I had so many surgeries, treatments, never really, but it did improve, but not totally. It is worse again with my gum/tooth infection/abscess. I also believe certain foods, spices, medications effects them, even alcohol, but my limit is one beer, and could be the salivary gland also. I don't know how many lymph's I have left with three neck dissections, but there could be a few rebels still around, and the H&N have about 300 lymph nodes, and everyone is different in the amount, and location of them. It also depends on the type of neck dissections, how many levels removed like a selective neck dissection, a modified radical neck dissection or radical neck dissection, there are a few more, not often mentioned, like a limited neck dissection, others, that may be used interchangeably.

I have a sleepimatc type bed, which head and feet raise, and that helps a lot, and notice a difference between that and a flat bed. They also have compression bandages for the head, around the chin, jaw, that helps with lymph drainage. If it helps keeping the mouth closed, which photo apppears, that may also help with dry mouth since most moisture escapes when sleeping with the mouth open.

As mentioned, lymphatic drainage massage, acupuncture, may help, as well as light exercise like walking, swimming, swinging the arms above heart level, a trampoline, even sweating, sauna, steam room get the lymph's flowing, but ask your doctor.