1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Suddenly have popping in throat when swallowing. Will it go away?

Posted by kmh1122 @kmh1122, Jan 8, 2022

Hi. This morning I woke up with this weird popping sensation in my neck when swallowing, completely out of the blue and it’s concerning me because I recently had a friend diagnosed with thyroid cancer, so my paranoia is a bit higher than usual. I can feel and hear the popping when swallowing only when my head is in certain positions, and if I apply too much pressure to my neck in the area it’s coming from when swallowing it doesn’t happen. I have been sick this week with an upper respiratory infection and have been coughing quite a bit. I though maybe it could be a swollen lymph node moving against my throat when swallowing, however I can’t feel any swelling or lumps at all for that matter. It does not hurt to swallow right now but I worry that it will if it continues. In terms of symptoms from my URI…. Cough, congestion in both my nose and chest, sneezing, sore throat, plugged ears, all the fun stuff. Is the popping related to me being sick? Will it likely go away? Thank you in advance!

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barsha38 | @barsha38 | Dec 31, 2022

I've been getting this as well. If I move my head certain angles it stops. Mine only happens when I voluntarily swallow ( it doesn't happen when I swallow food or drink) is yours the same?

I've read that it's possibly related to anxiety. Do you suffer from anxiety?

REPLY
1 reply
barsha38 | @barsha38 | Dec 31, 2022
In reply to @tjones2a "I’ve been having the same problem for about 6 months. Is it still there or has..." + (show)
@tjones2a

I’ve been having the same problem for about 6 months. Is it still there or has it gone away?

Jump to this post

I've been getting this as well. If I move my head certain angles it stops. Is yours the same? I've read that it could be related to anxiety

REPLY
mwilson28 | @mwilson28 | Jan 2, 2023
In reply to @barsha38 "I've been getting this as well. If I move my head certain angles it stops. Mine..." + (show)
@barsha38

I've been getting this as well. If I move my head certain angles it stops. Mine only happens when I voluntarily swallow ( it doesn't happen when I swallow food or drink) is yours the same?

I've read that it's possibly related to anxiety. Do you suffer from anxiety?

Jump to this post

I had this starting yesterday. It caused major anxiety. When I hold my neck straight down it doesn’t do it. I’m very scared at this point to where it’s keeping me up at night.

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honeymoon | @honeymoon | Jan 5, 2023
In reply to @anonymoushoward "I had something very similar happen to me four years ago. I had a sort of..." + (show)
@anonymoushoward

I had something very similar happen to me four years ago. I had a sort of run-of-the-mill respiratory virus for a few days. I woke up one morning with a clicking or popping sensation in my throat. It didn't hurt exactly, but it was a bit distressing. I could make the sensation stop if I turned my head to certain angles, but most of the time the popping sensation was present. I could also press on my throat and it would go away. My cold got better, but the clicking didn't go away. Eventually I consulted my PC doc, who sent me to an ENT. They scoped my throat and noted a bit of paralysis in my left vocal cord. They sent me to physical therapy (useless), prescribed speech therapy, had a couple of radiological swallow studies done (so they could see the swallowing mechanism in action), GI consults, etc. This was all probably over the course of a year, with no change to the popping sensation. Last year, on a third follow-up throat scope, they said the paralysis appeared to have improved somewhat, but I still had the popping sensation. Four years later it's still with me—no real change. I am mostly used to it now, but very rarely it will cause me a little bit of discomfort. In the end, the diagnosis was basically that the virus I had four years ago caused some nerve damage in my throat and that this will be a minor annoyance I'll just have to deal with.

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are you sure there’s nothing that can be done about it? it’s happening to me and i’m only 17 i really don’t want to have this for the rest of my life… also did you have a hoarse voice or still have a hoarse voice?

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tammycollins | @tammycollins | Apr 18, 2023

This popping sensation started in my throat last week. Ive been seeing doctors for a year now because of pain in my neck from nerves and dizziness. I’ve been evaluated for eagle syndrome and bowhunter syndrome. I’m wondering if I have hyoid syndrome since now I have the clicking in my throat. Can anyone recommend a good doctor in Mayo that treats Hyoid bone syndrome?

