Has anyone heard of a dislocated hyoid bone?????

Please, please give me some direction to head in with this!!!  My 17 yr. old son complained of pain in his neck a couple of months after he flipped over a car.  he had knee injuries as well.  the orthopedic took an xray of his neck and said he was ok.
About 10 months later my son complained that while at his bus stop something popped in his throat and he couldn't breath for a minute and was forced to place pressure on it to pop it back in.  I found it very odd and kind of brushed it off and said you're ok now so.  Then a couple of months later it happened again.  His pediatrician sent us to an Endoconologist.  He had no answer and told us to see an ENT.  We saw the ENT, he stuck a scope up through his nose and down to the throat and said he saw nothing.  He sent him for a cat scan, which came back negative, so he brushed it off.  We went to another ENT who also saw nothing and brushed it off as well.  
This past week my son had his 3rd popping incident and this time the condition became cronic (chronic).  Every time he turns his head this thing pops in his throat and it is very painful and scarry.  I rushed him in to the 2nd ENT.  This time the Dr, witnessed the popping for himself.  He believes the hyoid bone is dislocating and rubbing into the cartilige of the thyroid.  
We are waiting on an auth. for an MRI.  THE PROBLEM IS AND QUESTION:

THE ENT SAID HE NEVER SAW THIS BEFORE AND SAID HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT????
IN THE MEANTIME HE INSTRUCTED MY SON TO WEAR A NECKBRACE TO STOP HIM FROM TURNING HIS NECK!!!  
DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA???

[Dr Vinod]

This is a very rare incident.
Hyoid bone as such does not dislocate and it may happen in accidents to jaw bone.The Hyoid bone is the only bone in the body that does not attach directly . When a bone is dislocated, its ligaments are often torn or overstretched and this may be the reason it is giving him that popping sound and pain.
The only way is not to make the bone stretch or dislocate so he was given a neck brace.
Here by doing this the clinician is preventing the hyoid bone to pop out.
Management of injuries to the larynx is based on the mechanisms and extent of the injury found during the initial assessment. The first priority is always to establish the airway. If the patient is breathing well and the injury does not require surgical care, the patient may be observed for some months or else surgery is the only option.

[lulin4]

Thank you for educating me a bit.  I can understand that keeping his ligaments from moving may heal this problem or help it to some degree.

Do you think he should have this MRI?  He already had a catscan which showed nothing.
The Dr. suggested an MRI with contrast.  He has had so many MRI's on his knees already plus catscans and xrays over the past year. So much radiation can't be good for a kid his age.  I don't see how the MRI will show much more than the catscan, do you?

And also this Dr. said he has never seen this before and does not know how to treat it.

[Wildmountainchild]

MRI's show an incredible amount of detail...more than is possible w/ a CT. Also, MRI's function differently and are not actually considered to impart radiation like CT's do. It's certainly woth it for your son to get one. The Dr. will be able to see if ligaments are torn. If it's possible for your son to initiate the dislocation it would be very beneficial to have images in the MRI taken while his hyoid is dislocated, however he will likely need to remain in that position for at least 30 minutes. If he can breathe OK maybe pain meds can be administered to make getting those images possible.

[wildblue98]

What your son has may have something to do with the elongation of his superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage. This is one of the weakest structures in the neck so if he did sustain a neck injury this area could easily become bent or stretched and rub against his hyoid bone because it is elongated. That clicking noise may be the elongated cartilage coming into contact with his hyoid bone or cervical transverse process. 3D AXIAL CT SCAN is the best imaging study to check for this make sure you have an ENT who reads the below article and understands this condition. Also, visit the section on this site on hyoid bone problems, or read under my posts and their is a lot more information on thyroid cartilage abnormality. Your son may have something different though but I would check for this  since it is a possibility this could be causing the clicking.

The complaint of a clicking in the throat when swallowing or (turning the neck) is uncommon but very discomforting and painful for those who experience it. It is such an unusual complaint that symptoms may be dismissed as psychogenic because a cause for the problem may not be readily apparent. We present a series of 11 cases in which all patients had an audible clicking or popping noise in the throat associated with neck and throat pain when swallowing or turning the neck. The most helpful diagnostic procedure was careful examination and palpation of the neck while the patient swallowed to localize the side and source of the clicking. Laryngeal computed tomographic (CT) scans helped in some cases to demonstrate thyroid-cartilage and/or vertebral body asymmetry. Each case was treated with surgery of the neck and larynx to trim the portion of the thyroid cartilage causing the clicking. In most cases the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage projected posteriorly and medially. Surgery was successful in all cases to eliminate the symptoms. Though an uncommon complaint, our experience suggests that the clicking throat is a surgically treatable problem.

[lulin4]

Thank you for your information.  I did send my son for the MRI, which showed nothing because the hyoid was not dislocating at the time, of course once we got into the car heading home it popped out 3 times.  The imaging center told us to come back when it dislocates and they will do more testing.  The problem is that before it would pop and he would push it back in, now it just constantly pops and he feels sore and as if there is a golf ball in his throat.

I live on Long Island and every ENT I have taken him to or spoken with cannot even help him with this condition.  They say it is very rare. One ENT gave us a perscription to have a Barium Swallow test done (do you think this will be helpful with a diagnosis?)

I have an appointment next week with an ENT in NYC who says he has experience with this and can help, but I have to pay out of pocket.  I can afford the initial $250 visit, but I do not know what to do afterwards???  Do you have any suggesgtions?

