Saw dr today in fear of painful, swollen lymph node back of neck. dr examined me and said not lymph nodes, but strained muscle. tender to touch normal?

Neck pain: These are your sub a simple muscles. They can get strand from an accident. They can become painful from a tension headache. Lymph nodes do live under these muscles. Possible to have tender lymph nodes making the muscles sore. These lymph nodes usually associated with viral process. Take anti-inflammatory. Re check if not better in week.

Maybe: Your doctor knows best since they have examined you. Yes a strained muscle can be quite tender.