impacted wax, swimmer’s
ear, middle ear infection, fungal infection of outer canal, boil in outer canal, pinched nerve, benign intracranial hypertension, blocked Eustachian tube as seen in cold and sinusitis etc. TMJ, sore throat and tooth ache can cause referred pain to ear. It is difficult to diagnose on net. Please consult an ENT specialist. Taking care of the cause will take care of the lymph node swelling too.
Hope this helps.