What Does A Tender Gland On The Right Side Of The Neck Indicate?

I ve have had a tender gland on the right side of my neck, off and on for two weeks. I cannot detect any swelling. I believe that it started after I was bitten, by what I thought was a spider on my right ring finger. This finger was swollen some, but mostly bruised for about 4 or 5 days. I also, a week previously, had taken a chunk out of my pointer finger when I got my finger pinched in a metal ladder. And just to be thorough, I have a mouth full of braces that are presently cutting up the inside of my mouth with much more frequency than usual. I am thinking that my body is trying to fight all this abuse, but have never had a gland be tender for so long. Otherwise I feel well, and don t seem to have any other symptoms.