Inflammation of Carotid artery and neck pain

[SBBugg]

About six months ago my left neck began to hurt and I noticed what I thought was a lump there. I went to a head and neck specialist and he said that I had inflammtion of my Carotid artery(Carotidynia).  The lump, I guess, was just the bifurcation of my artery that was swollen. The doctor told me to take an anti-inflammatory(ibuprophen) for 2 weeks. The pain finally diminished, but about a month later it started in my right neck. The pain now runs all the way down my neck and into my shoulder and right chest a bit.  It especially hurts if I apply pressure to my pulse(Carotid artery).  It feels like inflammed nerves or something. So, I went back to another doctor and he gave the same diagnosis. He said unfortunatley the cause is unknown. Now I am on a stronger anti-inflammatory. I just want to know the cause so it won't come back. I also got blood work and a head and neck xray completed, but am still waiting for results. Has anyone ever had this?  Any similar symptoms?  Should I be more concerned? Thanks

[NonnieInTN]

I also have pain in my neck along the carotid mainly on the right side. As a person who had a successful gastric bypass 12 years ago, I also had the whooshing sound in my ears.  I saw a fabulous ENT about my sinuses and mentioned the whooshing sound that was driving me insane since it happened with every breath.  He looked in my ears and quickly stated that I had a common condition that is found frequently in patients with rapid weight loss, stretched Eustachian tubes.  He stated that he could place tubes in my ears to help with the whooshing, which we did at that same appointment.  I left that appointment with the irritating sound gone after 5 years of it driving me insane.

Have not had the sore neck along the carotid checked yet as it was not a problem at the time of this particular ENT appt.

[NonnieInTN]

I also have pain in my neck along the carotid mainly on the right side. As a person who had a successful gastric bypass 12 years ago, I also had the whooshing sound in my ears.  I saw a fabulous ENT about my sinuses and mentioned the whooshing sound that was driving me insane since it happened with every breath.  He looked in my ears and quickly stated that I had a common condition that is found frequently in patients with rapid weight loss, stretched Eustachian tubes.  He stated that he could place tubes in my ears to help with the whooshing, which we did at that same appointment.  I left that appointment with the irritating sound gone after 5 years of it driving me insane.

Have not had the sore neck along the carotid checked yet as it was not a problem at the time of this particular ENT appt.

[Ashbrook84]

I had such things happen and ended up having pseudo tumor cerebri. Diagnosed by lumbar puncture. Spinal fluid was double the norm.

[Ashbrook84]

Everyone with high bp and sweating and lumps in neck should be screened for a rare net called paraganglioma.  I just had an abdominal one removed , but they can occur in the head and neck also. Specifically the carotid (cbt) just on the off chance.

[La_Owl]

I found that if you lay on your right side and get a good sized feather pillow and place it tightly against your chest and somewhat under your chin and lay your left arm up on top of the pillow it helps ease the pain somewhat. (at least enough to allow you to sleep.)  I also found that taking a large tube sock and filling it with dry uncooked rice that's then microwaved really seems to ease the pain when used in conjunction with the feather pillow. I don't know why it works but it does.

I hope this helps anyone else.  

[Angeleyes6899]

Yes. I had some dental work done 6 days ago have been in severe pain right side of neck and shoulder and back, A lot of swelling also. My voice has been horse for  2 days. The pain is so unbarable, The dentist was having problems with getting the right side of my upper right numb.  Help someone

[Janerodgerspetty]

A related discussion, What do I have was started.

[Patmandooface]

I have the pain and pressure on the right side of neck and it is an inflamed carotid artery. This started a few days after I started an "all natural" detox (the 7 day cleaner). I AM NOT CLAIMING ANY PROOF THESE TWO THINGS ARE RELATED. However, it is the only thing done out of the usual routine, and at 27 years old I'd like to believe I'm in good health. I just switched in January from cardio to weight lifting so I'm fearful of developing any type of hernias or arterial bulges. Yet, I haven't lifted for a week and a few days before I started taking the detox. I am hoping it is just a reaction to all the different roots, extracts, herbs, etc in the detox pills. When I first googled the symptoms I damn near gave myself a panic attack but after reading these comments, I took some Ibuprofen and calmed the hell down. Hopefully this won't require a doc visit and will go away.