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jwrwswbw | @jwrwswbw | Jun 8, 2023

Any luck with a diagnosis? I have this too. It’s driving me insane.

REPLY
christylynhunt1 | @christylynhunt1 | Jun 9, 2023
In reply to @anonymoushoward "I had something very similar happen to me four years ago. I had a sort of..." + (show)
@anonymoushoward

I had something very similar happen to me four years ago. I had a sort of run-of-the-mill respiratory virus for a few days. I woke up one morning with a clicking or popping sensation in my throat. It didn't hurt exactly, but it was a bit distressing. I could make the sensation stop if I turned my head to certain angles, but most of the time the popping sensation was present. I could also press on my throat and it would go away. My cold got better, but the clicking didn't go away. Eventually I consulted my PC doc, who sent me to an ENT. They scoped my throat and noted a bit of paralysis in my left vocal cord. They sent me to physical therapy (useless), prescribed speech therapy, had a couple of radiological swallow studies done (so they could see the swallowing mechanism in action), GI consults, etc. This was all probably over the course of a year, with no change to the popping sensation. Last year, on a third follow-up throat scope, they said the paralysis appeared to have improved somewhat, but I still had the popping sensation. Four years later it's still with me—no real change. I am mostly used to it now, but very rarely it will cause me a little bit of discomfort. In the end, the diagnosis was basically that the virus I had four years ago caused some nerve damage in my throat and that this will be a minor annoyance I'll just have to deal with.

Jump to this post

Hey! So I just got this problem a couple of days ago, I’m gonna be 16 and it feels like a bone is smacking together and making a clicking/popping noise, Id there seriously nothing that can be done? It’s a bit painful but I don’t know if I can have this the rest of my life, I have high anxiety, And I’ve been taking medicine like crazy trying to get rid of it, So did they ever find out a diagnosis? Thanks in advance!

REPLY
1 reply
Jack | @captainj | Jun 13, 2023
In reply to @christylynhunt1 "Hey! So I just got this problem a couple of days ago, I’m gonna be 16..." + (show)
@christylynhunt1

Hey! So I just got this problem a couple of days ago, I’m gonna be 16 and it feels like a bone is smacking together and making a clicking/popping noise, Id there seriously nothing that can be done? It’s a bit painful but I don’t know if I can have this the rest of my life, I have high anxiety, And I’ve been taking medicine like crazy trying to get rid of it, So did they ever find out a diagnosis? Thanks in advance!

Jump to this post

All i can say is relax dont get anxious on the click let it happen dont concentrate on it i am having it since September almost 9 months one thing i suggest that can make you relax is to watch the mirror while swallow or drinking and watch your throat moving up and down slowly ..
Any ways keep updating us your journey

REPLY
1 reply
christylynhunt1 | @christylynhunt1 | Jun 14, 2023
In reply to @captainj "All i can say is relax dont get anxious on the click let it happen dont..." + (show)
@captainj

All i can say is relax dont get anxious on the click let it happen dont concentrate on it i am having it since September almost 9 months one thing i suggest that can make you relax is to watch the mirror while swallow or drinking and watch your throat moving up and down slowly ..
Any ways keep updating us your journey

Jump to this post

Hey I have an update! So I went to the doctor today and they told me I had just a few muscles in my neck that wasn’t settling down from an infection from crying and screaming I had done that had traumatized my neck, It should be gone soon! I’m on medication now!

REPLY
1 reply
Jack | @captainj | Jun 15, 2023
In reply to @christylynhunt1 "Hey I have an update! So I went to the doctor today and they told me..." + (show)
@christylynhunt1

Hey I have an update! So I went to the doctor today and they told me I had just a few muscles in my neck that wasn’t settling down from an infection from crying and screaming I had done that had traumatized my neck, It should be gone soon! I’m on medication now!

Jump to this post

What type of diagnosis mechanisms did they operate on you ?,What kind of medication have they gave you ? and also update as your journey once in a while.

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