My lymph nodes under my jaw are swollen & painful, what could cause this?

Question

I'm 20 years old & yesterday I woke up with a sore jaw. I dismissed it thinking I must have slept wrong but the pain has only increased over time. When I woke up this morning & as of right now it feels like someone upper cutted me recently like just underneath my chin. In between my jaw bones on either side feels completely bruised & swollen. The swelling is almost visible & it feels very tight when I lift my head up. However the two lymph nodes that are on either side of the throat where your jaw & throat meet arent swollen or painful at all. This concerns me bc I never even knew I had lymph nodes under my chin & all my life I've had problems w/the ones in my throat.

I don't feel sick at all. I dont have a fever. I havent drank recently, but I do smoke, & have been smoking for the past 6 years. A month & a half ago my doctor put me on 20mg Adderall time release. I've been tested recently & I dont have any STDs. Also a week & a half ago I was in a car accident, I was rear ended & got knocked out by hitting my head on the steering wheel. I wouldnt go with the paramedics bc I thought I was fine, & two days after the accident I didnt have a headache anymore & my neck didnt feel stiff anymore.

Could it be something serious caused by the accident? Could it be something like cancer? Or is it just something to dismiss?

Answer 1

lymph nodes is a type of form of  cancer, since you smoke it has a lot to do with it . my friend has the same thing and has smoked for a many years and doesnt even remember who we are sometimes.. its sad, i smoked for many many years and then stoped, i have been smoke free for a year and a half, to lat though, i have emphizima get a hold of your doctor immeditaly for further testing.  hope you get better fast. its not a pretty sight.  goood luck and god bless.

Answer 2

No. I don't think you should dismiss it. It may just be an infection, but it could be something more serious. Just get checked out. You have more to lose if you don't than if you do. Take care.