[wildblue98]

The complaint of a clicking in the throat when swallowing is uncommon but very discomfortingand painful for those who experience it. It is such an unusual complaint
that symptoms may be dismissed as psychogenic because a cause for the problem may
not be readily apparent. We present a series of 11 cases in which all patients had an
audible clicking or popping noise in the throat associated with neck and throat pain when swallowing or turning the neck. The most helpful diagnostic procedure was careful examination and palpation of the neck while the patient swallowed to localize the side and source of the clicking.
Laryngeal computed tomographic (CT) scans helped in some cases to demonstrate thyroid cartilage
and/or vertebral body asymmetry. Each case was treated with surgery of the neck and
larynx to trim the portion of the thyroid cartilage causing the clicking. In most cases the superior
cornu of the thyroid cartilage projected posteriorly and medially. Surgery was successful in all cases
to eliminate the symptoms. Though an uncommon complaint, our experience suggests that the
clicking throat is a surgically treatable problem.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:1129-1131

Sex/Age, y Type of Symptoms (Duration, mo)
Location
of Symptoms
Prior Neck
Trauma Procedure Outcome
1/F/37 Clicking when swallowing, throat pain (5) R neck No R SCE Complete resolution
2/F/27 Clicking when swallowing, neck pain (9) Mid neck Yes Trim superior edge of the thyroid lamina Complete resolution
3/M/18 Clicking when swallowing, neck pain (24) L neck Yes L SCE Complete resolution
4/F/39 Clicking when swallowing, neck pain (12) Bilateral neck,
R.L
No Bilateral SCE, posterior edge thyroid
ala excision (staged)
Complete resolution
5/M/25 Clicking when swallowing, neck pain (12) Bilateral neck No Bilateral SCE Complete resolution
6/M/29 Throat pain when playing trumpet (12) R neck No R SCE Complete resolution
7/M/36 Odynophagia (6) L neck Yes L SCE Complete resolution
8/F/54 Throat pain, aphonia, odynophonia (8) R neck Yes R SCE Complete resolution
9/F/27 Throat, neck, facial pain (9) R neck Yes R SCE Complete resolution
10/F/51 Throat pain, clicking when swallowing (4) R neck Yes R SCE Complete resolution
11/F/15 Throat pain, clicking when swallowing (24) L neck Yes L SCE, L hyoid trim (staged) Complete resolution

Results of imaging studies (CT
scans) were initially reported as “normal.”
After several such studies, a different
techniquewasperformedat the
University of Utah. If the clicking occurred
when turning the head, a spiral
CT scan was performed with the
patient in the neutral position. It was
then repeated with the patient’s head
turned and during a swallow. This
demonstratedtheunderlyingdynamic
cause of the sound (Figure2). Interpretation
of the CT images requires
knowledge of the abnormalities that
may cause the clicking sound. The 3
abnormalities that were identifiedon
CTscanninginourseriesincluded(1)
posteriorelongationofthethyroidcartilage
ala, (2) superior elongation of
the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage,
and(3)anasymmetrically large
cervical vertebra transverse process


Clicking in the throat can be treated
surgically.Physicalexaminationisfundamentaltoidentifytheclickingsource
so that a treatment procedure can be
confidently recommended. Patients
canbereassuredthattheseuncommon
symptoms are not products of their
imagination or something seen only
inmovies;theyare realandcanbesuccessfully
treated. In our series, laryngeal
clicking when swallowing was a
bona fide symptom with an identifiable
cause. It often had associated
throat pain and dysphagia and was
frequently, but not necessarily, associated
with prior trauma to the neck
orintubation.Themostcommoncause
was an elongated or posteriorly orientedsuperiorcornuofthethyroidcartilage.
Based on our experience, we
conclude the following: (1) Physical
examination is needed, with careful
palpation of theneckduring swallowing
and reproduction ofsymptomsto
localize the source of the click. Attention
shouldbedirectedtowardthe superior
cornu of the thyroid cartilage
when symptoms are to the side of the
neck and toward overlapping structures
in the thyrohyoid space when
symptoms are in the anterior of the
neck. (2) Laryngoplasty isaneffective
treatment under local or general anesthesia
to trim the offending region
(s) of the thyroid cartilage and/or hyoid
bone responsible for the clicking.
Accepted for publicationMay17, 2001.
Supported by grant K08-
DC00132 from the National Institutes
of Health, National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders, Bethesda, Md.
Corresponding author: Marshall
E. Smith, MD, Division of Otolaryngology–
Head and Neck Surgery,
3C-120, University of Utah
School of Medicine, 50 N Medical Dr,
Salt Lake City, UT 84132 (e-mail:
marshall.***@****).
REFERENCES
1. Counter RT. A clicking larynx. J Laryngol Otol.
1978;92:629-31.
2. Makura ZGG, Nigam A. The clunking neck.J Laryngol
Otol. 1995;109:1217-1218.
3. Hilali AS, Saleh HA, Hickey SA. Clicking hyoid.
J R Soc Med. 1997;90:689-690.
(REPRINTED) ARCH OTOLARYNGOL HEAD NECK SURG/VOL 127, SEP 2001 WWW.ARCHOTO.COM
1131
©2001

[lulin4]

Update on my son.  We saw a highly recommended ENT he did a scope video of Kurt's hyoid bone and it is definitely dislocated from the ligaments on the left side.  He seemed stumped on how to proceed with this injury.
He took his video and my copies of the CT and MRI (which were both negative according to the radiologist) and is bringing them to meet with his board at Cornell University this upcoming Thursday.
We are sitting impatiently awaiting his direction on what they can do to fix this.  It is extremely rare.

[Dr Vinod]

Good and great going and they will have to work out in giving a support to his hyoid bone so that it does not dislocate.
Every human being is special and different and the knowledge of anatomy will work here and a neat research procedure is what should be planned now.
Take care and support Kurt!

