Hello , Im A 40 Year Old Male And I

Hello , Im a 40 year old male and I recently have had my right ear plugging on and off. Some slight pain but nothing that's not tolerable. I also have a slight swollen gland on the same side of my neck. Went to the doctor the other day and he said my lymph nodes were not swollen? what else could be swelling on my neck other than a lymph node and what do you think the problem over all is?