Anyone get extremely painful 'cramps' in front of neck/throat? Help! - Ear, Nose & Throat Message Board

SirMack · 03-10-2006, 02:01 PM

Sometimes I will yawn or just out of nowhere, and will get an extreme painful "cramp" almost like a 'charlie horse' in my neck that lasts for 20 or 30 seconds and hurts for upwards of an hour or two afterwards.

Also my throat has been still hurting/aching slightly on the right side of my esophogus, been over a month now.

Any idea why it is happening and what could it be?

carolmarol · 06-17-2006, 10:36 PM

YES! I am posting this right now while currently experiencing this painful event. I coughed and pulled something (this is my 4th time going through this) and experienced your "charley horse" situation for about 2 hours. Swallowing is very painful, but my experience suggests that dehydration MAY be related? On each occaision, 1- day after stomach flu-yawning, 2-in conjuction with a hang over, and this latest one, a 94 degree day after working in the yard without adequate hydration, my fault - and coughing. It usually involves one side of the throat and makes it very difficult to talk. Does this sound like yours? Can you associate any possible dehydration with your occurances? Its just an idea...
I forced myself to painfully sip water, or Gatorade for about an hour and it SLOWLY subsided. Coincidence?

Your's was the ONLY info I could find that sound like mine on the net. The medical links didn't seem to fit well and were very technical. Have you found any helpful info since March? Thought I was a freak? Even had to miss work once.
carol in Milwaukee

Mooreorless · 08-14-2006, 12:42 PM

I too have had these painful experiences and am heading to the doctor tomorrow because I've now had lingering pain on the right side of my throat for two days. In the past I've had these very sharp and painful 'cramps' occur in the morning upon waking (usually when I yawn). They last only a second or two until I force myself to swallow which somehow alleviates the pain. This has happened maybe once or twice a year. Now I've had this lingering pain just to the right side of my adam's apple for two days. It's painful when I rub it (similar to muscle pain), and very painful when I swallow. I don't know that any of these are related to hydration, but I'll start drinking extra water today regardless.

Did either of you find an explanation? I've never had this pain last for so long which is why I just made a doctors appointment. It wasn't even brought on by a cramp this time, it just started to ache.

ktnay1 · 10-08-2006, 11:24 PM

Yes I have experienced something like that last week. I was vomiting, (Which I have done rather frequently for the last few months but that is another matter.) all of a sudden I got a cramp in the front of my neck on the left side. It lasted only about 30 secs., but I almost had to 'pop' this area in the front before it would stop cramping!! This happened 2 more times, once while I leaned over the tub to wash my hair and the other when I stretched my head back over the back of the couch. I still can't turn my head to the right without some cramping pain. (I already have deg neck problems that this added to my misery

.)I go to my ENT tomorrow and will ask him what could it be. I've asked my physical therapist and massage therapist and the have never heard of such a thing, they only came up with a muscle spasm perhaps but never heard of it popping like I had happen!!!

ktnay1 · 10-08-2006, 11:28 PM

Yes I have experienced something like that last week. I was vomiting, (Which I have done rather frequently for the last few months but that is another matter.) all of a sudden I got a cramp in the front of my neck on the left side. It lasted only about 30 secs., but I almost had to 'pop' this area in the front before it would stop cramping!! This happened 2 more times, once while I leaned over the tub to wash my hair and the other when I stretched my head back over the back of the couch. I still can't turn my head to the right without some cramping pain. (I already have deg neck problems that this added to my misery

.)I go to my ENT tomorrow and will ask him what could it be. I've asked my physical therapist and massage therapist and the have never heard of such a thing, they only came up with a muscle spasm perhaps but never heard of it popping like I had happen!!!