I've developed a lump in my neck beneath my earlobe?

it's right at the edge of my jaw, under my earlobe on the left side. i noticed it maybe a week ago, and it was very painful. then it seemed to go away but now it's back, i'm sure it's bigger and it really hurts to touch. it's soft and the main lump seems to be about the size of a pea but there's swelling around that so it's kind of hard to tell how big it is. and suggestion about what it could be? i don't really want to bother my doctor, the amount of times i'm in and out with my kids i feel like i'd be hassling her.