My glands in my neck are painfully swollen, it started about three days ago with a swollen lymph or salivary gland on my right side right underneath my jawbone becoming painfully hard and swollen. I know I need to see a doctor but I am curious of how long I can go without seeing one?
Hi. Welcome to Chat Doctor . I have gone through your query and can understand your concerns. As per your complaint the two main structures present below jaw line are submandibular group of lymph nodes and submandibular salivary gland which is a major salivary gland. A swelling under the jaw that is painful can be due to swelling of either the lymph node the salivary gland. In case if the swelling is small nodular and mobile it can be due to swollen lymph node and is commonly due to infection in head and neck region. But if the swelling is firm, diffuse and non-mobile it will probably be the salivary gland. It looks like due to acute infection, and you should not delay and consult an Oral Physician immediately so that he can do a clinical examination and investigations like x-ray or ultrasound of the area to rule out for the probable cause of infection and treatment can be planned accordingly. As of now you can take Ibuprofen or Naproxen for relieving pain and do cool compresses for reducing infection. Hope this information helps. Thanks and regards.