Something in my neck is popping out of place

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?

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

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.

Can the upper part of the larnyx pop out of place? It feels like that may be what's popping out?

degenerating spine

I can't believe I finally found people to whom this also happens!! I've had it happen a few times a year for the past 3ish years. I'm currently 38 and I just had my longest episode and was terrified. For me, swallowing, talking, and moving my head is excruciatingly painful. With this longer episode, I could feel how the back of my tongue also hurt. Crying does too! Normally I can recreate the trigger position to "undo" it (laying on my right side, turning my head left, and swallowing). But this time lasted almost an hour!

From all of your information and frantic hyperfocused searches, I found that it's likely a hyoid dislocation. I was able to push my thumb up into the soft spot under my chin and slowly pull toward the painful side. Relief came fast!! I still have residual pain when swallowing, but I think it's just from how long it lasted.