Parotid Gland

[Sandra]

Hi all, hope everyone is doing ok. I have a annoying and painful issue going on. For about the last 3 weeks i have been having headaches, terrible ones. i ended up at one point going into the ER at 2 am after taking 2 tylenol 3's with no relief. I was given a shot of demerol. Of coarse that really helped with the pain and finally some sleep.
But the problem has not gone away, I am just doing my best to control pain. Today I began to notice that when the worst pain is somewhat controlled the area that the pain radiates to got smaller untill finally all that was left was the pain in my ear/jaw area. There is a thickening and swelling there. I began to consider the salivary glands and have read about the parotid gland. This is exactly the area of pain. Heat helps a bit, but without the muscle relaxers, the tylenol 3's and the advil I'm a dead duck. Can anyone fill me in on this problem? I am somewhat puzzeled as when I allow myslef to cut back on the meds the pain roars and I end up with a stiff, very painful neck and eventually a headache at the base of my skull that just screams, my ear on that side hurts allot and so does my eye and cheek, my vision is blurred.
Just how common is this problem with sjs and how serious. Is it something that is caused by inflammation usually or is there something more serious that needs to be considered? ie stone, infection.....anybody have any info? Thanks Sandra

[Scottietottie]

Hi Sandra 

There have been a lot of postings in here about parotid glands, swelling and pain but not pain so bad as to have to go to ER. I really think you need to go to your doc about this in case you do have an infection. I'm not medical but it sounds as though the swelling could be pressing on nerves causing some of the pain. Please get it checked out. usually hot compresses and gentle massage soothe swollen parotid glands but the pain your are getting sounds beyond this.

let us know how it goes. see that doctor!!

Take care - Scottie 

[Billydude]

I've had swollen parotid glands for about a year but just tonight I noticed a hard lump inside of my right side parotid gland and it hurts where as my swollen glands never really hurt before.   Any idea whats up with that?  Are there lymph nodes located there?
Steve

[kim31072]

yes..here is a diagram that shows the location of all the lymph nodes in the head and neck.

Kim

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/21692508/

[Victoria05202000]

Sandra,

First, get an appointment with your Doctor.  It better for him to check it out.     Especially if with fever!
Then get a HUGE bag of sugar free lemon drops or another sour hard candy.
Take a some major pain drugs.
And while sucking on the hard sour candy gently massage the outside of your cheeks from the ear to the jawline.
It may take a couple of days for relief.
Apply warm compresses.

I get this way too often.  If I catch the beginning stages of it....I can stop it in its tracks.  I was told it is saliva "sludge" built up in that area.  Because we don't make much saliva ours gets kinda like slush and backs up. Sometimes you can have a saliva stone and that may need to be removed by a doctor.

Hope it starts feeling better soon for you!
Take Care!
Vicky

[Dial]

I do not have SS, but I have had a parotid gland problem since birth. After 50 years of recurrent pain and swelling which often lead to severe infection (as many as 30 times), I had almost all of the gland removed, along with the scar tissue that had formed in amongst the nerves. I am fine after this surgery, with no after effects, except it did not solve the problem. The swelling, pain and infection continued after a break of 4 years.

However, I have found a simple solution which your members could try, as my symptoms (maybe even the cause) are identical. For me, warmth has been the answer. Every single night, I wear a "hat" pulled down over my ears and below them. Amazingly, it stops the swelling which stops the infections. If I forget even for one night, the swelling starts up again. I live in a hot climate so have no need to cover up or keep out of winds during the day. It is an easy thing to try, wish I'd known years ago, so good luck. The cause of my problem was never established and doctors aren't interested in my cure.

[Linda196]

Hello Dial, welcome to Sjogren's World.

Funny you should post this just now, since some of the members have actually been discussing the same thing! https://sjogrensworld.org/index.php?topic=8133.0

Some feel that a scarf is best, leaving the top of the head bare, while others prefer the full covering! Just like SjS, it's a highly individual reaction.

I hope you are continuing to try to find out what has been causing your parotid issues all this time...maybe a new doctor is in order? Since it seems no one has proven that you don't have SjS, it's still a strong possibility, I would think.