Throat Pain, No Swelling, Sometimes Irritating. Why ?

I have pain in my throat. No swelling that I can see, and it almost feels more injury like than the typical sore throat . But I have had no injuries. Started on Sunday, only felt it when eating harder/sticky foods (like pretzils, or peanut butter) but now it is a dull ache that hurts when I swollow. I have had issues with tonsil stones, never painful, sometimes irritating like a slight tickle, but I would remove with a qtip and be good as new. I did have one when it all started, removed it and I do not see anymore. but the pain is slowly getting worse.