Is my Carotid Artery Inflammed?

[Nina0620]

About a month ago I started having neck pain along my carotid artery, I have full range of motion and no muscle ache, just a squeezing or throbbing pain from my clavicle up the side of my neck behind my ear, the side of my head, and under my jaw. The pain can be quite severe, I don't have any swelling. It's tender to the touch, and I can't lay on the side it hurts. Within a few minutes of trying to lay on that side my head and neck start throbbing and squeezing in pain. I went to the ER two weeks ago, they did some blood work and EKG and everything was normal. They really brushed off my pain to lymph node and gave me pain meds. It seems to fluctuate it's not constant. Anytime I'm active, touch it, or lay on it it hurts terribly. I have an ENT appointment in a few days. I'm really at my wits with the pain, and nothing OTC is helping. I'm having anxiety that something is wrong with my artery and I'm going to have a stroke or something. My family says it's anxiety. I've never had anxiety and this is pain?! They don't understand and think I need to just carry on.  Any insights?