Salivary Gland Stone?

Gland stone?
I had problems last week with a swollen gland. The doc said to suck on something very sour to promote saliva flow, as he thought there may be a stone. Today the same gland (between my chin and ear, right under the jaw bone), hurts so bad it's insane. On the 'pain scale' I would give it an 8. The gland itself is about the size of an olive. Is this a normal size? Do stones have a tendency of returning like this? Any other ideas what it could be? I have tried the sour candies again, but to no avail. I do not have a fever or feel sick, so I doubt it's an infection. I don't have an abscess, just an EXTREMELY sore gland. Feels like I was shot in the neck, kind of a sharp pain confined to that one little area. Is there anything an ER could do for me besides pain meds? Can they do a biopsy or take the gland right out? How do they diagnose and treat salivary gland stones? Sorry this is so long, it's getting concerning though.

I've had similar issues-but my gland was much bigger. Make sure you stay hydrated. Part of the problem is that your saliva is too thick to get around the stone. They can take out the gland, but it's connected to a nerve and could do damage to what your face looks like now (unless of course you'd like to have a droopy lip and chin on one side...) Lots of H2O and keep going with SUGAR FREE lemon drops. Also, ask your doc about whether or not you need to be on antibiotics. It's possible that this is part of a bacteria infection.

You ought to see an ENT-ear nose and throat specialist.

Sometimes a small stone comes out into the mouth by itself.
Most stones that cause symptoms will not go away unless they are removed:
Gentle probing into the duct from inside the mouth can sometimes free a stone. This is done by a doctor.
A small operation is the usual treatment to remove most stones.
'Shock wave' treatment (lithotripsy) may be an option. This uses ultrasound waves to break up stones. The broken fragments then pass out along the duct. This is a relatively new treatment for salivary stones (although it has been used for some years to treat kidney stones). It may become more common over time.

A salivary stone is usually a 'one-off' event. After it is removed there are usually no further problems. However, some people develop one or more further stones at some later time. Sometimes several stones form in the same gland. An operation to remove the whole gland may be an option for people who develop recurring or multiple stones. (Enough saliva is made by the remaining glands if one is removed.)

My advice to you would be to see your dentist. They are oral surgeons with an abundance of experience and knowledge specializing in the head and neck area and could probably offer more assistance to you. Salivary gland stones cause blockages in the normal flow of saliva and can lead to nasty infections if not treated properly. Good Luck...