What causes neck/throat pains?

I have benign thryroid nodules and am in between three doctors who all have different opinions.  When I mention to any of them pains, coming and going and mild/dull, in the front of my throat/neck, feeling muscular, they all say the same thing:  "I don't know what's causing that."  In just reading a little of your discussion on this subject, I feel as if I have just learned more than they can teach me.  I am concerned with cancer, although they all say cancer is not painful, and that I probably do not have it. Could a large nodule give pressure enough to cause these kinds of pains?  I just want an answer; they are not unbearable; just bothering me more because no one can help me.  


This discussion is related to Throat pain for 8 weeks...also tremors.

[Coco209]

I wish you could tell me the answer.  I've had throat pain for almost 1 year now.  I just found out I have nodules and having a biopsy tomorrow.  My pain isn't unbearable, as in knife stabbing pain, it is dull, tender on the left thyroid and into my muscles.  All my muscles in my throat, chest and back are extremely tight from this pain originating in my throat.  I am even in Physical Therapy now because my muscles have become so tight that they burn.

It feels like a hunk of glass or rock is burrowing into my left thyroid area.  It's pulling and rubbing on muscle and nerves.  The pain will even come up under my jaw.

I also have anxiety (wonder why :)) and tremors.

Prior to this, I was an extremely healthy 44 year old woman.  I'm also thin so I don't have any padding in my neck.

[Shherry]

Hello,

I feel the same as you.  I have a single nodule (just below biopsy size) and my thyroid is slightly enlarged.  My throat bothers me all the time.  I can feel the swelling and because of that I worry about it all the time.  (I have to wait for 6 months to have another ultrasound to see if it has enlarged any more. )  I have read they cab cause pressure depending on where located.  

Just wanted to say I can sympathize ... good luck.

[TiffanyParrish]

Oh my, I am looking for the same answer as you, I've had problems for over a year..always throat lymph nodes so so painful and makes me sick, I got really sick in march and they tested my thryoid with TSH .25 so finally was able to get into a specialist and had recently got the ultasound with rt thryoid lobe enlarge and very small nodule... my tests are back to normal for TSH, T3, T4 but the pain is so so unbearable now...and the endoc spec acts like nothing about the pain, I've not had a biopsy yet and don't know if they will do one.... oh I do hope we can find some help here on this forum...

I will pray for you and hope you can get the help you need, and please let me know if you find something out that might help me too

sincerely, Tiffany

[stella5349]

I do not know why doctors don't have a root cause on this - but lots of speculation is givenwith thyroid patients.

Common sense almost tells me that there is so many veins- arteries and things in our neck region that is almost should be at least discussed that if a nodule is there - whether smal or enlarged enough for biospy that is could cause discomfort.

Isn't that logic? even a wood sliver in our hands causes discomfort prior to pulling it out so why wouldn't a nodule in our throat bother us? Right?

When a spine is out of alignment and a disk is inflammed that is painful to our whole entire back - most of the time - not just where the disk is.

So again if a nodule is pressing on "something" undetected on a US scan or by palpatation is not going to just effect that certain area all the time too.

I believe it is just chalked up to "quick" evaluation and move on to the next patient. And the person with the discomfort is the one who suffers.

[stella5349]

Oh I would like to mention - I had a choking feeling for 5 yrs after RAI I called it as the cartoon of Homer wrapping his hands around Bart's neck and squeezing it.

That description entertained the previous ( five - 5 ) doctors (laugh) but didn't get them to move on anything for years.

Found out last year I had a nodule hanging on my ablated left lower lob of my dead thryoid tissue after RAI.

With my new doctors assistance we brought my TSH down below the .3 range and it seems to be feeling much better. Once in a while I get a "squeeze" bit it will resolve within a day with rest.  

[Coco209]

Choking......my very first complaint 1 yesr ago was the sensation of being strangled and an object in my throat.  My Doctors nurse, who had her thyroid out, said, "It's your thyroid."  The Doctor more or less said don't listen to her.....she's only a nurse.

Well, one year later and about 17 Doctors later.....all things are pointing towards my thyroid.  If this is true, I'm going to go find that nurse and give her some kudos!!!!

[selmaS]

Add me to your list that has the same issues- I had the barium swallow study....I have jaw pain as well!!! I do not like anything near my throat...ie: turtle neck shirts-feels like it's too tight- and there's plenty of room!!! I am constantly tugging it away .....I can't wear a necklace...same problem...it drives me crazy and that's the look I get from the drs....they believe I stepped off the brink of no return.

"selma"

Ps- I also find my jaw and throat tighten when I chew something- candy ect...anyone else???

[lzimm]

Thank you! Thank you!! Some people that understand. I have 10 nodules but onenodule 2 cm, I know is sitting near my larynx and voice box because I go hoarse if I talk too much or sing, which I am a voice teacher..  Another nodule over 2 cm is sitting on my right side and it is a dull ache all the time. I feel constricted and have a hard time swallowing at times.  Drs told me it has nothing to do with my thyroid... Nurses at the hospital told me it has everything to do with my thyroid!

[Dawnmvd]

I have a very sharp pain in the right side of my throat...it is hard to swallow (have a small nodule on that side).  Went to doctor because I cannot hardly swallow my own spit let alone anything else.  I feel like I have a rock lodged in there.  It is very painful.  Doctor gave me general throat exam, and said that everything looks fine, my tonsils look fine, but that is not where the pain is!  She sent me home. My throat is getting worse.

I thought maybe I have a cold or something, but other than the right side of my throat aching, I feel fine.  For the past six months or so, my sore throats would be there one day, and leave the next, and one day I would sound like a frog, and the next day I would be fine, this is the longest period of time I have had one like this (going on 4 days).  I am tired of getting the run around with the doctors! Is it there job just to send you home and suffer?  

[Minicooper723]

I just had a total thyroidectomy on 8/26/09 for compression from a large thyroid with nodules and a mass on the left side, I already feel better than I did before the surgery.  Good Luck!