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Pressure in throat and throbbing pain behind left ear
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An_246007 posted:
For the past year, I have had pressure in a single spot on the left side of my throat, under my jaw, where the horizontal part of the jaw meets the vertical part of the throat. There is constant pressure in that spot and it hurts when I swallow (often waking me up in the early morning when I feel it). Further, I am positive this has caused somewhat constant throbbing pain behind my left ear.

I have seen an ENT about 6 months ago and he was very dismissive of it, telling me not to worry about it. However, the symptoms have progressively gotten worse to the point where the pain and pressure sometimes keeps me up at night.

At this point I feel like I have lowered it down to one of two things:

1) A swollen lymph node in my neck/under my jaw. I can literally pin point the spot and when I press it, the pain and pressure are somewhat removed/diminished. When I take my finger off of it, it comes back.

2) A few years back I had a benign salivary gland removed on the left side of my jaw. Maybe it is something related to that?

Can anyone help me figure out what this is? If it is a swollen lymph node, is getting it removed recommended? Is it a dangerous procedure being that it is under my jaw/somewhat in my neck?

Thanks!
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Pressure in throat and throbbing pain behind left earFor the past year, I have had pressure in a single spot on the left side of my throat, under my jaw, where the horizontal part of the jaw meets the vertical part of the throat. There is constant pressure in that spot and it hurts when I swallow (often waking me up in the early morning when I feel it). Further, I am positive this has caused somewhat constant throbbing pain behind my left ear.<br /><br />I have seen an ENT about 6 months ago and he was very dismissive of it, telling me not to worry about it. However, the symptoms have progressively gotten worse to the point where the pain and pressure sometimes keeps me up at night.<br /><br />At this point I feel like I have lowered it down to one of two things:<br /><br />1) A swollen lymph node in my neck/under my jaw. I can literally pin point the spot and when I press it, the pain and pressure are somewhat removed/diminished. When I take my finger off of it, it comes back.<br /><br />2) A few years back I had a benign salivary gland removed on the left side of my jaw. Maybe it is something related to that?<br /><br />Can anyone help me figure out what this is? If it is a swollen lymph node, is getting it removed recommended? Is it a dangerous procedure being that it is under my jaw/somewhat in my neck? <br /><br />Thanks!
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
It is not really up to you to try and diagnose yourself, or to determine if you need to have surgery. You need to see an ENT again -- perhaps a different one that will not be submissive of your year-long symptoms. I think that these symptoms should be taken very seriously and that you need a thorough medical examination, and perhaps, some imaging studies.

Without a hands-on examination, it is not possible for me, you, or any medical provider to ascertain the source, be it a lymph node, salivary gland, or ?

This mystery has been going on for a year. While I commend your efforts to track down the possibilites, those efforts would be best directed in finding a partner -- namely, an ENT who will take those extra diagnostic steps to solve this problem.
Report This| Share this:Pressure in throat and throbbing pain behind left earIt is not really up to you to try and diagnose yourself, or to determine if you need to have surgery. You need to see an ENT again -- perhaps a different one that will not be submissive of your year-long symptoms. I think that these symptoms should be taken very seriously and that you need a thorough medical examination, and perhaps, some imaging studies.<br /> <br />Without a hands-on examination, it is not possible for me, you, or any medical provider to ascertain the source, be it a lymph node, salivary gland, or ?<br /> <br />This mystery has been going on for a year. While I commend your efforts to track down the possibilites, those efforts would be best directed in finding a partner -- namely, an ENT who will take those extra diagnostic steps to solve this problem.
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kjw656 replied to Rod Moser, PA, PhD's response:
The last time I saw the ENT, he did have me get x-rays and whatnot but he said everything came back negative. I made another appointment for Wednesday morning.

Just curious though...if it IS a swollen lymph node...under my jaw/where it meets the neck...generally, how dangerous is a procedure to have it removed? While getting surgery around my throat is a scary thought...are there high risks or is it common practice?

Thanks for your advice.
Report This| Share this:Pressure in throat and throbbing pain behind left earThe last time I saw the ENT, he did have me get x-rays and whatnot but he said everything came back negative. I made another appointment for Wednesday morning. <br /><br />Just curious though...if it IS a swollen lymph node...under my jaw/where it meets the neck...generally, how dangerous is a procedure to have it removed? While getting surgery around my throat is a scary thought...are there high risks or is it common practice?<br /><br />Thanks for your advice.
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD replied to kjw656's response:
Everyone has lymph nodes....lots of them....they are an important part of our immune system. The only lymph nodes that would need to be surgically removed would be those that are hard and fixed, and look suspicious of cancer on an MRI.

You haven't even had this checked out yet, so stop worrying about the operating room! Wait until Wednesday and ask those questions directly to the ENT.
Report This| Share this:Pressure in throat and throbbing pain behind left earEveryone has lymph nodes....lots of them....they are an important part of our immune system. The only lymph nodes that would need to be surgically removed would be those that are hard and fixed, and look suspicious of cancer on an MRI.<br /> <br />You haven't even had this checked out yet, so stop worrying about the operating room! Wait until Wednesday and ask those questions directly to the ENT.
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