I have had a terrible sore throat for 9 days now. I had a step test, it was negative. The nurse said my tonsils are growing back. I had them removed at age 16 in 1996. I m not quite convinced that was accurate. I have approximately 7 VERY hard lumps on the right side of the inside of my throat. One of which is massive ( dime size), there is no abnormal color, no white, no red. It is serverly painful to swallow. I have tried salt water as well as keflex, no of which have helped. These knots are so very hard to the touch, but not painful to touch. Just swallowing is excruciating.