Left side of throat hurts

I have had this problem for 18 months, it started after a sinus infection. I had ear pain on the left side, and occasional pain in my left side of my throat. I went to see my ENT doctor. He said my ear and throat were both fine, no signs of any cancer (I also smoked and drank alchohol, but quit both 10 years ago) He said the pain was TMJ or Eustachian Tube Malfunction. The ear pain feels better if I yawn purposefully to clear the tube. I sleep on my left side most of the time, and I am wondering if that creates pressure on the tube.

I did a google search for throat pain when yawning and found this website.
I am shocked to see posts from so many people experiencing the same symptoms that I am. I have always been prone to colds when I was growing up and it seemed like I always had a stuffy nose. My nose was broken at the age of twelve by a mean cousin of mine. My parents never took me to the dr. to have the nose set. From that point on my troubles grew worse and worse. Fast forward to present day.... I suddenly came down with one sinus infection after another. Dr's had no explanation other than my damaged nose and crooked septum. I had sinus surgery. That was awful. Since that day I can breathe through my nose, so much that my throat is always dry. Maybe they removed too much tissue or something. My sense of smell has never been the same sense the surgery. That was 4 years ago. I use a sinus spray daily and everytime I have a cold, you guessed it, it turns into another sinus infection. I know all my antibiotics by heart and was taking one course about once a month for about 2 years. As of today, I have not had antibiotics in about 3 months and I'm thinking I need them. I felt sick last week and the fatigue was debilitating. I had a slight fever but very little congestion. This morning I woke up with a horrible sore throat. I do smoke and am quitting gradually. I am down to 4 per day. I know that smoking is making my problems worse and I am quitting. Smoking pisses me off so much. I hate the fact that something so horrible is so hard to quit. Anyway, I have that pain and fullness most of the time on the right side of my throat. I feel fullness there some of the time. I have been told it is allergies, viral, post sinus drip, stress, etc. I have had sinus surgery, seen multiple ENTS and what it all comes down to is this.... (just like the fine dr. told me); "In one hand we have medication, in the other we have a scalpel, YOU CHOOSE". I sat there and cried. I have accepted that these sinus/allergy issues will probably plague me the rest of my life. It is depressing. I could relocate to see if my symptoms get better, but I'm a single mom who is working on her B.S. and money is tight. I'm glad I found this website and hope that everyone out there is feeling better. Here is my email address if anyone wants to keep in touch: _[removed]_. (am I allowed to include my email addy?) I hope so. Take care everyone! J

Well I dont know if I am going through the same thing. I started out with a back pain and went to the dr. They gave me Naproxen and a antibioatic because I also had a UTI. The day after I took the meds. I devoloped a sore throat, mostly swollen and hurt on the left side, and a runny nose and cough. I am a smoker and I smoked much less then before. I dont know what is wrong. I lost my voice almost completely. and I dont know how to get better.

It has to be viral because this is the second time i have had it. I am already on a antibodic for a bladder infection so I would not have gotten any type of bacterial infection being on such strong meds. The first time I had it I was given a throat solution which was helped to deaden and it had antibodics in it and was also given a zpack. It went away. Just 2 weeks had no symptoms other than I lost my voice for several days and now 2 weeks later left side of throat and lymph node and ear killing me. My kids are always sick with something so I am thinking I got it from them, It maybe mono symptom related to the epstein barr virus and liek with any virus will just have to wait it out but it is very painful. Will go to the dr and get a strep and mono test and let you know. I have not had tonsils since I was a kid and have smoked but not in a while.

Hi everyone, as im posting you can probably guess that I have the same symptoms as everyone else.
Im 17 and from England.
I do smoke and was convinced I had throat cancer. I looked up the symptoms to throat cancer and it basicly gave the same symptoms as everyone elses, but different so im guessing thats not it otherwise at least one doctor would of seen it. Throat cancer also lead me to a link to glandular fever, but it appears you need tonsils to get that.. I had mine removed, along with my adonoids, when i was a lot younger. So now im pretty much sure it can't be that.
A few weeks back I went to see the Foo fighters and came down with a cold (It was on the 6th and 7th of june so at least I know when that was) I had a saw throat and a cough for a while after but just thought it was due to the smoking. I never bothered with a Dr. as I just thought it would go away, which it did.
Im not sure when this started, probably a few days or a week ago, but I started to have this pain on the right side of my throat. There was nothing else wrong just this pain. It went away and then came back on the left side. The pain seems to be there in the morning and then goes away. However, when it gets to the evening it starts up again. Tonight has been the worst as my ear has also now started to hurt.
It's very painful and im not quite sure what to do.
Ive taken two paracetamol and in about 10 minutes will take two ibprofen.
I do want to go to the doctors but im petrified of the outcome.
I now don't think it's cancer, but after reading all of this, there dosent seem to be a cure.
There has to be more people than everyone who has posted on here , so why is there seeming to be nothing anyone can do about it?
I really don't understand whats going on, and am really quite worried.
Some posts have been saying they've had it for years and im really not sure I can cope with it for much longer as the pain is too much. Im scared to swallow or yawn and im really finding it difficult. Over the past few days ive been cutting down on the smokes, but it dosent seem to be having an effect.

