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Pain when speaking and throat tightness

I posted on this in another thread but wanted to give it its own thread since I have weeded out so many of the options.

For the last few years I have experienced a lot of pain when speaking.  It doesn't feel like hoarseness, it is more like tightness.  When I try to speak it is like something is squeezing my voice box. I have tried going an entire week without talking and it didn't help at all.  The very next time I tried to speak I felt the same way.  A lot of time my throat will get tight and the glands around my neck seem to get swollen.

Voice rest in general hasn't done anything.

Since discovering this pain, I have:
1. Taken a nasal steroid for post-nasal drip
2. Had a PH monitor installed in me to test for acid reflux.  I do have GERD, but 2 months of prescription omeprazole hasn't helped my voice at all so I don't think it is the problem.
3. Gone through about 8 sessions of voice therapy with 2 different speech pathologists.
4. Had a small surgical procedure where they injected some material in one of my vocal cords because it didn't vibrate enough.

Recently I have started to go on a gluten-free diet.  If that doesn't help, maybe I will try another potential diet to weed out food allergies.

Based on all of the things that I have tried that have failed, does anyone know what else it could be?  I am only about a 3 days in to the gluten-free diet, so it is entirely possible that it will make a difference somewhere down the road.  I am also going to give up caffeine.
12 Responses
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Avatar universal
I am also facing same issue. When i speak i start feeling pain. I cannot speak more than 15 mins.. I feel relief when i chew something.But its temporary solution
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Avatar universal
*Suggestions
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Avatar universal
Well, Based on your symptoms, I would guess you must be suffering from spasmodic Dysphonia. (You can google it.)
There are 4 varieties of this condition which you can review.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thanks for suggesting!
Avatar universal
Hello
I don't think email id reflects here
If you have any suggestions please share it here as I m still facing the same problem in intervals.
I am from India and I have watts app too on my Mobile number +919811134782
Also you can share your contact number.

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Avatar universal
Hello friends
I am also facing same problem from 6 months . Visited many ent's but no solution.
Some body suggested me gargle with a glass of warm water with 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt , it tastes bitter but I started doing it 2 times especially before going to bed .
Hope it will work
If anyone have the permanent solution pls let me know my email address is ***@****
Thanks
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1 Comments
Give me UR contact details or u can reach me at ***@****
Avatar universal
Hi guys, i'm not offering any specific solution, but I think I might be able to shed some lights on it: you're focusing control in your throat. It's a long story lead me to think that way but if you maybe just try to redirect the control somewhere else. That may help. Now my answer really needs someone knowledgeable enough to dive deeper, but just a thought there :)
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Avatar universal
My son has been experiencing the same thing for the last 6 years and has been seeing different ENT doctors & specialists. I hope you are doing better. It has been very frustrating & difficult especially at work. If you ever find help or if you want to get in touch please text at 559-940-2193. Take care.
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5123318 tn?1417395836
Please let me know if you found a solution. You sound like me and I hate every day of my life. I've stopped talking to people because no one can hear me.
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Avatar universal
hi,

please give me your email so we can be in touch, i have been struggling with a similar thing and need help!!
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello and hope you are doing well.

The soft tissue changes may not be visible outside. As for allergies, up to 20% of the population perceive themselves as suffering from food allergy but only 1-2% of adults have genuine food allergies. The most common culprits are peanuts, milk, eggs, soya and shellfish. You will have to observe which food, on consumption is causing this problem.

It could be an allergic reaction, more so if the symptoms have occurred with the consumption of the same food. The diagnosis of allergy is difficult to prove or refute. Clinical suspicion and trial of elimination diets are used. An allergy specialist might be able to help you, you can discuss the possibilities with him.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response.  When I had the PH monitor installed they stuck a camera down my esophagus and said everything looked okay.  I have also had a several video stroboscopies done to check my voice.  If I had Plummer Vinson, wouldn't there be something physically noticeable? I also don't have any trouble swallowing.

So far the Gluten Free diet isn't doing much, but it has only been like 5 days.  It could be something in the air too, I guess.  I have considered going to an Allergist but from what I read a lot of food allergies don't show up on the tests because the allergic reaction takes more time to happen. Is that true?

I did start writing down the things that I have been eating. I tried to do that a long time ago but it seemed like I was writing down the same thing every day (because I pretty much ate the same things every day).  Since I started my Gluten-Free diet I have been eating a lot of different things, many of them containing corn.  Maybe I am allergic to corn?

Thanks again!
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament. Your symptoms could be due to an allergic reaction, in which case it should occur on consumption/on exposure to the allergen. Maintain a diary and note down and monitor your symptoms. This may help to narrow down the search.

The throat tightness can also happen due to iron deficiency anemia causing Plummer-Vinson syndrome, where there changes to the soft lining of the throat. This can be detected by a simple blood test. Please check with your doctor to rule out this condition.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Helpful - 0
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