[ColoradoDawter]

A new meaning to pain... huh.... that is putting things lightly in my eyes. I've had this pulsating annoyance, pain on the right side of my neck, dizzy, blurred vision, and a "whooshing" sound in my right ear. Some tests are not good enough to tell you everything going on, one test might tell you nothing and your Doctor may dismiss everything, especially if you have other health problems.

My situation is a bit unique, to say the least.... I've had Gastric Bypass, that ended very bad and I almost died, with being admitted to 4 Hospitals, in a Nursing Home (21 yrs. old at this time).

So, now I know I have Carotid Artery Disease, but all my blood work is "normal" including cholesterol, thyroid.... yeah, impossible?

ENT refuses to see me, since they know this is Carotid Artery Diease and my Primary Care Provider, is/does nothing in regards to this matter. I found out I have this issue, after going to several different ERs and finding competent Doctors. My blockage is at 50% which Doctors refuse to do anything about until it reaches 75% and/or more. But still not taking my age into account, which does "worry" them, nothing is still being done.. Oh yeah, I am now 28 yrs. old.

I've had a lot of scares and then some... I am tired of going to all these appts. and doing more research than these, so-called Professionals and getting turned down by them and just having to suffer through all this pain and discomfort, so i wait patiently until I have a Heart Attack or Stroke, whichever comes first to get Doctors into gear.

[KILLYBING]

you must see a GP

[foodwatcher]

right side pinched at this spot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotidynia
cant take it propranolol for BP-anxiety-it made my right side numbish-face to neck
throat is tightened-speech -get out of breath-larangeal nerve?
caffeine sensitivity-BP skyrockets--CYP1A2 deficiecny? other P450 deficiecnies?cant break down drugs like propranolol-ambien-caffeine
head pressure-feels wierd--xanax helps--the tightness of everything
any ideas?what kinds of drs are smart enough to handle all of this?

[candyflower]

I would go see an internal medicine doctor.  Some theories about Carotidynia are:  It is caused by migraines or after infections.  I would speak to an internal med doctor and get it checked to make sure you dont have some circulatory problems.

[Lipstick39]

Did you talk to your Endo?  I am hypo and take the same RX. Feeling pain in my neck. Going to Endo tomorrow! Any info you could share would be helpful.

[BABYTA]

I, HAVE THE SAME...DR, SAID NOT TO RUB OR TOUCH THE ARTERY AS IT WILL BOTTOM OUT THE BLOOD PRESSURE. I'VE HAD THIS FOR 1 WK AND IT GIVES PAIN A NEW MEANING. JUST RECOVERING FROM PNEUMONIA AND I THINK THE TWO MAY HAVE A COMMON BOND ??? I'M, 69, FEMALE IN GOOD HEALTH/FIT, ACTIVE.....I, COULD JUST CRY IF IT WOULD HELP. I, READ THAT DAILY STRETCHING IS GOOD FOR IT. I'M USING A CANE BECAUSE I'M SO DIZZY...DR, DOES NOT SEEM AT ALL CONCERNED, SAID THAT HE HAS HAD IT. USE MOIST HEAT AND TAKE TYLENOL IS MY RX...GOOD LUCK

[HSS56]

Hi, I recently discovered the same issue, but havent seen a doctor, and I'm very sure I know the cause. If you carry heavy things, such as bags or whatever even just in your hand to often or long periods of time, it cause tenderness to the entire side of your neck. I've been trying to carry less weight in my bookbag, which is a shoulder bag, and switch to the other shoulder every now and then. This technique works quite well, oh and if you crack your neck within ONE hour prior to waking up or earlier, You'll experience that pain also, because it's to early to crack your neck because the muscles haven't quite stretched out, so it causes swelling. I hope this is helpful to you!