Hope everyone gets some answers =]

Whenever i eat some spicy food i always face sore throat problem. As i am having tonsiles.

I've had the same problem with a sore throat on the left side only for about a month. Four days ago, I started taking Prilosec OTC as I was having some heartburn here and there (nothing more than usual). I usually take Zantac but decided to try Prilosec. Three days later, my sore throat was almost completely gone. I had a pre-scheduled appointment with my ENT today (day 4) and he said based on the looks of things, that this was due to acid reflux. Throat had a little bump/scar on the left side which is common with acid reflux (it's not throat cancer or an infection).

I now have to take Prilosec for 2 months and this bump inside my throat should go away. I'll update my thread as things progress but right now, my sore throat is gone!! :-)

I had a sinus infection/headcold last weekend, went to work this week, got near some cats on Friday and had a sore throat by 8pm. Ok, not a problem, took some viatmins and went to bed, woke up with the worst sore throat i've ever had in my life. It's now Monday and it's not getting any better. Was going to go to the doctor, but now reading your posts, it could be useless. Has anyone tried contacting those that posted last year or earlier this year to see if they're still the same way?
Will post later on with how, if, why i'm feeling better.

WOW....I didn't come here to expect everyone in the world had the same damn problem. LOL...I was sick 2 weeks ago with a cold but the soar throat has continued.(LEFT SIDE of course).... i went to the doctor yesterday and he looked in my throat and said it was o.k.........when i lie down or at work it hurts. I am convinced its my sinuses draining. This really sucks you guys!

It's now been over 2 months since I started taking Prilosec due to the heartburn that was causing my sore throat and my sore throat never returned. It took about 2-3 weeks to completely go away but once it went away, it never came back.

The same thing go's for me.

I've had it for two days too.

=[

I'm 19 years old.

& SCared out my damn mind !!

today is xmas eve;; & i have to go in to the doctor.

:cry:

If any of you find out any information please please please email me ****



**edited by moderator** **e-mails are not allowed**

Wow... i have the same problem too.. left side of the throat..
I don't smoke, but I was yelling/screaming for a long period of time when it starts to hurt.. and i have sinus problem as well..

it started 4 days ago as well, and not going away..

I havne't see the doc yet, but Im pretty sure he is going to gave me AB for treatment...

With some more research on the web.. i found it that i rinse it with salt water very freq. and aloe vera juice.. the pain kinda goes away ..

Wow, so many people have the same symptoms as I do. I'm a 22 yr old guy, non smoker and physically fit and active. It's been bothering me for a couple days now and I haven't experienced it before so I thought I'd do a research.

1. LEFT side tonsil/throat discomfort especially when swallowing/yawning/talking

2. I had a real bad cold/flu and it took a little over a week to fully recover from that. After the pesky lingering cold, I developed an annoying post nasal drip. That went away and a couple days later, I have a sudden onset of the throat problem.

3. I haven't been in the mood on eating solid food because it hurts, soups and hot drinks make it feel better.

4. Throat feels as if the skin is burnt, sore. Upon a visual infection, I see redness on the left side on the first day and slight swelling. On the second day, both tonsils are red'ish but pain is localized on the left side only.

5. The pain is localized on the left side of the throat/tonsil only. It does not radiate anywhere else. I hope it stays that way.

6. My only known allergies are shellfish and codeine.

7. Started taking amoxicillin and I don't think it's helping.



And there you have it folks. Good luck.

I have almost read about all these replies about this topic and just about 4 hours ago it started hurting. I am 17 in NYC and I am not a smoker, or a drug attic but i am a heavy eater. i did have my blood checked by a doctor and it seems my blood pressure is average. I am over-weight by 20pds. I hope this helps btw. There are NO lump, bump on my left throat that is hurting. Every time I swallow my throat would start to hurt from the left side. I haven't heard from misshell for awhile now since the post started and i was hoping someone can PM her or ask her to look at these replies. I am hoping this person is alright.It is really troublesome when i am sleeping because of my breathing and that is why i am typing this at 1:30 in the morning. I am trying to think positive though so hang in there if i find out the problem this is the site i will go to and type the answer.

UPDATE 1.

As you well know everyone who is reading is worried about their throat problems so i asked my mother about mine and since she is a mother she did her motherly check around my throat. She was checking if i had any lumps or bumbs and of course she did find a small bump on the RIGHT side of my neck. i got a little confused and a little worried. BUT its not cancer bumps it was a common one. People usually get and doesn't stay very long if you treat it right. My mother also checked my left and said it might be that the right side lump is affecting the left side too. Since its only been 4 hours and i didn't check a doctor about this yet i can't be too sure my mom is telling the truth but her mother instincts know I'm not in serious danger right now. :$ embarrassing