It hurts when I turn my head and when I touch it. An inflammation such as you describe may be a simple pimple or possibly a swollen lymph gland. Lymph nodes are located in the area you describe and will enlarge when your body is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. Usually the cause of an enlarged lymph gland is an illness or obvious infection nearby. Infected lymph nodes enlarge and become tender.
Treatment depends on what is causing the infection.
Warm compresses may help relieve the pain. If it does not resolve, have your family doctor check it. 882-7000 to make an appointment with a University of Missouri Health Sciences Center physician. Tonsil drainage Ever since childhood, I have had periodic problems with my tonsils. A yellow-white substance with the consistency of cooked rice collects on one of my tonsils, which enlarge to the point of making me gag.