Submandibular What?

January 26, 2006 2:50 PM

Is this my submandibular salivary gland and why does it hurt when I'm sick?

I'm fighting yet another cold. I currently have a lump that sits on the inside edge of my lower jaw that is quite tender when touched. During previous illnesses, it may be swollen enough to be visible from the outside of the jaw. I can even make it move about. It goes down and does not hurt when I'm well.

Thinking this was a lymphatic system thing, I asked my doc about it during a visit when it was acting up and I was sick. She felt around but didn't know what it was.

Noticing it again today, I used my wikipedia fu and chanced upon the submandibular salivary gland. It's pictured in the right spot for this unhappy lump. There seems to be no other structure in that general area. So, dear MeFites, why would it harden and get painful when I'm sick? If it's not a salivary gland, what is it?

posted by onhazier to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

Sounds like your "lymph nodes.

Mine always swell when I'm sick.

Your doc didn't know what it was? That's slightly bothersome. If your doc found a lump and didn't know what it was, she should have at least looked into it further.
posted by Bucket o' Heads at 3:11 PM on January 26, 2006

Definitely the lymph node right next to the salivary gland. They generally swell with infection.
posted by team lowkey at 3:19 PM on January 26, 2006

Best answer: Probably your submental or submandibular nodes, possibly your submandibular salivary gland.

posted by gramcracker at 3:32 PM on January 26, 2006

don't rule out something tooth-related. I had an unexplained lump under my lower jaw, went to an ear, nose, throat guy, and they had no explanation-- a friend told me to go to a dentist, and that's what it was--an abcess.
posted by amberglow at 4:12 PM on January 26, 2006

I have this. It swells up on one side and not the other when I'm sick or getting sick. My doc called it a "reactive gland" said it's not at all unusual and that if it was swollen all the time, I should come back but otherwise it was okay & not dangerous. I find sometimes rubbing it with my tongue can help the swelling/pain some.
posted by jessamyn at 4:37 PM on January 26, 2006

A couple of years ago, my right parotyd salivary and lymph glands were swollen too. The inflamation caused some slight dizziness and ear discomfort, but there was no tenderness at all, and I eventually fought it down with antibiotics after seeing the doctor. If your current doctor can't pinpoint the problem, you should probably have it checked by someone else.
posted by Goblindegook at 6:27 PM on January 26, 2006

Oh, this reminds me: one of the possible causes we discussed had to do with salivary gland calculi, which appear to be a common explanation for your symptoms.
posted by Goblindegook at 6:32 PM on January 26, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks all. I thought it might be a lymph gland. The doc in question told me there were no lymph glands in that area. I try to avoid this particular doc at the practice where I am a patient because I have not been pleased with the interactions we have had. The other docs affiliated with the practice are much better.
posted by onhazier at 7:00 AM on January 27, 2006

Late to the party, but I had this lymph gland swell up every time I was sick in college. My cousin - a doctor - said that unless it became cosmetically problematic, not to worry about it.
posted by notsnot at 9:35 AM on January 27, 2006