Sore throat really painful please help!!?

i have a severe sore throat and it flares up usually at night time and morning after i wake up. i toook a throat culture test and it came up negative for strep. i have no fever and have not had one in the past 4 days that ive had this sore throat. i cannot determine what it is and i cannot find anything that can soothe the pain of it either. i have been gargling salt and hot water.i have a severe sore throat and it flares up usually at night time and morning after i wake up. i toook a throat culture test and it came up negative for strep. i have no fever and have not had one in the past 4 days that ive had this sore throat. i cannot determine what it is and i cannot find anything that can soothe the pain of it either. i have been gargling salt and hot water.