I've got a hard lump on my neck very painful for past year. help?

Neck lump.: If it's in the front of the neck or under jaw, it could be a salivary gland. Sometimes there are stones in the salivary duct causing this. If on the side, a lymph node is most likely. Lymph nodes swell with viral infections, but can be a presentation of something worse, a lymphoma. If it is growing it needs to be biopsied. If it comes and goes its its less urgent, but still needs a doctor visit.