[jl16]

Hello,

I am a 25 year-old male and have been suffering for about a year with what seems to be an identical problem. I will swallow, but it often feels as though the cartilage in my neck is dislodged and it becomes very uncomfortable and painful to the point that I get headaches if I leave it for any amount of time...so I am constantly "repositioning" the cartilage. The problem, though, is that as time has gone on I have become used to just "repositioning" it to the point that it just seems to be "floating" in my neck...repositioning it gives me comfort for one swallow, then it is dislocated again. And now whenever I walk and step with my left foot I hear and feel the clicking in my neck, almost like something is "broken" and shifting around. I have seen an ENT, and my doctor, and my chiropractor has also examined it...I've had a CT scan, an MRI, blood work, and an ultrasound, and all have come back unfounded. The chiropractor said it might be broken "strap" muscles; the ENT figured it was inflamed, and the MD isn't much help at all. This condition is extremely annoying and uncomfortable (not to mention scary), and I'm glad I found this thread so I know I'm not the only one and maybe there is a fix out there!! Thanks for any additional advice, and lulin4 good luck to your son.

Jason

[jrfontaine]

I hate to say it but I am glad to know that I am not the only one with this problem.  My neck (hyoid bone I'm guessing) has a tendency to pop out/dislocate to the left when my head is turned to the left and I yawn.  This had been occuring for about the last 30 years and I long ago learned how to pop it back in.  I think I sustained an injury while playing football because when we would tackle each other - one particular player, I would always get hit in the throat.  I have been to numerous doctors and they have been unable to find anything wrong.  One even called the problem a "minor inconvienience"  which was an insult considering the pain involved when the bone is dislocated and one tries to swallow.  I have no suggestions other than to say that there is another person out there that has the same identical problem.  Good luck and if you find a treatment other than the neck brace, I would love to hear it.

[loulou111]

Hello,

I have the same problem and consulted many ENTs: no diagnosis was ever established and at last I was told that I should 'be careful when I eat and not lie down while eating or risk suffocation'! I was told that if I were a singer I would qualify for surgery but otherwise to live with it. Everytime I train at the gym I feel this mass in my throat and I too push on it for a few seconds relief. I find the medical establishment disgusting for telling me to tough it and dismissing my concerns, for what I feel is a very serious condition and certainely a constant discomfort. I had to stop sports activities and this has affected my mood - and I find no joy in life, being constantly reminded of my problem each time I swallow. Hard to work as well feeling like that. After seeing so many docotrs in vain, I am contemplating taking my life, because this is too unberable. I know it sounds extreeme, but so is the condition that I have to endure every minutes of my life. I wish I could bring more to the discussion, but unfortunately I cannot see any concrete option. I can only wish you luck and hope that you will find a better way to deal with this problem.

Take care.

[sony86]

I have had this exact problem for years.  My MD husband (a primary care doctor) simply pops it back into place for me, or I do it myself.  He says it is a dislocation of the hyoid bone, and has had it happen to him, which is why he knew exactly what it was and what to when I had a particularly painful episode.  Once it is popped back into place, all symptoms immediately clear, save for minor residual soreness.  Therefore he would disagree with Dr. Vinod that there is no such thing. He says he doesn't know what causes it, but suggests that stress doesn't help.

[sony86]

I have had this exact problem for years.  My MD husband (a primary care doctor) simply pops it back into place for me, or I do it myself.  He says it is a dislocation of the hyoid bone, and has had it happen to him, which is why he knew exactly what it was and what to when I had a particularly painful episode.  Once it is popped back into place, all symptoms immediately clear, save for minor residual soreness.  Therefore he would disagree with Dr. Vinod that there is no such thing. He says he doesn't know what causes it, but suggests that stress doesn't help.

[damski]

Sorry to hear about your sons throat problems. I have suffered exacatly the same over the last thirty years, mainly if I yawn with my head turned in any direction. when it happens the first thing that comes into your mind is "oh no not again, followed by panic and pain. I have learnt how to push it back in now which is some comfort but have recently had an abcise and swelling on my jaw which wont go even with major amounts of antibiotics. When I asked my gp both he and the nurse said that there were no bones in the throat and they had never heard of anything like this. They dismissed my question like I was a child. Since seeing this forum I can see that I am not the only one suffering from this nasty condition. Please update me on your sons progress if you have the time  

[kevmom]

Due to constant sore throats, my friend had her hyoid bone surgically removed back in the 1960s, in the New Haven, CT area. They went in through the throat. It was a rare condition at the time but there were recorded cases available to her MD. She has never had any problems and it cured her sore throats.
kevmom

[notafreak]

oh my goodness, I've been thinking I was a freak since I was a teenager because something like this has happened to me periodically for 25 years. Today was the worst ever which is why I started looking on the internet to see if I could find an answer. Something in my throat sometimes gets "stuck" when I twist my neck, or yawn, of lie with my head turned etc. It is extremely difficult and painful to swallow when this happens. I panic. I used to ask someone to thump me hard on the back because that would maybe dislodge the feeling. There's nothing actually there, but it feels like something is caught up in the wrong place. Sometimes it is mild and just pops back by itself. Sometimes I have to stretch and twist my neck and eventually it pops back. Once it pops back its fine again. A sore throat for a while but at least I can swallow. Today I tried everything and what eventually worked was my husband firmly holding my whole skull and pulling upwards, elongating my neck. People have said here that it is possible to manually click things back into place please please please can someone explain how?? I'm terrified everytime this happens that my throat is going to swell shut and I'll die. I also suffer from occasional laryngeal spasms which completely cut off my breathing momentarily but these have only happened in the last 2 years since a very nasty bacterial throat infection. Even saliva can trigger them. Please help me.

