Whiplash- Can a person's lymph nodes become swollen under their armpits following a car accident?

My daughter was in a car accident Monday Night. In addition to a broken nose, she also did get whiplash. HER BAD. Wasn't wearing a seatbelt- LEARN FROM THIS! I am concerned, I've called the Doctor, and he suggested I keep an eye on the size of these axillary lymph nodes on my daughter. Any suggestions- She has been keeping ice on the sites that are sore- How much time should I give this? Breast Cancer runs in my family, so, of course, I am worried. Normally I wouldn't be panicked, but, as a parent, I AM! Is this normal? Should I be concerned? She is 16. Only sincere answers, please!

I understand your concern; and feel your pain also! The same thing happened to my niece; only she WAS wearing her seat-belt!! She was rear ended by a driver that wasn't paying attention and suffered whiplash and burns on her shoulder, arms, chest and had swollen lymph nodes under both armpits. It took her a couple of months to get back to normal and she is doing much better now, thanks to her quick thinking and ability to remain calm enough to go directly to the hospital to get checked out. Not to mention the burns she suffered to her face from the airbag imploding! I truly don't believe it's anything canceruos- alright, so please calm down; I know that it is easier said than done but believe me; your daughter is going to be just fine!!!EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE WILL BE FINE-OKAY? Keep your head up!!!

You should really take her to another doctor, and ask his opinion. Accidents by no means cause lymph nodes to swell. You should really taker her to a specialist.

i think you should take her to another doctor for a second opinion and possibly have tests done that may have been overlooked....she may have problems not caused by the accident, but aggravated by it.

Just keep an eye her is all you need to do. She should be fine. If she spikes a fever all of a sudden, then something else is causing her lymph nodes to do this and you should immediately go to the doctor. But it sounds like her body is just taking care of itself like its supposed to.

I Julie B, it's Victoria aka Dream Maker..............listen to this! My Mother just got out of the hospital and right before she got sick her lymph nodes became very painful and swollen!!! well, guess what she had! The e. coli bacteria!!!! First it was a UTI and then it got into her kidneys! They caught it JUST IN TIME!!! Get your daughter to another doctor ASAP!!! Has she been a fever or vomiting??? GET ANOTHER OPINION!!! She would not be having swollen lymph nodes from a car accident!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The accident wouldn't cause the lymph nodes to get larger.

Generally, in the absence of other worrisome symptoms such as fever, weight loss, a lump elsewhere in the body, etc, swollen lymph nodes are simply watched for a couple of weeks. The vast majority will resolve on their own (and often, we don't know what caused them to enlarge in the first place; we presume it was an infection that was too mild for other symptoms). If the lymph nodes DO NOT resolve, then further action is required (usually, excision of one or more of the lymph nodes for pathological examination).

Your doctor's advice sounds like it's in keeping with what's generally done. Of course, if you're worried, a second opinion can always be sought.