[gabesun]

U are doing  good job. Also have aches in my right neck. i take raw honey morning and night aches go away and whenever i stop taking honey i feel aches again. I asked a in a pharmaceutical store was told it could b as a result of blood shortage

[Bassmamma]

This sounds like Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Which I have been diagnosed with.  Steroids will get rid of the inflammation but watch out for Temporal Arteritis or giant cell arterisis which sometimes accompanies it.Tthese usually happen in people over 50 years old.  I have the ball swellings in the neck above the collar bone too.  the arteries at the back of my head and temples were sore and I am having a Temporal Artery Biopsy to see if it is TA, although it doesn't always show up. I have severe neck pain which settles on steroids but the arterial pain continued hence the extra investigation.  Both my parents had this and Polymyalgia so I think it may be gene related.  they don't know what causes it but stress, or post operation or injury somtimes trigers them.  A CAT scan will show arterial damage if any. Good luck.

[Yone77]

Ok...so I'm feeling the same thing on the right of my neck. When i take a deep breath my carodic artery pinches. I also feel it in my muscle of my right shoulder blade, tense. Hurts...no but if feels like pressure. Feels wrong. It concererns me so i looked it up nd ran into this posting. I think it's stress and need to maybe get a deep tissue massage & some rest and meditaion. Issue is i hv noooo time for that. I should go see my doctor and take it from there????

[Bubby47]

You described my symptoms perfectly and exactly. I've been to an ENT and have had a CT and a CT ANGIOGRAM and everything is good. The Doctor is baffled about my symptoms, which I've been experiencing for 3 - 4 years. He now wants me to see a Neurologist for further examination and hopefully a diagnosis that will lead to successful treatment. From what I've been reading in this thread, there really isn't any treatment for this. It doesn't appear to be life threatening, but it is extremely irritating, annoying, and the constant ache/pain is often very draining.

[Curious_2012]

what were your results on the March test?

[bea_ty]

Great info

[hgower]

It started in 2009, lump in throat feeling did barium swallow test whihc was notmal, and had blood test which was normal except ESR slightly high, aske d to take Valprim 2mg and symptoms disappeared after a week or so,
Again Sept 2011 felt like I had something in throat, went to doctors, gave me did an gastrocscopy, came clear, also did ultrasound for thyroid right side was in the upper limit s of normal, left was normal, also had some pain in stomach around that time did bariumtest and contrast for MRI to which I was anaphalactic, and had to give a cortizone, also sent me to ENT, during that time I had this white pimple,( have had them previously which ws not often but since 2011 they were there quite often), looking things on right side of tonsil no pain just botherend me making me feel like I need to gag, and sometimes when I coughed it came out other times I had to press on it to get the darn thing out, they were like white heads only two in the same spot all the time, ENT and doctor said food particles believe me they were not I thingk they were tonsil stones, found out through, med help. ENT Dec 2011 ,sent camera through nose said have a drip, I have alleries to hayfever and  asthma asked to do a scan , did not do it immediately, until end of March when I woke up and felt that my vison was double digits, was worried as there is glucoma in family, and my previous eye pressure in FEb 2011,check was 19, Since March before I got the blurry vion hadnt been sleeping well, also noted  for getting a lot, putting things in wrong place, sometimes forget what I was looking for as well, had a  stammer at one time, which I never had but now not often only sometimes, if I am stressed trying to think of words maybe due to lack of slee.
Ayway went to emergency did normal test to make sure not a stroke due to double vion and was asked to go to  emergency ENT next day, Had terrible headache and went eye pressure was done igt was in 20 and 21, as I was also vomiting, did not have headace when I had the blurry vision, just . They asked if I get sius problems said yes, so they checked it with camera and said may have polyps and do a scan to  make sure hospital put me on antibiotics which had some acid in it made breathing a bit hard felt like something was stuck in chest and itchiness here and there, did scan said have polyps.Went back to GP put me on doxy for 3 weeks while on doxy got me to do a scan of the thyroid and said that it came out normal also did another blood test that came out normal.
While on doxy noted the pimples in right side cleared up, but there is a flesh coloured slighly raised  lump on that side, so put finger in there to check it was a small lump size of pea does  not hurt, but noticed after the doxy was over that it had enlarged , was worried showed it to doctor who said dont worry, been in an oout of doctors, who says my glands are swollen, everytime mentioned it to him but not worried, checked mouth with popsicle stick and light, mentioned to him that it has grown but docotor is not concerned, went back to ent  with the report of scan mentioned to him he too said may be due to nasal drip, nasal drip, is back of throat this is in front of the arch where the pimples were,  Tthe throat scan for thyroids  did not show or mention, anything about this lump, as I was on antibiotics at the time,
Feel neck is heavy, tightness, so went to chiro who took Xrays of the back top to bottom while on antibiotics, chiro said had a small bend but nothing to worry about, feel a lot of tension in neck area and sometimes a uncomfortable feeling,
On the weekend was on bed on the computer, felt the pressure on both side of the neck as if I was going to get choked, have had this dry cough  cough too that has started, for some times now but havent taken notice of it as I do have asthma, but it not asthmatic, had breakfast in bed and then got up was in the kitchen felt vision going blurry , as my neck felt tightening on both sides, went and put my feet up for some time took some time for the feeling to leave 20 -30 mts or more. Went back to Dr and mentioned about this, also noted that I had a slight  loss of bladder control and did not know until I felt something wet, but was too shy to tell the doctor I am forgetting alot  not sure because of the stress of the lump, my sinus feels fine sometimes get the drip and stuffed nose but not all the time, could it be the lump inside throat that is causing but it is only on the right not left but the compression was on both sides,  took a nurofen, yesterday, I am stressed oiut about the lump pressure was fine but my hear rate was 81 and should have been 66 or below, I checkd my poulse when I felt this  tightening and it was 99, but when I went to the doctor  it was normal,
All I want is to get this lump out of my throat so I dont stress anymore, I want to do the polyps but they said they will have to straighten the  middle  of nose too, and read that polyps can come  back if you dont know what is causing it so want to get allergy test done, as well as want the doctor to take this lump out at the same time how can I make him do it he is only concentraing on the sinus., will I need my doctor to ask him to remove it too, as it is causing me to stress, sinus not too bad but the vison thing together with the back of neck discomfort, and the side s of throat tightness, is frightening me. when I move the neck around I can hear this funny sound like a crunch noise.  do you thing if I go to the dentist will she might be able to help me with this lump on the inside of the neck,
I am not sure what to do if anyone can let me know if they have the same problem, I too thought it might be the arteries on the side of neck that is causing this, the doctor said if I get the blur vion next time she will get a scan done, note not sinus when I had the second blured vision.
ENT asked me to take prednosoloan, and an antibiotic, not sure for what is if it is for the drip or the lump, as I was sneezing a lot the day I went for the second ENT
Please help