[etsthroat]

This is amazing...I finally decided to search this topic and found this thread.
I to have suffered from this for about 15 years or so. I am now 43 years old.
It has only happened  to me about 4 times and it was in a short span like I said about 15 years ago. I can describe it as the same as others "popping out" when I turned my neck and streched. I too was terrified but not because I could not breath, it was because I knew it was going to hurt like hell when it popped back in place so I therefore voluntarily did not breath for a minute or so and then ouch!!!
So anyway I describe it like a pop can that you push a small dent in it and then pinch the sides of the pop can until the dent pops back out.
For years I could not yawn productively because I was afraid a big yawn would make it happen again!! I noticed that my hyoid bone was setting at an angle in my neck and still is to this day! There is a much bigger gap in my right side of my neck than in the left side. To the point that the furthest point of the hyoid bone is pushing and agitating my lymphnodes on my right side of my throat. This has been going on for years. Whe I push my chin to my chest it causes me to cough and it hurts to some degree. I brought this "whole" thing up to my ENT and he dismissed the hyoid being crooked (not horizontal) in my throat. I told him it hurt when I positioned my chin to my chest and guess what he said? Me..."It hurts when I do this!"  Him..."then dont do that!"   serious no lie and then he laughed.
Anyway he was sure quick to cut my tonsils out and take that money. I gues this was just too challanging for him. But guess what? This thread will be shared with him!!!!!
Not happy "I am"
It is just amazing, as like others, I thought I was some kind of hypocondriac freak.

[notcrazy29]

WOW!  I thought I was the only person that ever had this problem.  I cannot yawn and tilt my head back at the same time or mine pops out. I cannot stretch back at all.  I cannot hear the it pop our and it doesn't click but God can I feel it. Feels like a bone is cutting into my airway and it is SO painful to swallow and even when I move my neck. The last time this happened it went on for like 3 days.  Then it finally stopped. When I feel it start to pop out I push up on the left side of my neck just a little then I get instant relief.  I thought I was just going crazy. I have been to several ENT's and even the ER several times with this and they look at me like I'm an idiot.

[nothingness]

I too developed a clicking in my throat, on the left side after I kept pushing my larynx from left to right to feel this lymph node, don't ask, I was being a hypochondriac.  After reading and researching, it was quite clear it was the larynx that was clicking.  Luckily for me, after I deeply pushed my larynx from the right hand side toward the left, it had now disappeared.  I think I had somehow dislocated the hyoid bone, teaches me to mess with my neck again!  But from that one article that was found by Google, they can operate on the larynx to make it go away.  The link is:  http://archotol.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/127/9/1129  Good luck with yours.  

[TL2366]

I have been diagnosed with a dislocated hyoid bone.  It has gone from popping or clicking to now just slightly protruding.  No pain at the moment, some clicking it if moves out of place.  Any information would be helpful.  Any suggested doctors?  I visited an ENT and he said if no pain is being experienced, no mdical reason to correct it.  I am not sure I am comfortabe "living" with this.  Thanks

[mikey6e]

Hi, I have been suffering for the last 5 months w the sore throat and a popping on the left side of my throat. I can't take this pain no more. Went to 2 ENT's saw nothing had a cat scan saw nothing...I am running out of patients and I really want to be able to swallow normal again. This is so depressing...can someone help me please???

[wildblue98]

I have had surgery at UCLA for what seems to be the condition discussed on this site in my strong opinion the popping and clicking occurs when the tendon (intermediate tendon of the diagastric) that anchors the hyoid becomes stretched out causing the hyoid bone to be hypermobile and start clicking on nearby structures. There are other things that can cause a click but the fact that everyone shares such a disturbing symptom in common makes me think the simplest explanation would be that the tendons or muscle (stylohoid) anchoring this bone has been weakened. The doctor I have found in the US who has the most experience with this painful condition "hyoid bone dislocation" is the Chief of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA. Dr. Gerald Berke, he is probably your best chance for some form of relief. He greatly reduced the clicking my and other patients hyoids.

[wildblue98]

Hi tell me more about your problem AND message me I am trying to compile research on a group of patients who have this condition.

What are all your symptoms?

What triggered the onset of your symptoms?

Where is the point of maximum discomfort in your neck/throat?

What helps your condition?

What makes your condition worse?

Can you recreate the click by palpating your throat?

[throatordeal]

I am glad I found these posts.   Like most people with neck and throat symptoms who cannot seem to get a straight answer from a medical professional, I have reluctantly resorted to searching the internet.  It is nice to know that others out there have similar symptoms and have had difficulty in trying to obtain a diagnosis. I have to mention that I am a veterinarian who specializes in diagnostic pathology, so my medical training and knowledge is very keen.

My throat/neck symptoms began about 4 months ago, out of the blue. It began with a strange mild pressure sensation in my right submandibular region.  I thought at first it might have been my submandibular salivary gland but I experienced no visibly obvious swelling or pain associated with the gland.  About 2 weeks after the initial symptoms, in addition to the pressure sensation, I developed the persistent and annoying globus sensation (foreign body in the throat sensation), which is limited to the right side of my throat. I also developed an intermittent popping on the right side of my throat when I swallow.  This popping can actually be felt when I place my fingers under the right side of my jaw when I swallow, and it is  often more noticeable if I turn my neck to the left. At times the pressure sensation in my neck extends all the way down to the region of my right collarbone and upper chest.  Occasionally, I have very mild pain in my right deep inner ear and submandibular region, but I have experienced no throat pain or tenderness.  I do notice mild twinges of pain in my neck muscles sometimes when I am talking, which is really strange. At times, I feel my voice is straining when I talk and sometimes it just “fades out” while I am talking. My symptoms vary in intensity from day to day, but never completely go away.

