To help reduce swelling - any physical therapy aftercare? If not ask your primary care doctor for an order for a few sessions. Find a PT with experience in aftercare. S/he can show you daily massage exercises that will help drain those backed up lymph glands. That will help reduce swelling. I spend time every morning in the shower, still doing the gentle massage techniques that help drain my lymph nodes. I had both my tongue and jaw removed due to tumors in both. Good luck!