Shooting pains in the throat after a tonsillectomy

Thanks to the people who let me know the white scabbing is normal. I was worried it was a spreading infection.

I'm 52 and had mine removed plus some of the soft palate trimmed 11 days ago. I knew it was a nasty operation, but the pain is right up there with childbirth. However, it is probably similar to the extreme strep throats I get about every 5 years. I spoke to a work colleague who'd had his removed earlier in the year and breezed through it, returning to work in a week, so was unprepared to be still on pain meds 11 days later. I developed an infection on one side as well as oral thrush which is now healing.

I stayed the first night in hospital, days two and three I was sore, but felt well enough to do some light housework and potter in the garden between sleeps. Day 4 I vomited all day and night and thought I'd die. After that the pain was almost uncontrollable and it turns out I had an infection and oral thrush. Today, although still sore, I have reduced my pain meds and feel bright and happy. I haven't needed an afternoon nap, so it looks like I'm finally on the mend. I still have another 4 days off work to fully heal.

All food should be well chewed. Chew untill it has dissolved. The food I found best was toast. Yes, dry toast cut into little slices and if I was hungry I dipped them into soft boiled egg. (remember eggs and toasty soldiers from childhood?) Stewed apple was my next staple. I would put a drop on a spoon and let it almost dissolve itself down my throat. Dried apricots, dates and prunes were good snacks. I cooked carrots, broccolli , beans, celery, corn and cauliflower with a bunch of parsley, corriander and lovage. I ate the vegetables and used the cooking water as soup. Yesterday was the first time I could handle a little chicken. All dairy products caused a big mucous buildup which choked me when I slept so I avoided those. Plain water still hurts me so I've been drinking boiled water with a few drops of lemon or cider vinegar in it; sipping it off a spoon if it was too hot.

I hope it has all been worthwhile. Hugs to those going though it.

I am a well educated 17 year old, and I got my tonsils out 3 weeks ago, it still hurts like hell, but I wouldn't say not to get it done.

PS- I do have this stabbing pain in the right side of my throat.. it feels like a toothpick is lodged in there. My boyfriend tells me that after 3 weeks it shouldn't be hurting anymore and that this pain is in my head. -_-

Hi.. im nearing the end of my pain and i just wanted to let you all know about the sharp pain. A lot of people write on these forums but not a lot of people answer the questions being asked. The sharp is normal and happens when the scabs are falling off and the skin is tightening. I am currently at that stage and its very painful, but hopefully over soon. Hope this helps.

To all of you having ear pain with the tonsilectomy: There is a nerve in your throat that your brain confuses with the ear. So the ear pain you are experiencing with the tonsilectomy healing process is actually throat pain. I know it sounds crazy but I too experienced it and when my daughter had her tonsils taken out in November 09 her ENT told us that she might experience ear pain at some point but the pain was actually in her throat. Good luck to all of you going through the recovery of this procedure. I myself know exactly how painful it is I was almost 21 when I had mine taken out. For those of you who are in the process of deciding if you want to have this procedure done, I would like to say that unless your tonsils are swollen and won't go down that would be a good reason to have this procedure done, if your getting your tonsils taken out because of frequent strep infections you might want to reconsider, I am now 29 years old and I have had strep about 15 times since I had the procedure done myself, not to mention I currently have a strep infection as I type this. My 12 year old hasn't had a new infection since she had hers out 4 months ago, but this will be the test!! My 5 year old son currently has strep throat along with Scarlet Fever so I'm hoping my daughter doesn't get it!! I of course caught my strep throat from my son since I'm his main care giver. I'm especially hoping my 9 month old doesn't catch it either!!! Good Luck to all of you and I hope some of this information helps somebody!!! :-)

No one has actually answered this question.... The sharp pain is your nerves coming back to life, and should go away within 48 hours. I'm on day 9; according to the PA, I'm healing faster than most people do. I wish you all luck.

I have a left swollen tonsil and I have been taking penicillin VK 500mg 4 times a day going on 3 weeks. My Ear nose throat doctor suggested that i have my tonsils taken out. He has left the decision up to me, but reading all of the posts here I'm scared to death. He did a scope and looked in the back of my throat behind my tonsils. It is just one tonsil that is swollen no puss or pockets. I don't know what I'm going to do yet. My appointment is at the end of this month to see what I'm going to do.

