Does anyone here have or heard of nutcracker esophagus?

Have Achalasia and x-ray showed esophagus abnormality. Had ballon stretching endoscopy and it has worked very well so far---two years. A digestive specialist performed procedure. Also met with registered dietician who suggested a semi soft diet which has also helped. My suggestion is to find a
digestive specialist at a major hospital center such as Mayo and have yourself tested. Manometry is the gold standard test from what I've been told.
It's not pleasant but it doesn't take very long. Also had upper endoscopy done by digestive specialist. This is slightly different than procedure performed by GI doctor. Good luck and hope you feel better.

It's helpful to read other's comments on this condition. I've had trouble swallowing foods and liquids (and now even my saliva) for well over 15 years now. Food would get stuck in my esophagus and was VERY painful until the muscles finally pushed it down. Many times I had to vomit to get the food out. My problems got increasingly worse the past several months so my small-town nurse practitioner referred me to (a non-Mayo) gastroenterologist. In the past 6 weeks the doctor had me get a barium swallow test, a high-resolution manometry/motility study (I agree with a poster above, not a pleasant test at all), and an endoscopy (of which the doctor performed a balloon dilation during that procedure). He has diagnosed me with Dysphagia, Schatzki's Ring, GERD (of which I take Pantropazole), a floating hiatal hernia, mild reflux esophagitis, and the 'biggie' of Hypercontractile Esophagus (also called Jackhammer/Nutcracker Esophagus). Besides the GERD med, he started me out with taking 2 peppermint Altoids 10 minutes before eating. They did nothing. Now he has me on Diltiazem to see if that med will smooth out my esophagus' muscles. I've been on it a week and no change whatsoever. I also have terrible backaches (and have for as long as I've had the problems with swallowing food and now liquids) and my local pharmacist told me that the nerves in the muscles of my esophagus radiate out the pain I'm having to the nerves in my back muscles and thus gives me the terrible backaches (makes sense to me). Having difficulty even swallowing my saliva has started the past couple of weeks. At the end of my 30 days of the Diltiazem I'm going to ask my current gastroenterologist to refer me to Mayo (where I have been many times in the past 17 years for other problems). This Hypercontractile Esophagus condition is quite wearing on me (I also have severe Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME) and I also take Trazodone at night so that I can get some sleep. I also have an electronic bed that I raise the head up on it each night and that helps a bit with the GERD. I've been following a GERD diet the past several weeks and have taken out acidic, fried, (most) processed foods and only drink water and skim milk. I eat very small bites and chew until its pulverized (it feels like!) and sip water while eating. I eat several times during the day and not put all of my food into the normal 3 main meals/day. It's been very challenging to find foods that I can eat (or not eat) and I'm still figuring out what foods do or don't work best for me. I was interested in the person who had the P.O.E.M. surgery and your comment that it's difficult to find a surgeon who does it. Did you have it done at Mayo? I am hoping to get myself referred to Mayo because they are closest in distance to me (versus another big medical center in the country) and I've read that Mayo has an "Esophageal Clinic" within the gastroenterology department and was hoping they would have expertise in my condition (which I've been told it's a major, but rare, esophageal condition - I'm convinced my current (non-Mayo) gastroenterologist does not have much, expertise in my particular rare condition). Thank you all for your responses.

My story is similar. Had an endoscopy in 2019 that according to the Gastroenterologist was normal. I was suffering from acid reflux a lot. Fast forward to Jan 2022 when I had another endoscopy. Was diagnosed with GERD, sliding Hiatal hernia, and poor swallowing capacity. My esophagus is wide open. Taking PPI's and following the book "The acid watcher's diet". Did a Manometer test that diagnosed me with nutcracker esophagus. Although I've only had food stuck once in a while and always been able to get the food down, I know there will probably come a time when it's not working. Discussed surgery options with the doctor and am not overjoyed. Only one surgeon in my area performs the Linx which is the one I'm leaning to. It would be nice to hear from people who have had that surgery. In the meantime, I have ordered a device from Sweden (I'm Swedish) that is suppose to strengthen the muscles of the esophagus. It's a small plastic tool that you put in front of your teeth and pull, doing that 3 times a day. It takes a long time to feel the results (3 to 6months) and since it's patented, it's expensive. But reading the reviews, I'm optimistic that it will at least make it better. My doctor poo-pooed it of course! Iqoro.com

Chewing is very important. Of, course swallowing fewer pills at once is a fix. Chewing is what keeps people from choking to death, what helps digestion immensely, and very helpful in weight loss.

Eliminating dairy, eating gluten free for me has eased most of my symptoms of acid reflux and gerd. I have a hiatal hernia, had the same procedures done that most mentioned above. Not a fun experience when eating becomes difficult. I use 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to ease any acid reflux that does happen. Eating smaller amounts at a time, chewing food longer starts the digestion process quicker too.

There are a few options for jackhammer/ nutcracker esophagus. They can give you Botox which relaxes the muscle or a procedure called p.o.e.m. Where they cut the muscle. I threw up every time I ate for a year straight. Was malnourished. Had Botox which helped temporarily and then had poem procedure. I can eat with little problem. No more throwing up.

Following these comments

Are you still doing well with the surgery? 🙏 who did the surgery?

I have nutcracker esophageal spasms. I've had them periodically for about 30 years - don't know why I get them and a few times it brought me to my knees - thought I was having a heart attack. A few times I had to go to the E.R. to help stop the spasm. I put a nitroglycerin tablet under my tongue to help to stop the spasm. BUT, I found that if I can stop the spasm as soon as I FEEL it coming on, I drink a glass of very cold or ice water quickly. I found lately that that stops the spasm for me. When I do get a spasm I feel really crummy all day long - and on edge, afraid it will start again. My doctor does not know why I get them or what to do about them except for using the nitroglycerine.

I have Nutcrackers Syndrome and it has me mostly bedridden, I’m totally disabled from it currently