About a month after initial onset, the symptoms became pretty consistent, and while not affecting my ability to eat or breathe, had become quite uncomfortable. So, I made an appointment to see my GP.  She palpated my neck, looked in my throat, said that she didn’t see or feel anything definite and it didn’t look like anything bad (such as cancer). She suggested that it may be “something like Eagle’s syndrome”, although I have no history of tonsillectomy. She then referred me to an ENT. I waited almost 6 weeks to see this ENT, and all he did was palpate my neck and look at back of my throat with a dental mirror for all of about 10 seconds. He told me he saw similar cases all of the time, and never could really figure out what it was. He told me the popping when I swallow “could be tendonitis” but that he never saw any appreciable calcification on x-rays. He basically told me to just “live with it” because it was nothing bad, and sent me on my way.  I could not believe how dismissive he was.  He did not elaborate on the “tendonitis” theory, nor did he suggest anything to alleviate the symptoms. Perhaps he was acknowledging that it may be tendonitis of my digastric muscle, but never even mentioned the possibility of hyoid syndrome.

Disillusioned with this ENT experience and still seeking an answer, I decided to go to a chiropractor. I went there thinking maybe this was something related to a pinched nerve in my neck or possibly something related to my head and neck posture, as I easily spend 8-10 hours a day looking in a microscope. He listened to me explain my symptoms, told me that he thought my problems were TMJ related, and suggested I go to an orthodontist.  I have had clicking in my TMJ since I can remember (15+years), but have never had any type of globus sensation or pressure sensation in my neck or throat associated with it and have never had popping in my throat when I swallow before this.  Nor do I have any of the typical jaw pain/soreness, headache or facial pain that is often described with TMJ disorders.  While I considered and appreciated the chiropractor’s opinion, I felt like no one had really done anything to rule out the possibility that there was something IN my neck or throat causing these symptoms.  I wanted to do that before going to an orthodontist or oral surgeon and pursuing the TMJ route.  On top of that, neither my insurance nor my husband’s insurance will cover treatment for TMJ disorders (go figure).

As my frustrated internet searches began, I started to wonder if my symptoms could be associated with atypical GERD.  I took a 2 week trial of Prilosec OTC for the heck of it and took antacids 2-3 times a day, but it didn’t alleviate the symptoms. So I returned to my GP, who thought that it still could be atypical GERD and she then referred me to a gastroenterologist. The visit to the gastroenterologist led to an endoscopy, and he said I had a small hiatal hernia, a few gastric polyps (incidental finding), and he “thought” I had GERD. He did not say that he saw definitive esophageal erosion or damage. He told me to try omeprazole 20mg (same drug as Prilosec OTC) for 90 days and to return in 6 weeks for a follow up appointment. It has been several weeks, and I am frustrated to say that the same symptoms are still present with no change.  

To this point, not one physician has done any diagnostic imaging of my neck, not even a simple x-ray. As a veterinarian, this really baffles me. While I understand that imaging may not provide all or any of the answers, it seems to me like it could definitely rule out a few things, if nothing else.

I have had a few people suggest that my symptoms are probably just due to “anxiety” and I am sure some of you out there have had a physician tell you the same thing. It is my thought that a diagnosis of “anxiety” is a diagnosis of exclusion only. Until all the appropriate diagnostic tests are performed, and it is proven without a doubt that there is nothing physically causing a symptom, then a diagnosis of “anxiety” should be considered unacceptable.

GERD?  TMJ?  Tendonitis?  Anxiety? Which is it?

So now I have found the information on hyoid syndrome and really wonder if this is not something I should pursue with a different ENT, because the symptoms seem so similar. It sounds to me like this hyoid syndrome is such an obscure, uncommon thing that if you can't find an ENT who has experience or knowedge about it, it is wasted time and money. It is no wonder so many people just give up. The thought of having to "live with" this dicomfort for the rest of my life is just downright discouraging....

[mikey6e]

I have had this condition for approx 7 months now...1st 3 months they put me on anti inflammitories and percets. Pain and clicking still was happening. The best way I can discribe this feeling is when you are holding back emotions and you get that awful knot in your throat that is how I feel than when I swallow it thumps or clicks and hurts my ear and jaw left side. I choke when i drink sometimes if it pops out while I am swallowing. This is constant all day and is affecting my sleep and making me very depressed I live in NY and going to Westchester Medical right now cuz no other local ENT know what the hell is wrong with me. My sore throats are pretty constant also and hurts when i breathe in air only on the left side. Someone please help me find a Doc who dealt with this I am starting to feel like I am going crazy but I know docs believe me cuz they feel it themselves and look so puzzled. This is controlling my life and I don't want to become addicted to pain meds!!! I have to hold and push down on the left side of my throat so I don't choke when I drink that seems to be the only way it doesn't pop and if I look up and stretch my neck. Other that that every swallow I am reminded of this and it feels very serious and is very scary!!!

[ZHT]

Stylohyoid syndrome and tracheal caudal displacement may be the cause of the problem.

As they both pulling the hyoid in different directions.

Stylohyoid syndrome may cause headache, neck pain and TMJ syndrome.

Tracheal caudal displacement is evidneced by hyoid moving downward with decreased hyoid and sternum notch distance.

ZHT

[kat12322]

I had my hyoid bone to become dislocated.... Saw a D.O. that specialized in OMM and he put it back in place. It occasionally pops out... I just turn my head a certain way and it pops right back into place.

[DreamAH]

I hope by now you have had some relief from your problem . My 13 year old son had a football injury this past Aug. he has been unable to do anything since Sept. He is in constant pain in his whole head and has trouble with ringing in the ears and balance. His arms and feet are freezing and he cannot walk up to speed . Because there is no way to get inside and fix this orthopedic-ally they have no suggestion. Saying it not fractured or broken so there is nothing wrong. WOW!  His hyoid bone is off to the opposite side that his neck is twisted in the x-rays and MRI. It is plain to see.  Only my Upper Cervical Chiropractor found this and I am now being treated by a DO who specializes in cranial sacral therapy or traditional osteopathic medicine specifically. He is going through more pain but things are moving so it looks hopeful . I have faith in this because i have seen it work before it is not a new therapy and covered by most insurance . This is a proven science but considered alternative medicine by some. Give it a try everyone should  our body would work better .

