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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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

I will try to keep this short but informative. We had a cold run through our house a couple weeks ago. Typical congestion, light coughing etc. I remember my throat being very dry and plenty of post nasal drip from the sickness but didn’t really feel that bad, none of us did. With my throat being really dry I remember swallowing constantly. During that swallowing a popping in my throat appeared. At least that’s when I remember myself noticing the popping.

The popping is at the top of my swallow. At my Adam’s apple/below my chin. It feels like a cartilage or tendon pop. It only occurs while looking straight ahead. Left, right, up or down results in no pop. I also feel no pop while eating or drinking. I have no pain and no trouble breathing or swallowing. I don’t recall any “trauma” to my throat but who knows when you wrestle a 4 and two year old all day.

I did got to my general practitioner a he said it does seem odd but doesn’t feel it’s something to worry over. He recommended me to an ENT to talk to an expert.

This is going on for two weeks now and my anxiety is through the roof thinking I have throat cancer and I can’t seem to convince myself otherwise. I guess I’m just a fatalist. Just turning to the mayo community for some help. Please and thank you.

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Same here. Nobody seems to know what this is or how to fix it. I pray it go away for us very soon.

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Profile picture for nc27 @nc27

Same here. Nobody seems to know what this is or how to fix it. I pray it go away for us very soon.

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Have you had yours looked at yet?

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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

Have you had yours looked at yet?

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Yes many times. Even an endoscopy. Can’t find anything that’s causing it. One ent said it might be tendons rubbing but doesn’t know if and when it will go away. It’s restricting to move my head certain ways too. Interferes with eating too especially certain foods. Sometimes of I swallow a certain way when I tilt my head it might not click.

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Profile picture for nc27 @nc27

Yes many times. Even an endoscopy. Can’t find anything that’s causing it. One ent said it might be tendons rubbing but doesn’t know if and when it will go away. It’s restricting to move my head certain ways too. Interferes with eating too especially certain foods. Sometimes of I swallow a certain way when I tilt my head it might not click.

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My biggest concern is the thought I have throat cancer. Was that something you thought? Did your doctors rule that out for sure? Im 32 and chewed tobacco for about 12 years, quit once for a year and am currently quitting for good. My doctor knows that and told me it’s most likely not cancer but my anxiety is through the roof. Until I see the ENT, it’s going to worry me.

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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

My biggest concern is the thought I have throat cancer. Was that something you thought? Did your doctors rule that out for sure? Im 32 and chewed tobacco for about 12 years, quit once for a year and am currently quitting for good. My doctor knows that and told me it’s most likely not cancer but my anxiety is through the roof. Until I see the ENT, it’s going to worry me.

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No that wasn’t a thought for me because this happened right after I was eating.

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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

I will try to keep this short but informative. We had a cold run through our house a couple weeks ago. Typical congestion, light coughing etc. I remember my throat being very dry and plenty of post nasal drip from the sickness but didn’t really feel that bad, none of us did. With my throat being really dry I remember swallowing constantly. During that swallowing a popping in my throat appeared. At least that’s when I remember myself noticing the popping.

The popping is at the top of my swallow. At my Adam’s apple/below my chin. It feels like a cartilage or tendon pop. It only occurs while looking straight ahead. Left, right, up or down results in no pop. I also feel no pop while eating or drinking. I have no pain and no trouble breathing or swallowing. I don’t recall any “trauma” to my throat but who knows when you wrestle a 4 and two year old all day.

I did got to my general practitioner a he said it does seem odd but doesn’t feel it’s something to worry over. He recommended me to an ENT to talk to an expert.

This is going on for two weeks now and my anxiety is through the roof thinking I have throat cancer and I can’t seem to convince myself otherwise. I guess I’m just a fatalist. Just turning to the mayo community for some help. Please and thank you.

Jump to this post

I feel crazy.

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Profile picture for nc27 @nc27

I feel crazy.

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I know it. I do too. I hope going to the ent will shed some light for me. It’s another week away so this week will be tough. As soon as I know more I will be posting it here.

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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

I will try to keep this short but informative. We had a cold run through our house a couple weeks ago. Typical congestion, light coughing etc. I remember my throat being very dry and plenty of post nasal drip from the sickness but didn’t really feel that bad, none of us did. With my throat being really dry I remember swallowing constantly. During that swallowing a popping in my throat appeared. At least that’s when I remember myself noticing the popping.

The popping is at the top of my swallow. At my Adam’s apple/below my chin. It feels like a cartilage or tendon pop. It only occurs while looking straight ahead. Left, right, up or down results in no pop. I also feel no pop while eating or drinking. I have no pain and no trouble breathing or swallowing. I don’t recall any “trauma” to my throat but who knows when you wrestle a 4 and two year old all day.

I did got to my general practitioner a he said it does seem odd but doesn’t feel it’s something to worry over. He recommended me to an ENT to talk to an expert.

This is going on for two weeks now and my anxiety is through the roof thinking I have throat cancer and I can’t seem to convince myself otherwise. I guess I’m just a fatalist. Just turning to the mayo community for some help. Please and thank you.

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Ok hang in there. Think positive. We are doing everything we can to get some answers. We will be ok. Stress doesn’t make it any better either. Yes please keep me posted!

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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

I pray I’m this lucky. This popping started for me about 2 weeks ago and is giving me crazy anxiety. We had a phlegmy cold go through our house and for whatever reason I noticed I have a pop. It’s at the top of my swallow and can feel it just left of my Adam’s apple.

I went to the doctor yesterday and he said he doesn’t think it’s anything to get worried over but set me up with an ENT. I can’t get the anxiety out of my head I have cancer. It sucks.

My case is just like everyone else only does it on a dry swallow looking straight ahead or to the right. Looking up down or to the left I don’t feel a thing.

Plus I keep having the urge to swallow and my muscles in my neck are starting to be sore.

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Ugh, sorry, I replied but lost my comment!

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Profile picture for emalloy @emalloy

I pray I’m this lucky. This popping started for me about 2 weeks ago and is giving me crazy anxiety. We had a phlegmy cold go through our house and for whatever reason I noticed I have a pop. It’s at the top of my swallow and can feel it just left of my Adam’s apple.

I went to the doctor yesterday and he said he doesn’t think it’s anything to get worried over but set me up with an ENT. I can’t get the anxiety out of my head I have cancer. It sucks.

My case is just like everyone else only does it on a dry swallow looking straight ahead or to the right. Looking up down or to the left I don’t feel a thing.

Plus I keep having the urge to swallow and my muscles in my neck are starting to be sore.

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I’m sorry you’re going through the same! I hope you get a quick and easy resolution to this awful issue. Mine has been going FOR YEARS, and one day "crack!" it got resolved in the most unexpected way! Now I can eat without any pain!

Don’t worry too much about cancer. I have all the lucky numbers to have it, and I’m still fine. I have Mallory Weiss tear, Barret’s, Giant hiatal hernia, Chronic Gerd and a myriad of other issues in my stomach and throat, and I’m still fine **knocks on wood**

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