Strange aching, sore spot deep in left front neck/throat

Hello all,

I'm suffering some very similar symptoms as listed here and it's somewhat comforting to know that I'm not alone. I thought I'd share them with you in the hopes that someone here might have an idea of what's wrong with me.

I'm a 28 year-old male who's been experiencing throat discomfort on and off for the past 6 months or so. Basically it started out as this mild, pinching feeling on the left side of the throat, near the Adam's apple that would come and go. Then I started noticing that sometimes after yawning, it would hurt a bit when I'd swallow, as if I'd swallowed a huge gulp of water or something. Went on for a couple of months and eventually I'd get on/off brief and dull pains while swallowing my own saliva, and occasionally, it would hurt when I'd swallow food or even talk. They weren't constant throbbing pains, just rather brief and a bit unusual. Not the typical cold-like soreness when you swallow. It almost felt like something was stuck in there or there was too much phlegm. In some cases, the pain even radiates to my left ear and about 2 inches down from my chin... hard to explain. I'd be inclined to say the jaw, but more around where the chin is. These past couple of days seem to have worsened. Maybe brought on by anxiety. Some days, I'd feel no discomfort whatsoever, but then out of nowhere I'd feel it again.

Don't have a doctor and I haven't been to the ER as it seems to go away on its own after a couple of days, sometimes a week or two but then the pain comes back and I'm not sure why. For the record, I do smoke cannabis and weed regularly, so I thought maybe it could be linked to this, but I'm not entirely sure. There's no coughing, and even if I do, there's no pain. Neither when I clear my throat, so it doesn't feel like the pain is INSIDE the throat, more like to the side. There are no lumps, no swelling and no discomfort when I turn my head or anything. If I move the left muscle of my throat outwardly while I swallow, it seems to not hurt anymore. I did get strep throat in March 2017 but the pain was on the right side... Would it be possible there is a lingering infection that spread to the left side of my throat? Or perhaps it has to do something with my deskjob and bad posture, like leaning toward the screen too often. I'm thinking of going to the ER but I'm afraid either they'll just send me home and say to not worry about it and waste my time. I'd think that if it was anything serious, maybe I'd have more symptoms but nothing's changed besides the discomfort getting slightly worse over the past months...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sounds like "branchial cleft cyst"

Most people here have Carotidynia ... Doctors are clueless about it. Mine is chronic and constant pain, awful. No cure. No point anymore.

I've been like you to so many ENT's and everyone is telling me to go to pain management. I've gone to two pain management guys and they have made things worse. I just went through a C3-T1 Cervical Fusion (major surgery) but I've had this pain and bump in the front of my neck from an endocrinologist giving me neck trauma - unfortunately, the neck surgery was posterior so I am getting pain from that and I am getting pain from the front from that endocrinologist giving me neck trauma. The pain management guy and my surgeon are saying I'm a candidate for the spinal cord stimulation where they place a battery in you bottom of your spine and do something with the Cervical Spine and it's supposed to be good for your pain and last with a 9 year battery. Oh, I've been to so many doctors that my husband is ready to divorce me. I had neck surgery anterior 15 years ago, that went just fine, it's this posterior one that has cause pain problems. But I had an endocrinologist that I had to go to the Emergency Room because of my neck pain give me neck trauma. Of course he denies it, he says it's just a muscle and I didn't press any harder on you than anyone else. The doctor in the ER asked who did this, and I told her and she said you are the second one that has complained about Dr. Chen. The girl that give me the ultrasound says he presses hard - he made me swallow 35 times a glass of water as he was pressing so hard knowing I had former neck surgery. I'm going today for some neck x-rays of my hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. The painful symptoms are caused by trauma at the greater cornu of the hyoid bone with the pain radiating to other sites. They are trying to get me off the pain pills, which I'm down to nothing but it's killing me. I am printing your article and bringing i with me.
Thanks, I hope all goes well with you and me! Mr. email is efreitag@chubbcom, I would like to ko

I am going through the same thing! I took Tylenol today to help. Have been dealing with this for 2 1/2 years now...pain comes and goes and last longer some days than others. Tingly pinching at times. My actual throat is not in pain it must be a nerve or a muscle..also I notice it started after the birth of my daughter...have you had any relief?

Have you have any relief since this post? I too am dealing with this for the last 2 1/2 years ent told me not to worry but I can't help it it never goes away

Is anyone else not even able to turn their neck or even look up? The pain along my carotid is horrendous. I can't breathe deeply even, constantly breathing slightly. Every moment is pain for me. It goes up to my ear and my eye. I haven't turned my neck in eight months. I can feel my carotid pounding. It's not in my head. Wtf am I supposed to do if doctors have decided there's nothing wrong? I can't live like this. I'm not depressed but there's no point living anymore like this, it's not enjoyable. No one can help me. Family doesn't understand. Guess I just wait till I get the courage to end it all because this isn't getting better.

look up inflamed carotid artery.
and please dont end your life, your life is very valuable. its time to roar like a lion and find a doctor to help you.
I understand, I am going through a health challenge now and it has been almost a year. please hang in there...

Is there a chance to talk to you? Thank you

I have suffered from horrible left side throat and ear and eye pain for years, I can feel left side of throat/larynx has grown wider and is sore. Noticing a new slowly increasing slight bulge below left ear/ jaw on side of neck, which Severel ENT’s Dr’s couldn’t see or feel ,finally got one to do surgery, he found my greater horn wasn’t normal and was pushing my major nerves out of place and causing pain as the nerves getting pushed out of place, Dr resected some of the horn to let nerves back in place. Thank goodness this helped as I was really going insane with it all. I feel he could have resected more of the painfull area and going back to see him

Did you ever get this figured out as to what the problem was? I'm experiencing the dizziness when pressed, the pain is horrible, and I can feel the popping.

Is there a chance to talk to you?

Did you ever find out what this was? I have the same exact symptoms!

For one year now I have had a horrible sensation in my throat, right side. I feel as if there something sticking in there or it's as if something is rotated.
I've been to numerous ENT's, a head and neck surgeon (who was very dismissive) my primary
numerous times &neurologist. CT scan w/contrast. I have been on reflux medications, anti-inflammatory's, nose sprays, antibiotics and a steroid pack.
I also have right side of face ache around my cheekbone, temple sometimes eye socket. One side stuffy nose &sometimes one side post nasal drip. I am currently in physical therapy I am into week three ...no change. I feel like all of the doctors just think I am crazy because they tell me my CT scan is clear they think it is all in my head...
I also have achy feeling in front of my ear, back of my neck and I believe in the area around my mastoid bone. The front of my neck on the right side feels tender and achy- this feeling is constant it does not go away. i have spent countless hours researching I am starting to wonder if it has something to do with my thyroid Cartlidge.
if anyone has anything similar or knows of a solution ..anything I am desperate ...please reach out on the site I have subscribed so that I receive email
when someone replies.
I am 41 yr old F. non smoker.

I live near Philly as well have you seen anyone located within the city?