[neckhurtsbad]

I too have had this happen. My bone in my throat popped out when I was laying on the ground on my back and arched by neck backwards. Suddenly it hurt to badly and it hurt intensely if I tried to swallow. I tried to relax it for a minute  and finally I got the sens that pushing on it may help. I pushed on it on the left side and  it "popped" back in to place and pain was gone. I still am a little sore in the neck. I hopped on google and found this. Is there any solution to this problem?

[snoflurys]

I too have this condition and it would happen only 2-3 times a year.  Tried to pop it back in using karate chop action but that didn't work anymore, then tried to manipulate back in and that soon wasn't working.  Tried the turning of head in opposite direction of pain, looking down and then swallowing and that seems to be working at the moment.  I never knew when it would show up but now since it has happened more often in a shorter amount of time, I am sensing it before it happens and quickly tried to overt it.  I have noticed that since I believe in chiropractic care (I have 3 family members that are chiropractors but I'm so healthy that I rarely go) I will be making more of an effort to visit the chiropractors office to fend it off from happening again.  I definitely will be keeping up on this watch list because any more pertinent info that comes across that is helpful is truly appreciated.  I have also noted headaches more often and neck pain so I believe they are related to the stylohyoid syndrome and tracheal caudal displacement as mentioned earlier in these postings.  I am very thankful for everyone's input.  

[roo218]

same here! we had a rear end car accident. not that bad but initial pain in my neck. only 2 weeks ago so i don't know if it will last but i get pressure headaches like my head is going to explode and twice i've had this golf ball in your throat problem. yesterday i didn't think it would go away but it did after 5 mins when i found the right position to relieve it. its like having one sided tonsillitis but bonier and gives me ear ache and headches after and really hard to swallow.
i'd really like to know what the treatment is.......

[Jacannadom]

I have had this same exact condition for 30+ years now.  I learned to live with it by just popping back in place as soon as it happened.  I would try not to yawn with my head turned or laugh too hard with my head turned.  Usually it pops right back in when I put pressure on the left side but now it's been like this for 3 days.  It's really painful every time I swallow and it feels like I'm slowly choking.  I feeling light headed and my ears are timing.  I just want it to pop back in place but it won't .  I feel like I'm going crazy. Ive tried turning my neck and even my husband tried to help.  I'm afraid it's going to stay like this.  This is a terrible awful problem that no one is aware of.  I'm glad for all of you sharing I thought I was the only one.  My drs think it's all in my head the whole stress thing si ce I'm a busy mom if 3 kids.  The drs just make you feel worse because they just don't know anything about it.  Right now the terrible pain in my throat is unbearable, after 30 years I just can't take it anymore!  I just hope it pops back.  Any suggestions???

[JoshDSwatz]

I have the same problem i feel like a pop and i can't look up down left right swallow talk or breathe i went to the ENT's and they said just pop it back into place or show us when it pops out but i cant because i pops back in but im scared that one day i wont be able to pop it back into place, please let me know if yours popped back into place please im very scared

[evwrn]

I have the same problem. I saw an ENT today who said the clicking was from the hyoid bone catching on part of the thyroid cartalidge. I had an episode last week and it still hasn't popped back in. It is very uncomfortable and scary.

[JoshDSwatz]

Hi, has it popped back in yet?

[snoflurys]

My sister-in-law who is a chiropractor told me that it is NOT in your head.  The stress in my life was causing shoulder and neck pain and headaches which throws your spine off, therefore causing the hyoid bone to move and making the pain and popping out sensations.  I shared with her one trick of getting it back in place which was turning head in opposite direction of pain, looking down and then swallowing which did help a lot.  But in the end, it seemed she was right in that the stress was what started it.  Since that revelation, I tried some things to unstress myself and I haven't had any more problems with it since I last posted on here.  What a difference!  I hope it works for you too!

[evwrn]

no, it hasn't. :(

[tinao56]

I have had this same problem for years, since I was in my 30's I'm now 56, but just in the last 6 months the bone has actually popped out of place 5 times. When it pops out the tendon is stretched and swallowing is painful and scary. The pain radiates down to my collar bone and up into my rear left jaw. It also feels like it affects my trapezius muscle. I've seen three doctors now, a GP, ENT, Rheumatologist and a Orthopedic Surgeon with no help yet. I've also had x-rays and one MRI. The MRI showed something but it was not clear exactly what. I'm going back to the ENT soon, maybe I will find something out.
The first time I saw the ENT she had me tested for Lupus and I do have some markers, but I don't think that is the whole problem.

[JoshDSwatz]

I went to an ENT last year all he did was say it was normal and to keep popping it back into place and if it pops to come and show him what help that was

[CaseyGabi]

I have this same problem, but I'm a girl. Me and my friend were driving a 4-wheeler and flipped. He ended with a concusion and a broken collar bone. I however broke my ankle, damaged my achelees, and landed on my neck. Since then I had to have a screw/rod put in my foot and I discovered this poppin sensation as well. Thank you for explaining it so well!

[DNGU777]

Hello,

I am currently talking with my ENT doctor about Resuspending my hyoid bone. He took my CT scan and said that he would email me if he could do the surgery. So, I am waiting for his answer.

Anyway, the bottom line is that
"DO NOT excise or remove your hyoid bone."
Hyoid bone is ESSENTIAL for normal body function, such as breathing, swallowing, speaking, and total balance of the body.
I assure the you guys also have the feeling of unbalance for the neck and face; suppose that you cut the portion of your hyoid bone.
It would worsen the feeling of unbalance and the other symptoms.
That is, RESUSPENDING or RECONSTRUCTING the dislocated bone is the only way to fix this problem. I am waiting for my doctor's answer.
So, once again, "DO NOT listen to any doctor who insist that he or she should cut the dislocated bone. DO NOT !!!!!
I really hope and pray that this post would help you guys.

