Please help me, Im scared

[bellasmama]

25/F  Ok about a month and a half ago I got this pain right at the back of my jaw, under my earlobe(in that soft spot where you would press to see if a child has an aer infection) It was slightly swollen but went away after a wk. I figured maybe it was an ear infection. Then a wk. or two later it came back and has stayed ever since. Sometimes it feels a little swollen, sometimes not, but it always hurts when i yawn (b/c my jaw bone presses on the area) I have to hang my head down when I yawn so my jaw will be pulled forward. Im just scared b/c I dont know if its my jaw, my ear, a tumor, or what???? My mom thinks a gland/ lymph node, but I REALLY dont think so. Im so scared Im just gonna die one day, and no one will know why. I dont have ins. either or i'd go get checked out.

[bubbles07]

Have you seen a TMJ specialist?

[bubbles07]

It sounds like you have tmj (temporal mandibular joint).  The jaw swells causing pain down the neck into the shoulders and sometimes major headaches as well as upper back.  Since you don't have ins. try getting information on herbs.  YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE you are not allergic to herbs because it can put you in the hospital or cause serious problems.   As per your mom's thinking re a gland, you might have a stone in the gland which blocks saliva which can cause the same symptoms.  Do you have burning on your tonge?  

[Evie1963]

Lymph nodes emit pain and sometimes swell because of infection. I've had the same sort of pain on and off on my right side but under my jaw and have had a chronic staph infection in my throat. I'd be suspicious of some type of infection, may be ear?, it may be low grade and not really showing any symptoms. Have it checked by a doctor. I don't think tumors swell up and disappear then reappear, so sleep easy. :)