Sore submandibular glands

[Daffodil]

Hi.  I haven't been definitively diagnosed with SS, it's more of a presumptive thing alongside my other AI conditions.  For years, I have had frequent episodes of tenderness (no swelling noticed) in the region of both submandibular glands - my dentist has confirmed that my teeth/jawbone etc are not the cause.  Is there anything else (other than SS) that could be causing these bouts of tenderness?  Are the lymph glands in the same place?  I've pored over images but I can't work out how close the salivary & lymph glands actually are.

Many thanks.

[irish]

Your neck, throat and mouth area are full of lymph nodes. They can get sore at time when they are fighting off an infection. The larger salivary glands can swell  some and can get sore also. I never have had bad swelling in my salivary glands but they are practically useless as they don't produce much saliva.

I had to have one submandibular gland removed in 2009. It was not producing and full sludge and small stones. I never missed it!!! Sometimes I have some pain in front of my ears which is the parotid glands and then I get these terrible spasms in the ducts draining the parotid glands. The spasms are miserable and treatment is heat to the area, gentle massage along with Tylenol or ibuprofen. The glands end up loaded down with thick mucus that has a hard time draining and that is what causes the pain. Irish