P.S: my ENT physician is Dr. Robert Ward. He is at Cornell University.
       Even if he is at Pediatrician Department, he deals with the hyoid        bone dislocation. So, if it is hard for you guys to wait for my result, you could try to contact him by yourselves.

[JoshDSwatz]

Thank you very much my ENT said to cut it out if it keeps happening but I was unsure..

[janetcmoreno18]

Hi name is Janet and I'm 21 years old with two beautiful babies. Last year I went though thyroid surgery on my left side of my thyroid because of a tumor that became cancer. But while I had the tumor my neck bone felt it moved to my right side of my neck so what i did was to pop it back and it hurt so much. After surgery  a few weeks it didnt pop anymore but  e

[janetcmoreno18]

Hi name is Janet and I'm 21 years old with two beautiful babies. Last year I went though thyroid surgery on my left side of my thyroid because of a tumor that became cancer. But while I had the tumor my neck bone felt it moved to my right side of my neck so what i did was to pop it back and it hurt so much. After surgery  and radiation a few weeks it didnt pop anymore but  while taking a shower I was wiping my neck and noticed my neck bone on my right side and so I did was to POP it back and so i told my Dr's but they said I was fine also. They did x- rays, ct scans, ext. But they told me am fine. Am really scared that I dnt might die from this or go through surgery again. Please does any one know what i have?? This popping thing happens every day every 5 mins. My Dr's think am fine but I dnt feel fine. Am super scared to tell even my family because they freak out easy plus I'm the bby in the family so they will. I dnt know what to do or go too.

[mgarciber]

I wanted to share you my story it might help some of you out there specially the lady with the 17 year old. My 11 year old daughter developed this condition suddenly out of the nothing. She does have a medical background of facial paralysis which she was born with it. Suddenly 8 weeks ago she was walking in school and felt something pop out from her throat and she says she tilted her head slightly and it popped back in place. 5 minutes after is popped back out and she tried to move her head and it happened again it clicked in place. By the time she got home she told me about it and said the popping was ocurring every 30 seconds and it was starting to hurt and bother alot. I asked her to call me when she had the popping sensation so she did. She stayed still until I could touch her and I felt it myself. Considering her history of facial paralysis I ran to the ER. They had no idea and said had never seen anything like it. Referred to an urgent visit to the ENT Specialist next day in the morning. The ENT Felt the popping himself and said had never seen anything like it and he sent an urgent CT-SCAN and scoped her right there. He said the scope looked normal , no life threatening condition and her airway was open. He did mention he thought it was the hyoid bone clicking against Adamas apple also called Thyroid Cartilage. Ok Ct-Scan results comes back saying her Hyoid is dislocated.

The Ent that saw her said it must of been because the facial paralysis. He said all those years of weakness of the neck  muscles attached to the hyoid made it move out of place. The funny thing is that he says do not worry it is not life threatening for now and I do not think it will move out of place any longer. We could try to send her to PT to see if it helps because I believe she is to small for surgery and I have not operated the hyoid bone before. Then he mentions what about a neck brace. At this point I thought wow I am in the wrong hands this Doctor has no idea what he is talking about. I started my research and found this forum. I contacted the office of Dr. Berke in LA  the best ENT in the country for hyoid bone surgery. They told me to send a copy of the CT-SCAN , I think they were moved because I told him it was a child with facial paralysis and added to that she had the hyoid problem. They call me immediately once the CT arrives at UCLA. Some other ENT calls and says DR. Berke needs to see my daughter and we must travel to LA. he said the hyoid looked twisted and he thought she was to small for surgery and he would rather if she could wait to grow more but in order for him to be sure she is going to be able to wait he needed to examine her. I was ready to schedule our appointment when they found out I had medicaid and said my daughter could not be seen even if we would pay . It was illegal to accept money from us being medicaid clients. They then told me they would refer me to DR. Denish Chhitry also from UCLA and colleague of Berke and he knew as much as Dr. Berke. The difference with the second one is that he not only worked for UCLA but also for Olive View State Hospital of LA, CA. He would be able to see me at that hospital.

At that point I left that call pending because even if I could get to travel to LA on my own if she needed surgery Medicaid would not pay my daughters surgery if it is not a medicaid provider. I would have to prove there is no one in the country that could do it. By the way I live in SC. Then I found that DR. Robin Cotton from Cincinnatti Sick Children Hospital was the best in the country for airway reconstruction. I contacted them and told them the whole story. In the mean time I went to my local pediatrician and told him what was going on. He said well let me give you my advice: I will refer you to Charleston SC so you can see Dr. David White he is a Pediatric  ENT and the best of the carolinas and if he can not do anything for you no one can in the carolinas. He said my advice is to go 1st to him so you can prove medicaid that you have tried with everyone and there is no one here that can do the surgery and you need to be transfered out of state for the treatment.

I started my research , who is David White? I Found he was trained at the Cincinnati Sick Children under the direction of Robin Cotton. I could not believe it and jumped in one foot. I left the appointment of Cincinnati also on stand by because I thought if this Doc knows everything Robin Cotton knows why I am going to want to travel to Cincinnati to a place they will probably not take my medicaid and I am going to have to pay for the appointment God knows how much.

