt. I had a really bad allergic reaction to ceder pollen at the time & she put me on antibiotics. It shrunk down after a bit & now is gone. Hope this helps. I'll be praying for you that everything is ok.

My husband had a lump behind his ear and the doc said it was just a benign bump, nothing to worry about. It was about the size of my pinky fingertip and kinda ugly (he shaves his head, so you could totally see it) but otherwise harmless. It has been there at least 2 years then last week it popped and a bunch of nasty pus came out and now it is gone. His was not exactly hard you could kind of smoosh it, and did not hurt. Hope this helps you feel better, try not too stress too much! Good luck!