constant tightness in front of neck/throat HELP!!!!!

[debsfoden]

hi there  just joined forum.

I have had this tightness feeling in my throat for over 6 months now.  it is very annoying and feels like someone is trying to strangle me!!!!  i did have neck pain for over 2 years but that has  subsided alot now.  has anyone else experienced this constant feeling or any suggestions to what it could be?  it does disappear when i lie down but reappears within a few minutes of standing.

i do check my posture every day as someone said it could be muscle tension in the front of the neck.

PLEASE HELP !!!!

deb

[Mot425]

I felt a lump in my throat for a while, and later a tightness along the length of my neck on the other side. Both problems lasted for weeks or months.

After spending over $1000 to see doctors and specialists about this, I self-diagnosed the problem as this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricopharyngeal_spasm

Luckily the last specialist I saw prescribed clonazepam.

[YouAreNotAlone726]

I've been having this throat/neck tightness for over a month now, and I have been searching high and low for what it could be. It seems to be more prominent on my right side and even goes into my chest. It's affecting my ears (ringing, muffled, etc) and my right arm to the tips of my fingers. I am almost 28 years old, I have been on a lot of medication over the last 7 months (klonopin, atavan, lamictal, seroquel, latuda, gabapentin, vibryyd, and zoloft). I  just had a physical end of last month and they even did an EKG because of the chest tightness/pain which came back normal.

After reading forums online, health websites, talking to my psychiatrist, going to my primary (I'm going again this afternoon), here is what I've come across:

- ANXIETY- of course my psychiatrist says it's anxiety, but the anti-anxiety meds do not help (plus I completely agree with WeStarStuff's comment. I've been having horrible side effects from all these meds and I've even been losing my hair due to the lamictal/gabapentin my psychiatrist put me on, and she never even warned me about it...). Do not rely on medication alone! If you DO take meds, do your research. Make sure you know the risks, and keep a good log of all your symptoms (good & bad), dosage increases/changes, any physical or mental issues, etc to take back to your doctor. If anything, try to find a good therapist (especially if you are already taking meds) to dive deeper into investigating your emotions and your anxiety. Therapy has helped more than anything for me, and there are no negative health side effects from talk-therapy.

- DEHYDRATION - I thought it could be this because it feels like a charlie horse in my neck, so I have been keeping track of my water intake to make sure I'm drinking enough. However, still has not gotten that much better.

- GERD and TMJ - I've been told I had these years before, so that is probably adding to the problem (my right jaw seems to always crack, especially when the tightness is really bad).

- Muscle Tightness/Cramping - I've gotten massages and even gone to a chiropractor a few times to see if maybe it was a pinched nerve or something was going on in my neck/shoulder due to me doing a weird movement or sleeping funny. I did come across this website which listed pretty much all the symptoms I've been having, and I've followed the stretches/massages this doctor listed on here and it's been loosening a little bit and my ear isn't affected as much as it was before. I try to do the massages about 6 times a day and make sure I drink a lot of water:
http://www.natural-solutions-for-muscle-pain.com/sternocleidomastoid-muscle.html

this also could be something of interest:
http://www.cricopharyngealspasm.com/

Although I already had a full physical exam, I am going back to the doctor this afternoon just to be on the safe side and give me piece of mind because I want to be 110% positive that this is not a tumor, breast cancer or anything of the sort. I've known too many people who have been diagnosed with cancer when it's too late, and half of those people had to fight to get a further look into their symptoms just to find out it was cancer. I'm not trying to scare anyone or say that this is cancerous or anything, but it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you have insurance (this is why we pay so freaking much for insurance right...?).

But definitely try those massages/stretches on that 1st website I listed, along with breathing, overall stretching, and meditation helps a lot (it will also help with your anxiety if you experience this as well :-)). Again, no negative side effects, it can only help. Keep track of your symptoms to see if they are getting worse or better and how long your symptoms have been persisting and what you have been doing to try to help it or what may have caused it. If the symptoms get worse, new symptoms pop up, or if you just want piece of mind  definitely go to your doctor and bring a list of everything it may be and things that you have/have not been doing so your doctor doesn't just dismiss you off saying it's anxiety. The best of luck to everyone (www.you-are-not-alone.info)!

[sarabeach123]

I have similar issues with throat muscle tightness.  It is into my jaw as well, and tight shoulder muscles too.  I have been seeing an oseteopath and this is definitely the best medical professional I have ever seen.  My family doctor told me to take 2 ibuprofen everyday when I told him about my throat tightness, which didn't really seem like a logical solution to me. I would recommend an osteopath to everyone - it is just so amazing.  She also fixed a sore knee that I have had for over ten years, with jut one adjustment. I have a series of exercise I do every day that the osteopath gave me, and things are slowly improving with my throat.  

[SparrowSong]

When you had this, did you 'feel' a mild, soft clicking when you swallowed? I'm asking because with mine it seems that there is not a sound, but "feel" almost like a clicking when I swallow. It's not smooth when I swallow, like it would be without the lump.  Thank you in advance.

[SparrowSong]

I'm so upset. I started to get a tight throat about a month or so ago. I first noticed it one evening when reading in bed. Then it persisted and I couldn't get comfortable. I'd toss and turn, nothing helped. I'd press on the base of my throat, hoping it would ease it and it does, minimally.

But it's started to happen while sitting at the computer a few days ago and tonight it's driving me nuts! I am so upset I'm in tears.

I have also noticed my head hurts a lot when this happens. Lately headaches have been worse. I get heart palpations, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. I have been light headed the last two weeks off and on, and my hands shake at times, but they have for years now...

I have stress currently and have been letting go of so many things the last two years and sifting through personal issues, confronting myself. I'm also very overweight, but am losing, and mostly vegan at this point. I recently lost eleven pounds and hope as the weight sheds the throat issue will too...

It could be my thyroid, I am unsure but will have to be tested soon if this doesn't stop. Now it just abated as I am typing. Sometimes it does for a few minutes, then returns. Mostly I feel it when laying down, that's when it's the absolute worst...Night is also when I think way way too much. reading seems to somewhat help, though not much.

[jushan2002]

Have you resolved this issue? If so what was it?? I am going through the SAME thing and have been for two years now!

[tomtom34]

I ask you the same question, have you found a solution by now ? Thanks