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What causes Clicking or Popping in Throat when Swallowing?
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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@rockymountain1107 If you Google "Mayo Clinic TMJ exercises" you'll find specific exercises you can do for TMJ,
which are similar to what you've instinctively discovered you can do to ease the pain in your ear and jaw. I think a dentist appointment is also a good way to go.
@rockymountain1107 My family doc assumed I had an ear infection too, and referred me to the ENT specialist. I had ear pain, a fullness feeling in my ears, jaw pain, and the clicking sound when swallowing.
No infection - diagnosis of TMJ.
@lacy2 Haha, don't worry. Your ENT will likely understand what you are describing and have an answer for you.
hi artist01 well 2 x ENTs for 54,000 people plus surrounding communities and a very long wait I feel it might not have progressed to this numb side of face and ear and now constant nose running if could have seen sooner, but its not emergency and they only have 2 hands... also covid restrictions: just a phone call in ten days been waiting for. But Tuesday neurologist, who might shed light on and why tingling neuropathy has morphed into inner trembling... I am a basket case these days. How ent will check myt ears over phone? I went to a clinic twice in past 6 months, they gave me strong antibiotic for ear pain, went to emerge, dr said its not infection... so not sure what it is.... thanks for note, xxx
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2 Reactions@lacy2 Hi again. We have one ENT for 36,000, but I was seen in 10 days because ear pain or suspected infection got me in sooner than most. I urge you to at least get your doc to make the referral to the ENT, even if you have to wait. Its NOT an infection but it needs attention so it doesn't progress, like mine did.
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1 ReactionHello all, this is a reply to pretty much everyone with my own story. Please read my insights, they may help.
I've had four, yes four(!), surgeries for clicking larynx syndrome so I have some insights. The superior cornu larynx cartiledge and the hyoid can "click", which is extremely hard to live with and can be fixed via surgery where they remove those 2 areas. Technically the surgeries were a success for me since "those" clicks are gone, however I have an issue now that is roughly behind my Adam's Apple.
This rubbing/click can feel gravelly, sharp, or mild. It depends on how inflamed my throat is that day. It also happens at the END of my swallow, and my swallow feels off to me, which I'm sure is important. I have a general sore throat 24/7 back near the soft palate and further down, plus a tightness/inflamed feeling in the larynx area. I have no answers yet about this remaining issue, but I'm seeking treatment for GERD and will see a swallowing expert about it. I don't nessesarily think it's GERD but I do have some of the side effects. I also reccomend you all look up Globus Sensation. The University of Iowa has a good write up on it.
The surgeon who treated the clicking larynx is ignoring me now (literally). Maybe he thinks I'm bonkers but we all know I'm not. That leads me to piece of wisdom #1:
1. Many doctors may basically say you're dumb, need antacids, or just anxious. If the antacid route doesn't work for you, go find someone who will actually try and HELP you, like a swallowing expert. Do NOT let them ignore you. If they won't test the heck out of you go somewhere else. I've had no less than 3 doctors ignore this issue. Well I can tell you it's not anxiety. It's a physical abnormality that has ruined my life. I was totally normal until 2 and a half years ago.
Okay, here are some of my other bits of wisdom, maybe they can help you.
2. Give ice or heat a try. Get an ice/heat combo pack and see if that helps at all. It won't fix you, but it might help symptoms.
3. YAWN! Yes, yawn. A lot. It must stretch something that tends to help, in my case at least. If I'm having a good day, yawning a bunch and have low inflammation, the click will be less.
4. Gargle with salt if you can. This is a lesser helper but I've found it can help. Whether the salt decreases inflammation or the muscles are relaxed by the gargle I cannot say.
5. Look into your posture. Wear a posture corrector and maybe get a cervical pillow. I've noticed it can help. Of course, it only helps, doesn't cure.
6. Buy a massager with a facial mode and massage your neck. I do it before bed. Not practical to do it all the time but it does reduce the click for a short period.
7. Look up some good neck stretches, there are yoga videos on YouTube. Try them out and do them often.
8. Lastly, there IS a mental component, for me at least. I'm not saying mental stress caused it, because it didn't, but it can make it worse. Perhaps we tense certain muscles when we're stressed. Look into ways to help your mood and stress.
9. Try gum. Gum does a few things for me. It replicates actual swallowing, instead of DRY swallowing. When I eat or drink the click is less, but dry swallowing is the opposite. It also distracts me if I'm having a bad throat day.
PS: love you all. This type of issue is life altering and I'm amazed at how little help medical science has been so far. I've gone from %100 enjoyment of life just 2 and a half years ago to maybe %70.
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1 Reaction@clickingtorture-
First- my empathy to you for going through this.
Second-I am sorry you were recommended or even allowed to have a surgery for this. Even if you have now felt the “clicking” gone.
These are musculature issues to begin with. Long time holding patterns or ways you created muscular movements, tightness through out life. Period.
End up at a surgeons office for this and they will only cut and remove parts that are meant to be in your body. Once these parts are removed for one problem, your body tries to recover and learn to function with what was genetically programmed to do for a long time. And will develop knew issues due to a missing system.
These parts are all developed to function together in a fine way. Remove parts and there goes the system and, you will then develop new issues from surgical damage, scarring, which now sounds like is happening for you. The skin that lines your throat is epithelial tissue. Once that is cut into it is replaced w/scar which is regular skin. And does nothing that epithelial tissue does. With 4 surgeries, I’m wondering if the surgeon ever even talked to you about what scarring will do to this area?
I find it sad that many patients are taken advantage in this way. Surgeons do not view the body as a whole system, only in parts. They have no idea how they will be affecting the rest of the body by removing parts all for the sake of a “noise/sound” that could have been helped with therapy and proper education.
If surgeons knew more about the body and properly educated patients, they’d be out of a job.
There is an old saying, if you don’t have a problem now, wait until you see the doctor.
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1 ReactionYou've never had clicking larynx syndrome, it's not just a noise. It's an endless source of inflammation and physical action between parts of the body that shouldn't be touching.
It doesn't just go away with non-surgical treatment. I used to be to able make my cartiledge and hyoid click just by flexing my neck muscles. Others could hear it and feel it. It was and is hell.
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1 ReactionMine is the same. I went to ENT and he said it was LPR which is silent acid reflux. But after a 6 month diet it is still is clicking. ENT said he didn't know and is referring me to a Larynx doctor. I can't understand if we all are having the same problem why is there not an answer? Very annoying. I feel they think I am making this up.
@a06742sl, it is frustrating to not have answers and to get the feeling like people think you're making it up. But your ENT seems to be taking the problem seriously and has referred you to a larynx specialist. That's good, right?