[e2shawphotos]

Monday morning i went to work fine. By 9 a.m. my body begin to ache and i couldnt stop sweating. by 915 my mouth was dry and i was weak. I started work at 8 am. By 930 i had extreme pressure in my head and shortness of breath. i managed to make it through the day out of sheer neccessity. The next day was spent in bed fighting the chills and sweats along with a fever and my other symptoms. So Wednesday i go to the clinic and they diagnose me with severe strep and put me on advil and penicillin. By friday everything is gone except now i have a marble size lump in my neck that radiates pain through my neck teeth and right ear. it seems to be easing the more that i take my penicillin and doses of advil though. but it is my right carotid. i will let you guys know if it goes down.

[Aries45]

When I read about your problem, I responded b/c of the similarity to my symptoms. I, also, have pain in my Lt Carotid artery right below my ear. It is sore to touch, but interestly, the pain has been relieved by sleeping in a tobagan hat. I guess the warmth of the hat helps me. I thought maybe I had a sinus infection, but, after hearing some of the other testimonies, I don't think so. My systolic BP (top #) has been extremely high & I am a small person. Also, I have a dry cough at times & I've been hoarse over 6 mths. I have Juvenile Diabetes, take insulin, however, & have acid reflux. I take a BP & acid reflux med, daily, already. I am a Nurse, therefore, I blew it off b/c of my medical knowledge, I thought  that I may have become a bit of a hypochondriac? I am dizzy when I climb the stairs at home or in the movie theater, my feet are very cold at night in bed & it's been difficult to swallow certain foods: breads, broccoli (raw), etc. I am concerned that my carotid artery may be occluded since I, also, have a elevated BP along with the pain in my LEFT side of my neck, the same side as my heart. Hearing some of the other stories, however, now wonder if could be cysts on my thyroid? I have already had an UGI of my throat & OK.  I am going to seek an opinion of an Endocrinologist. I feel that you should do the sam if your BP is high, also.  I hope you find the relief you deserve.