I just had my tonsils removed Jan 31st and I'm on day 6. Right now I am having the shooting pain on the right side of my throat when I swallow and it continues into my right ear. The hospital didnt tell me about any aftercare they just gave me meds and told me i could eat mac & cheese and popsicles, wow much help. Ive been reading all this info and some of this stuff just isnt working. I tired the chewing gum thing and it sucks because i have braces, ive tried drinking ice water but my teeth get that uncomfortable sensation i can only drink room temp water. and idk tryin to eat mashed potatos and mac & cheese is very difficult because my jaw seems very stiff and my tongue is swollen im also producing alot of saliva which is annoying me cuz the pain of swalloing is unbearable i rather just spit it out. and the hydrocodone they gave me just makes me sleepy and if i sleep my mouth gets dry and the pain increases. this just freakin sucks.

I'm on day 9 after getting my tonsils out and ever since day 5 the pain has been increasingly horrible but only on my left side. My ride side is perfectly normal and feels fine, but my left side has piercing, shooting pains every time I swallow, eat and drink something especially if it's not luke warm. Are these exposed nerves or something?? My ear and throat hurt so bad it feels like someone is shoving sharp pins in my throat. I thought the pain was supposed to decrease after day 7, is something wrong back there? I'm still only eating applesauce and jello and am so sick of them but everything else hurts like crazy. Also, waking up in the morning is the worst, I can barely swallow because of the pain. I really hope this is all worth it in the end cause this sucks.

Did you ever get better? I have the same pain on the left side and I am 7 months post tonsillectomy. They say it could be a nerve thing. What happened to you- when did you recover?

Hi. I'm 21 and am 16 days post op. I had my tonsils and adenoids removed and a tube put in my left ear. The ear pain is totally normal. The best advice I can give is drink lots of water. This keeps the throat moist so when the scabs come off your throat has healed enough that although it sucks and is nasty it doesn't really hurt to cough them up. Also as soon as you're able to eat normal food with no pain, have someone take you to a prime rib dinner. I ate prime rib last night and the lump in my throat went away for a whole day! This procedure is terrible. I would honestly be in labor again, it's really not the severity of the pain, it's the location of it. The gagging is hell when the scabs start peeling but like I said the more water you drink the longer it takes for them to come off which is actually good cuz the pain is minimal by then. It is going to be worth it to not get tonsillitis every 2 weeks but for the first 2 weeks it felt like the worst decision I ever made! Hang in there though. It will get better.

Im 30 yr old female 16 day post op with the same shooting pain. After much b.s. with my ENT he said it is probably a nerve endinging healing and it could take about 8 more weeks. He changed my pain medicine a couple days after the surgery and screwed up my refills so no meds from day 8 on, and he refused to prescribe anything else, suggesting in not so many words I was a drug seeker. He recommended 4 ibuprofen 3-4 times a day (well beyond the recommended 6 a day on the bottle).

Around day 11 I think I felt a disolving stick snap and thats when the shooting sharp pain started and hasn't stopped since when I swallow.

I saw two seperate ENT practices before picking this guy and NONE of the paperwork mentions such a pain. In addition parts of my tongue in the back are missing. Despite his claim your tonsils go up to 1/4 inch into your tongue, I am requesting a copy of my operation report to find out exactly what he did and where.

I also can not talk correctly, eat correctly (or barely at all), swallow without grimacing, and when I yawn/couch/belch it stretches the tissue back there and it appears the sore section has grown in size.

The doctor said it is all normal - we will see.

Stop talking like you're uneducated. Wtf is wrong with kids.

Talk like a human. No one understands what the hell you are saying

Iam a 43yr old - day 10 of recovery from tonsilectomy. My main pain has been on the left side and into that ear too, had a hard time sleeping on left side too.  I had to stop taking the Rx pain meds(day 5) and went right to 500mg Tylenol because the extra drug in the rx was making me not function.. worst pain between day 4-6 Back to work as teacher Day7 not too bad just fatigue. Day 9 went 5hrs between meds, day 10 7-8hrs between meds and slightly better sleep.  Don't eat any bread no matter how small you break it up -catches on your throat may cause bleeding. Regular spagetti, mashed potatoes, Ramon noodle soup, pudding(not chocolate), Apple sauce (will sting but good), Chicken noodle soup, Ice cream (stung and hurt roof of mouth and teeth but still ate it to cool insissions down). if you get tiny spots of blood on back of throat try ice cold water before you panic. Drink lots of water, small amounts of gateraide each day for electrolites, chocolate milk for energy and electrolites, small amounts of milk to avoid flem build up. I was able to drink 1/4 cup luke warm coffee twice a day. First 5 days used my recliner a lot to help sleep at night. benefits - lost 14lbs!! hope this helps, sorry about spelling, hang in there.

This is my experience to a tee except the bleeding started on day 7 - I used a pill crusher & put it in ice cream & I am 3 weeks from the 1st surgery 2 weeks from the 2nd & my throat is still throbbing the extreme pain is gone & so is the ear pain. No doubt this is by far the worse pain I have ever experienced. I am 35