1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Something in my neck is popping out of place

Posted by devonmwhite @devonmwhite, Sep 13, 2022

Hello all,

Over the past, i’d say 4 years i’ve had a very odd thing happen in my neck and it happens when I swallow or move my neck (no specific way). It doesn’t happen often, it could be 3 times a week or once in 3 months. Basically there is something that feels like a tube popping out of place and i have to use my hand to push it back in place. It’s like something is bending. It sounds really odd but it’s really really painful and when it happens a panic feels my body and i have to push it back in right away. It happens just under my left jaw and a bit over from my adam’s apple, sort of where you would check your pulse. I can’t find anything on the internet about this and haven’t decided to go to the doctor because it’s something that happens randomly.

If anyone knows anything on this, that would be great!!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

aprek | @aprek | Aug 25 7:30am
In reply to @herfindalt "Hello! I have had this problem for a while as well, it happens from time to..." + (show)
@herfindalt

Hello!

I have had this problem for a while as well, it happens from time to time although mine isn't as painful as yalls sound and I dont panic but it's quite unpleasant and it has lasted for a day now.. :/ I think it was because i slept on my side/stomach. I can't pop it back and I dont really know what to do, maybe search for help if it lasts for a couple more days? Any update regarding this problem? is it worth searching help for?

Jump to this post

Hopefully you found a solution by now but just in case it went away randomly and has since come back, and you don’t know how to make it go away, I’ve recently found the only way to fix it for me is if I basically push my chin down to my chest and flex my neck muscles while I’m doing it. Hope that makes sense.

REPLY
mdea08139 | @mdea08139 | Sep 8 12:54am

I’ve also been having this happen to me for the past 2-3 years (M17) I’ve only figured out my triggers are laying to the left side and down to my phone, I can almost immediately feel the movement of something out of place on the left side of my throat. Somewhat crying right now as I’ve seen multiple doctors and even gotten my throat X-rayed to see and every time there has been no answer. Currently experiencing the mystery pain now and have been unsuccessful at guiding the missing puzzle piece back. so glad to finally be heard and know I’m not the only person in the world dealing with this. 🙁 < 3

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 8 8:03am
In reply to @mdea08139 "I’ve also been having this happen to me for the past 2-3 years (M17) I’ve only..." + (show)
@mdea08139

I’ve also been having this happen to me for the past 2-3 years (M17) I’ve only figured out my triggers are laying to the left side and down to my phone, I can almost immediately feel the movement of something out of place on the left side of my throat. Somewhat crying right now as I’ve seen multiple doctors and even gotten my throat X-rayed to see and every time there has been no answer. Currently experiencing the mystery pain now and have been unsuccessful at guiding the missing puzzle piece back. so glad to finally be heard and know I’m not the only person in the world dealing with this. 🙁 < 3

Jump to this post

Welcome @mdea08139, You are definitely not alone. You might want to scan through the other discussions and comments on the same topic to learn what others have shared. Here's a list to the discussions and comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=neck%20popping.

I know it has to be disappointment not having any answers after seeing multiple doctors. Have you thought about seeking help at a teaching hospital or major health facility like Mayo Clinic?

REPLY
forest916 | @forest916 | Sep 22 10:48pm
In reply to @nicolepet0613 "Hi Everyone! I have the ANSWER!!!! First, go to a cervical spinal specialist, so they can..." + (show)
@nicolepet0613

Hi Everyone! I have the ANSWER!!!! First, go to a cervical spinal specialist, so they can refer you to a Physical Therapist who focuses on TMJ and the cervical neck area. Please read on. I have been trying to find the answer for over 20 years! It's a horrific muscle spasm in the Longs Colli... Basically, a Charlie Horse in your throat.

I've had this issue since I was a teenager, only on the left side of my throat. I'm in my forties now, and I could always "pop" it back into place, but I lived in fear it would happen again; well, it did on May 27, 2024. I stood up to stretch my arms over me head, and BAM! The pain was a level 10. I couldn't get it to pop back into place for 15 minutes. Fast forward to the ER. It hurt too much to talk, so I typed my answers on my phone. Swallowing was horrendous. It felt like a butcher knife in my throat. After 5 hours of constant pain, getting a shot of Tramadol and getting a CT scan with and without contrast, I was released from the pain. It took 2 hours for the Tramadol to kick in. I was given another shot of steroids, and my diagnosis? A sore throat! They gave me a prescription for more steroids.

I went to an ENT 2 days later. She said since I could STILL swallow and talk, it was not my throat. I was fine, and I should make an appointment with a cervical spinal specialist/surgeon. It took weeks to get in... X-Rays showed nothing. He gave me a referral for a Physical Therapist. Luckily, I worked part-time with an amazing PT whose focus was on the head and neck. The problem was a muscle spasm in the Longs Colli. Yes, PT hurts, especially the dry needling, but it helps!!!
I hope and pray all of you know that you are NOT crazy, and that, yes, a muscle spasm in your throat can be fixed through physical therapy. Please share with anyone who has this crazy issue! My PT has been in the business for 30 years, and she's never experienced this with any patient.
Good luck, Everyone! You're going to be okay.

Jump to this post

Wow! I have been having this issue for almost 25 years! This is the first time I’ve come across other people with the same issue. It definitely feels like the hyoid bone is dislocating for some reason but my ent keeps saying it’s fine which drives me crazy! I have had ct scans and all came back normal both times but every time I swallow it is clicking and popping and causes me a lot of anxiety. I’m almost wondering if it has to do with the muscles and ligaments connected to the hyoid bone? Maybe some of them got torn? I have another appointment with my ent coming up in about a month and going to see if I can get a mri to maybe be able to see what’s going on. I can’t believe there are this many of us with the same problems and nobody knows what it is

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.