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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letsolve | @letsolve | Jul 1, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @letsolve and welcome to Connect. I appreciate you adding your story of this problem to..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @letsolve and welcome to Connect. I appreciate you adding your story of this problem to our discussion. It sounds like you are actively advocating for yourself with your medical team. I really admire it when a person is proactive! We all need to do this, especially when we are faced with an elusive or hard-to-diagnose problem.

From your post, it sounds as if you are mainly working with ENT specialists. Is that the case? How long have you had this problem?

Jump to this post

Hi! Well, I've been having this problem since February, as I said in my first post, I'm an admirer of Performing Arts and I joined this environment shortly before the problem. In my case I noticed the click shortly after massaging my larynx. A student in my class had said to me "Could you speak louder?" and honestly it made me uncomfortable. That's when I decided to dedicate myself to having a better diction, I started doing tongue exercises, voice exercises, and also massages. Unfortunately it turned out that after these massages the click appeared. The click bothered me so much that I had to abandon the course. And I've been looking for solutions ever since. Taking advantage of this, I already made the return with my doctor, and she did not identify anything on the CT scan. But! since a long time ago other doctors said that I probably had a problem with tonsils, as one is more prominent than the other, so that's what the doctor gave as the main diagnosis, enlarged tonsils. I'm going to make an evaluation with a surgeon and then see what the best treatment is for this, if it's okay to remain with enlarged tonsils or if a tonsillectomy is really necessary. Honestly, I don't know for sure if the tonsillectomy will influence the click, but I still believe in the possibility, after all, the enlarged amygdala "could", perhaps, be causing some pressure that reaches the hyoid bone or the muscles close to it, and influencing the click. . But it's just a maybe, I'm going to continue with the search for an effective treatment, and I would always like to motivate everyone not to give up looking for the solution to the problem! (If that comforts anyone, I'm only 17 years old.)

REPLY
1 reply
jasmine2400 | @jasmine2400 | Jul 1, 2022
In reply to @funcountess "My mother had the clicking for years, her doctor said it’s bone on bone, it eventually..." + (show)
@funcountess

My mother had the clicking for years, her doctor said it’s bone on bone, it eventually went away. A good ENT doctor can look in your throat without a lot of tests.
I would be very, very, very surprised if it was cancer.
Hope you feel better soon.

Jump to this post

Hello, I’m experiencing the same thing and it gets annoying did your mom get any testing done to see what what was the problem causing the clicking in her throat?

REPLY
jasmine2400 | @jasmine2400 | Jul 1, 2022
In reply to @funcountess "My mother had the clicking for years, her doctor said it’s bone on bone, it eventually..." + (show)
@funcountess

My mother had the clicking for years, her doctor said it’s bone on bone, it eventually went away. A good ENT doctor can look in your throat without a lot of tests.
I would be very, very, very surprised if it was cancer.
Hope you feel better soon.

Jump to this post

Hello, I’ve been experiencing the same did your mom get any testing done to see what was causing it?

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 1, 2022
In reply to @letsolve "Hi! Well, I've been having this problem since February, as I said in my first post,..." + (show)
@letsolve

Hi! Well, I've been having this problem since February, as I said in my first post, I'm an admirer of Performing Arts and I joined this environment shortly before the problem. In my case I noticed the click shortly after massaging my larynx. A student in my class had said to me "Could you speak louder?" and honestly it made me uncomfortable. That's when I decided to dedicate myself to having a better diction, I started doing tongue exercises, voice exercises, and also massages. Unfortunately it turned out that after these massages the click appeared. The click bothered me so much that I had to abandon the course. And I've been looking for solutions ever since. Taking advantage of this, I already made the return with my doctor, and she did not identify anything on the CT scan. But! since a long time ago other doctors said that I probably had a problem with tonsils, as one is more prominent than the other, so that's what the doctor gave as the main diagnosis, enlarged tonsils. I'm going to make an evaluation with a surgeon and then see what the best treatment is for this, if it's okay to remain with enlarged tonsils or if a tonsillectomy is really necessary. Honestly, I don't know for sure if the tonsillectomy will influence the click, but I still believe in the possibility, after all, the enlarged amygdala "could", perhaps, be causing some pressure that reaches the hyoid bone or the muscles close to it, and influencing the click. . But it's just a maybe, I'm going to continue with the search for an effective treatment, and I would always like to motivate everyone not to give up looking for the solution to the problem! (If that comforts anyone, I'm only 17 years old.)

Jump to this post

@letsolve

At age 17, you are developing some good strategies for taking care of yourself, good for you!

I'm glad that you plan to continue to search for an answer. Persistence often pays dividends when you are dealing with a unique health problem. I'll be interested in hearing about your visit with the surgeon regarding your tonsils.

Will you post again after that appointment?

REPLY
2 replies
mimtin | @mimtin | Jul 2, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @mimtim and welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear that you are also dealing with..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @mimtim and welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear that you are also dealing with this uncomfortable problem. Some of the other members who have posted indicated they had a cold, cough, or massage previous to this popping or clicking sound. Did you notice this after any particular illness or accident? I'm also wondering if you have had any injuries to your neck, throat, etc.?

You mention that you don't have pain, but you do have discomfort. Could you describe this discomfort?

Please know that it is always your right to seek a second opinion if you don't feel that you are getting the diagnostic tests or answers that you need. Is there a large medical center nearby where you can seek a second opinion?

Jump to this post

So once the pop or click happens, there is a lingering sensitivity to the area. Almost a "tenderness"...similar to cartilidge in my knee popping.

I'd like to know how to pursue additional testing?

Unfortunately, I'm not willing to go to my local hospital with this...
I'd rather try to follow up with individual doctors.

REPLY
jasmine2400 | @jasmine2400 | Jul 4, 2022
In reply to @ipodclassic "After many months of suffering, I was getting a massage from my gf, I pulled my..." + (show)
@ipodclassic

After many months of suffering, I was getting a massage from my gf, I pulled my head backwards, swallowed, heard a loud click and rubbing noise, and all of a sudden the clicking and trouble swallowing is gone.

If anyone wants to connect, send me a PM, we can exchange emails and give support to each other!

Jump to this post

@ipodclassic hello I’ve been experiencing the same thing and it’s really annoying idk what is the cause or what caused it, can you private message me.

REPLY
ipodclassic | @ipodclassic | Jul 4, 2022
In reply to @jasmine2400 "@ipodclassic thanks for replying I just emailed you" + (show)
@jasmine2400

@ipodclassic thanks for replying I just emailed you

Jump to this post

I didn’t receive anything. You can also PM me through this site if you wish.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 4, 2022
In reply to @jasmine2400 "@ipodclassic thanks for replying I just emailed you" + (show)
@jasmine2400

@ipodclassic thanks for replying I just emailed you

Jump to this post

@jasmine2400 and @ipodclassic, please note that I removed your emails from the discussion. Mayo Clinic Connect is an open forum and we recommend that you use private messaging to securely share personal contact information.

Also keep in mind that sharing your solutions through forum helps many. 🙂

REPLY
letsolve | @letsolve | Jul 5, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@letsolve At age 17, you are developing some good strategies for taking care of yourself, good..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@letsolve

At age 17, you are developing some good strategies for taking care of yourself, good for you!

I'm glad that you plan to continue to search for an answer. Persistence often pays dividends when you are dealing with a unique health problem. I'll be interested in hearing about your visit with the surgeon regarding your tonsils.

Will you post again after that appointment?

Jump to this post

Hello, Of course!! I will post updates. Including the possible solutions that I discover.

REPLY
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