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

[tmv]

Anxiety can show itself as many different symptoms. This sounds like one to me, but have you had your thyroid checked out by a dr?? Best of luck to you.

[TonnaB]

My throat feels as if I'm being strangled also. I can't stand for a shirt to touch me from my collarbone up. I'm going in for a scope in two weeks, I'll let you know what they say.I just feel like my neck is gonna burst it is so tight.  

[debsfoden]

many thanks for those 2 comments.  i would be interested to hear how you get on in a couple of weeks.  unless you have these symptoms it is difficult to describe how awlful it feels.  i live in the uk female aged 40.

[debsfoden]

many thanks for the replies.  i would be interested in how TonnaB gets on with the scope in 2 weeks time.  sounds like an identical problem to me.  i live in the uk and am aged 40.

[TonnaB]

I will let you know how scope turns out. I have a swollen lymph node also on side of neck, so I am a tad freaked. I may not be able to wait 2 weeks!! But I will keep you posted. Check thyroid forum, I have been posting a lot on there.

[TonnaB]

Hi. I had the scope yesterday, it took maybe a minute and a half. He said he saw nothing on the inside. I go for a biopsy on the 16th(for my gland) and he said he'll "look around" while he's in there to see what's going on. So I am no further than I was. Sorry.

[frightened:(]

What did you find out?  I am having what you had/have.  Have ENY apt. in end of October... a LONG wait.  Wondering what I might find out or give Dr. insight to.  THANKS :-)

[paulyK]

Sounds like Globus hystericus. This can be quite scary, and I have had two episodes in my life. I'm 55 yrs old and an R.N. It usually goes away on it's own.  For me, both episodes lasted lest than 4 weeks.  I felt like I was wearing a very tight collar, or had a bone stuck in my throat. It never prevented me from swallowing normally, just felt weird. Look it up on-line for further explanations and suggestions.  It is benign and needs no treatment in most cases, but needs to be diagnosed in order to rule out a possible growth or more serious issue.

[alli6203]

Hi I have just discovered this forum, I am the same - tightening of the throat, i am also wretching when i talk, cant breathe too - Drs are saying it is anxiety and asthma, I read something on google that it could be gerd or LPR - it sounds like it, Acid reflux, I am going back to GP tomorrow with print outs x

[Laura Jay]

Hi, I too have this same promblem, It feels like you are being strangled.  I had a scope put down my throat.  The results came back as Reflux.  I was given tablets nearly a year ago now.  But still suffer with it.  It now feels like I have a lump in my throat and it is being pinched.  I also seem to have constant headaches. x

[Tuscan1]

Hi, I also feel like my throat is going to burst its so restricted.I keep pressing it to try and relieve the pressure and sometimes by deep breathing it relieves it but only for a second. I saw the doc and he said I had this condition called cricothyroid muscle spasm and prescribed Somac tablets for the reflux. I've been taking them for 9 days now, its sort of ok, but hasnt made that much of a difference, I'm going to keep taking the Somac for at least a month and see what happens then. I also feel bloated when my throat feels at its worse and find it hard to talk, like I have to strain to say anything and cant hit high notes anymore, in fact it makes me tired just to talk lately. Also, my heart beats so fast. Does anyone else have these exact symptons, I dont get a lump in my throat like some I've read.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

"tightness feeling in [your] throat " can be from many reasons, this globus sensation that paulyK mentions is a good term for it.  Anxiety, asthma, GERD acid reflux, foreign bodies, these need evaluation by your doctor.

[Pet1304]

I am a 40 year old female who has just started having this throat tightening symptom.  Seems to get worse the more I think about it.  Today is probably the worst day (I've had it a few times over the last 3 weeks).  I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr 6 weeks ago, although this doesn't seem to have developed into glandular fever; just extreme fatigue and general malaise.  I also felt as though I had a tablet wedged behind my collarbone for about 2-3 weeks so I stopped the tablets (big naturopath ones), and the feeling gradually went, although this horrible tightness is still there.  I think lying down helps.  Does anyone else have this type of thing?

[shalynn000]

Yes, I had that same tight feeling in my neck in October.  It was relieved when laying down. I thought nothing of it because I have sinus issues and reflex as well.  I got over it in about a week but got it back again about a month later.  I don't have it anymore.  But, what I do find strange is that my little 8 year old girl said that she felt like there was a rubberband around her neck and it felt really tight.  She is over this as well.  She did not know I was experiencing this because I did not tell her.  So... I am wondering if it is possible that it was more of a viral flu like condition because she does not have reflux or sinus.

