1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

What causes Clicking or Popping in Throat when Swallowing?

Posted by mushroom @mushroom, Oct 2, 2020

I was doing some neck massages a few days ago and then afterwards whenever I swallow, I feel a clicking/popping sensation and sound when my larynx moves up upon swallow. There is no pain at the moment but the popping sensation in my throat gives me anxiety whenever I swallow. Is this the result of the cartilage rubbing on each other? Is it from the hyoid bone rubbing the thyroid cartilage? Are there exercises that can fix this?

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geminiman17 | @geminiman17 | Dec 8, 2020
In reply to @shey "I was wondering if you ever found out what the clicking was? I've been having the..." + (show)
@shey

I was wondering if you ever found out what the clicking was? I've been having the same thing for over a month with no answers.

Jump to this post

I've been experiencing the same problem for over a year and a half, and haven't been able to find out what's wrong. If I lie face down and turn my head, or sometimes just swallowing while at an angle that's not exactly vertical I get that popping feeling, and what I haven't heard from anyone say that happens to me is that the displacement of whatever is moving sometimes doesn't get rectified until I twist my head in 17 different directions or punch my throat, and the effects of the pop can sometimes be felt over hours. Once it took a day. @mushroom Did you ever find out what the problem was from the ENT?

REPLY
4 replies
ch665296f | @ch665296f | Dec 8, 2020

It was a small hole in my eardrum. I now have a very small patch over it. That can cause some of the crackling sound, and a sense of my ear being full. It's as good as it's going to get. What I found interesting is the patch is made out of the same material as cigarette paper. The kind that people use to roll their own tobacco. Very strange! Have you been to an ENT specialist? If not, I would suggest you do.

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1 reply
Erika | @erikas | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @shey "I was wondering if you ever found out what the clicking was? I've been having the..." + (show)
@shey

I was wondering if you ever found out what the clicking was? I've been having the same thing for over a month with no answers.

Jump to this post

@shey Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support. May I ask how many providers and the specialty of the provider(s)?

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1 reply
klangston85 | @klangston85 | Dec 12, 2020
In reply to @mushroom "Thanks for the recommendation. I actually got the clicking in my throat after trying some throat..." + (show)
@mushroom

Thanks for the recommendation. I actually got the clicking in my throat after trying some throat massages so I'm afraid to try this out just in case I make it worse. I'm planning on going to the doctors soon though so hopefully this isn't serious. I appreciate the recommendation!

Jump to this post

Did you find an answer to the clicking ? I’ve had the same thing going on with me .

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klangston85 | @klangston85 | Dec 12, 2020
In reply to @shey "I was wondering if you ever found out what the clicking was? I've been having the..." + (show)
@shey

I was wondering if you ever found out what the clicking was? I've been having the same thing for over a month with no answers.

Jump to this post

Did you get your issue resolved ? I’ve had same thing

REPLY
3 replies
shey | @shey | Dec 13, 2020
In reply to @ch665296f "It was a small hole in my eardrum. I now have a very small patch over..." + (show)
@ch665296f

It was a small hole in my eardrum. I now have a very small patch over it. That can cause some of the crackling sound, and a sense of my ear being full. It's as good as it's going to get. What I found interesting is the patch is made out of the same material as cigarette paper. The kind that people use to roll their own tobacco. Very strange! Have you been to an ENT specialist? If not, I would suggest you do.

Jump to this post

I did see an ENT and they couldn't figure out what is causing it. It's definitely coming from my throat though

REPLY
shey | @shey | Dec 13, 2020
In reply to @klangston85 "Did you get your issue resolved ? I’ve had same thing" + (show)
@klangston85

Did you get your issue resolved ? I’ve had same thing

Jump to this post

No and it's starting to affect my eating. They want me to have a barium swallow next but so far no answers.

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1 reply
Erika | @erikas | Dec 15, 2020

@klangston85 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

May I ask if you have the same issue and if so, what kind of provider have you seen and what have they recommended?

REPLY
Erika | @erikas | Dec 15, 2020
In reply to @geminiman17 "I've been experiencing the same problem for over a year and a half, and haven't been..." + (show)
@geminiman17

I've been experiencing the same problem for over a year and a half, and haven't been able to find out what's wrong. If I lie face down and turn my head, or sometimes just swallowing while at an angle that's not exactly vertical I get that popping feeling, and what I haven't heard from anyone say that happens to me is that the displacement of whatever is moving sometimes doesn't get rectified until I twist my head in 17 different directions or punch my throat, and the effects of the pop can sometimes be felt over hours. Once it took a day. @mushroom Did you ever find out what the problem was from the ENT?

Jump to this post

@geminiman17 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

You are experiencing clicking and popping in your throat and you are looking to connect with others in order to find a solution.

May I ask if you have considered getting the input from another ENT?

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ewalkercece | @ewalkercece | Jan 6, 2021

I have been having the same click popping sensations for about a month, but not so much of sound but of feeling. Like I'm forcing my last half of the actual swallow over a ridge or something.

I also have GERD. since the 7th of December.

My swallowing issues started in August of 2020. No clicking and popping sensations then but an inability to swallow completely or strongly rather. * That was around the same time I was perscribed Ativan for sleeping.

My doctor thinks I'm having larnex disfunction. (Sorry for the spelling). I'm not sure i agree.

I need answers... 🙁

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