I also have the popping sound in my neck. I have an ENT who feels that it might be eagles syndrome but he keeps sending me to other specialist to rule out anything else. I have pain on/off for years but never consistent until 8 months ago. I had a minor cold with body aches that left me in bed for one day but the symptoms persisted. The side of my neck, and under my jaw feels like my glands are swollen and about to get the flu. My ear radiates pain, I have muscle spasms in my neck and now my tooth sensitivity is through the roof. Sometimes all symptoms are there at once, sometimes it varies and is erratic. A CT scan confirms the calcified elongated styloid process and the ENT was able to feel in from the inside. (I do not have tonsils). An MRI showed two bulging disk but the neurological surgeon said my symptoms do not relate to the disk issue. Some people say to hold off on surgery for a long as possible but at 57 the pain is a quality of life issue. I have another specialist to see on 1/31 then I loop back to my ENT to hopefully make a decision on what to do. Good luck to you.