Problem with neck going on for 8 months

About 8 months ago I started getting a weird sensation in my upper arm. Day later had a panic attack and the arm pain became intense and the side of my neck started hurting as well. I was convinced something bad must be going on so I was constantly having panic attacks and having major anxiety. Within months I would notice that at times my neck muscles in that side would feel so hard and it started givinge headaches. Then I also started getting this feeling of something in my throat when swallowing and even sometimes feel something click when swallow in my neck. My anxiety was at an all time high because after going to dr and ENT they said it was just muscular. Started having my jaw on the same side lock up on occasion as well as pain deep down in that ear. My dr and ENT recommended getting massages so I did that every week for 5 weeks and i could feel relief in my jaw and shoulder but my neck muscles just wouldn't loosen up completely. I don't have insurance so after 5 weeks I quit going and within a week my headaches were back. My dr even thought maybe thyroid problem so unit an ultrasound on that and everything looked good they said. So here I am 8 months later with pain in te side of my neck, pain going up the back of my neck on that side, eat pain that comes and goes as well as the strange clicking when i swallow. I'm scared to death it's something bad they're just not catching for it to go on this long. My dr had mentioned TMJ but I feel like that came after my neck hurt so isnt it my neck muscles causing that? I don know if this is significant but when this all started I was doing full-time online classes so I was always onnmy laptop and started taking up running. Also when I look up and turn my head to the affected side I hear crackling coming from my neck. Please if anyone has any idea or similar experience please share!! This has really taken a toll and affected my family life and I even took off a semester from school to see if staying off my laptop would help with no such luck.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without a clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. The symptoms around your neck could be related to neuro-muscular issues or other reasons like hormonal/ endocrine abnormalities, micronutrient deficiencies, inflammations, autoimmune/ related etc. The feeling of tightness in the throat is called ‘globus’ in medical terms and could occur due to infections (usually viral), muscular spasm, psychological stress, growths etc; while jaw locking would suggest TMJ issues. It would be difficult to comment further without a clinical evaluation. The best I can suggest is to consult an internist, preferably at a university/ teaching hospital, for an evaluation and appropriate management. Meanwhile you could try OTC tylenol/ NSAIDS for pain relief.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!