Finally I went to DR. White last week. But before I tell you all what he said I started with  chiropractic for her. This Chiropractic Dr is the most honest man on earth. He said I do not know if I will be able to help and I want to do her an 8 week trial of treatment  free of charge and this all goes on me. If it helps alleluya and if not at least we tried. We are on week 3 and it has not helped at all. Her condition is getting worse every day to the point I am going to have to home school her for the remaining of the school year.She is in alot of pain where the adams apple is. Her neck muscles are getting fatigued of the popping and unpopping she has every 30 seconds. One of the reasons is that she unpops it stretching her jaw forward or trying to smile putting pressure on her neck muscles. Doing this every 30 sec has left her fatigued. The bone is constantly bumping against other structures in there also that makes it hurt more.

I started at home on my own  putting her electric stimulation on her throat with a decive called TENS. I was hoping the pain could go away and would strenghten the neck muscles and maybe put the hyoid back in place. Well this last attempt has not helped either.So Dr. White said he had 3 options and all are surgery. Number one was take part of the hyoid the middle section. Second option all the hyoid bone out or 3rd to suspend the hyoid bone which is more a surgery for people with sleep apnea. Then he said I think this last procedure of the suspension would bring her swallowing problems because it would  bring her hyoid bone forward that leaves us with the first 2 options he said. He mentioned that getting only one part of the hyoid was an easier procedure but what if that was not enough? He would then would have to operate a second time to get the rest of it out.He said well if we are already in there why not take it all out and we will not have the doubt after.

He said he does the hyoid bone procedure 1-2 per month but not for that reason by daughter has. He did say he had never seen any one like this and with the clicking every 30 secs. He said the reason he does surgery is because the children born with a cyst called thyroglossal duct Cyst needs to remove the cyst and the hyoid bone ( the middle section). He said the surgery has 5 points of difficulty from 1-10, he said a tonsillectomy for example has 1-2 points.He said it is not the most difficult surgery and not the most easiest either. He said they would do it at the MUSC Children Hospital of Charleston. He said if we would live near he would release her the same day but since we would be 4 hours away he would leave her overnight. He said his only concern is that she has a history of swallowing problems as a child and he thinks she could have swallowing problems after surgery. He said I think she would catch up with the other kids and it would be a matter of just weeks for her to catch up with the swallowing but I am not sure. He said if she would not have facial paralysis and would of not have the swallowing history she would be ok  without the bone. He said that bone is like the appendix you do not really need it.

.

[mgarciber]

This text is the continuation of the last reply i did about my 11 year old daughter with facial paralysis that ended up having a dislocated bone and now she is going to have a removal of the hyoid bone. Just read the previous thread before reading this.

I mentioned to Dr. White then about Dr. Berke at the end and he said Oh yes I know Berky but even if he is the best in the country for hyoid bone he is not a pedicatric ENT and has no experience with children. At that point he left me thinking and made me realize that my daughter needs to be operated by a pediatric ENT and not only by the best in the country.It made me realize also why the 1st dr. we saw had no idea how to operate the hyoid bone and why most ENT are not familar with the hyoid bone/ The answer is easy. They are not familar because it is so rare that an adult develops something in the hyoid so they never perform surgeries on them. By the otherside children are born with that cyst which is like a tumor and doctors are forced to learn about the anatomy of muscles, ligaments and everything attached to the hyoid and over time the pediatric ENT have learned very well how to operate them.

My advice is  that if you have gone to several Ent and they are not familar try visiting a Pediatric ENT but a good one in you area which does the cyst surgery I have mentioned. Those people know exactly what you will be talking about when you mention the click and pop thing. There is no neck brace that will help it for sure, and there is no need of a trauma for you to get a dislocated hyoid bone. I have received the attention because they saw my daughter would not make up a story like this, because they heard and felt the popping themselfs, the story of facial paralysis and so on. If she would of been an adult and with no pre-existing condition they would have probably said it was on her mind , she has anxiety  because that is what docs say when  can find a cause. So dont give up and keep looking for help. An another advice is before going to surgery always think in benefits vs risk. Is the benefit more than the risk? There is no need for someone to stay like that for life living in agony, pain anxiety.

There is risks in everything in life. It all depends how often you have a clicking sensation and how much it hurts. To be honest if my daughter had the popping out just 3 times a day I would not risk her life with this surgery. But she has it every 30 secs for a total of 120 times in 1 hour. Can you imagine how frustrating?We are Christians and always put are faith 1st and give also time for God to work but God also gave Doctors the knowledge to do things. You never  will see a child with Down Syndrome get cured in the way his facial appearance dissapears  even if you pray day and night he will always have his little fragile face of down. But what God can do is probably get him to be very smart, independent, be able to work and attend himself and how? With the Therapist and Doctors with knowledge that will help him have a better quality of life. My husband a few days ago told me honey shouldnt we wait a little bit more before surgery to se if God responds in a way? I said he already did honey getting us someone who will receive our medicaid, that lives near us willing to do the surgery and that knows what he is talking about. I told him honey I feel against a wall with a sword pointing at me, our child is in agony now and we can not leave her like that. If God would not want the surgery for her why is it she is worse every day? I do not want to be a preacher but God has his ways to show you if that is going to be fixed on its own in type of a miracle or if you are going to stay like that. He also puts people here on earth to help. I have read many people saying on other forums do not take your Hyoid Bone you will not be able to speak again or swallow and puts them in fear to go ahead. By experience I can tell you some people do not know what they are talking about. That is something a PT not even a Chiropractic doc can tell you. They do not even know how to read a Ct. Scan. And there is a chance with the swallowing problem but I have read many forums before posting here of people with complete removal of the hyoid saying they are fine.

[Crytzel]

Wow, that is the exact problem I have! I actually experienced my worst episode last night and went to the er, by the time I got there and was waiting, it resolved itself. But it took 2 1/2 hours before it got to where I could swallow and talk. The worst pain too! (and I gave birth to two 9 pound babies) I can't find much out about this, I have an appointment monday, but don't know how it's going to go. Is there anything I should be educated with  before hand? And how did your son end up with this? Resolved, or no? Thanks so much!