[cranky_in_pain]

I have similar feelings.  I had my gallbladder taken out 2 months ago and have had strange symptoms of pain and tightness in areas in my abdomen, chest and neck since.  I also have some relief when I laying down, or when I raise my chin higher than parallel to the ground.  In addition to the tight feeling, the front center of my neck is tender to the touch and seems to "get stuck" and be cramped when I swallow - like a lump in my throat.  Glands tender also.
My dr has perscribed muscle relaxers, I'm seeing a chiropractor, a massage therapist and doing stretches for the front neck muscles.  I get temporary relief from all of it, but nothing that lasts.
My dr has also said anxiety (I think we all have anxiety because of how we feel!) and muscle tension - which I don't doubt, but something has to be causing it.

[bookerman]

Google this:  "cricopharyngeal spasm."  One Doctor describes a procedure he uses to diagnose it, and assures that it is not serious.  He says it is caused by some kind of cramping like a charlie horse, and will go away on it's own in time.  Many experience great relief just knowing it's not cancer.  Take the printout to your doctor if you are being examined for the first time.  His article is also listed on Nexium.com.  Hope this helps.

[horsemullet]

I just started having a problem that sounds similar but yet different to many of you. I have previously had problems in my sternocleidomastoid from my stroke in water polo (I am a college student who swims and plays water polo) and I am reaching the end of my season and not only do I have pain high in the back of my neck down into my back/shoulders I have started to have pain in the front of my neck from my jaw down over my collar bones. I also recently got hit in the larynx so this really isn't helping the situation. Lying down on my back it still feels really tight, sometimes worse. Putting my head down towards my chest is sometimes the only way I feel like I can breathe. It has continually gotten worse and my trainers nor myself know what is going on. The only thing so far that has been able to release my pain in the back of my neck( which went away but has recently returned with the tightness in the front) has been litacaine shots into certain trigger points.

[WHATSMYPROBLEM]

I have had throat problems all my life, but within the past 2 years I've had this feeling of garbage in my throat and can't seem to clear it out completely. At the same time I have itching ears and they seem to have more wax buildup or leakage at times. Been to ENT several times, have had previous xrays, MRI, Ultra Sound, scope and nothing shows up.  I DID have a staph infection in my ear, so I'm wondering if it didn't go away with the medication and just keeps traveling back and forth from throat to ears through the drainage tunnel.  I'm at my wits' end as well and all I can do is complain about it until I'm dead and have to put it on my gravestone.

[stella456]

I've been currently suffering from a sore throat and cold and today experienced a feeling of tightness (like someone had tried to strangle me) around my neck. I had been wearing a scarf though this was not in any way tight and when taking it off, it made no difference. I am hoping that it is nothing serious e.g Laryngitis, a throat infection, or one of the above, but am going to monitor it over the next day or so and hopefully it will go on its own accord. I have been doing a lot of singing with my choir for Christmas which doesnt help, but am glad i'm not alone with the above problem!

[Sheryl777]

I have had this feeling for years, it is so annoying.  It really got bad when I had thyroidectomy, the doctor botched it, I ended up with a hematoma and he had to operate again. Since then I have had this feeling someone is choking me.  Not only that but after this I was diagnosed with glaucoma and I am wondering if the pressure on neck is causing pressure in eyes.  I have mentioned this to doctors but cannot get a satisfactory answer.  Has anyone else developed glaucoma after removal of thyroid?

[Sheryl777]

I have had this feeling for years, it is so annoying.  It really got bad when I had thyroidectomy, the doctor botched it, I ended up with a hematoma and he had to operate again. Since then I have had this feeling someone is choking me.  Not only that but after this I was diagnosed with glaucoma and I am wondering if the pressure on neck is causing pressure in eyes.  I have mentioned this to doctors but cannot get a satisfactory answer.  Has anyone else developed glaucoma after removal of thyroid?

[Janie88]

I have the tightness around my throat, and when I raise my head, it helps, to breath better. I also have trouble seeing, my face muscles are swollen, one eyelid seems to be closing slower than the other, and it is difficult to form certain words sometimes, like almost when you eat something cold and your mouth is a little numb, and I am having a little more trouble seeing than before this, like something is swollen on the inside! Dr said it was TMJ and I have a staph infection, with no specific treatment given except sulphur for staph and steroid for TMJ. I am done with both medicines and symptoms are right back where we were. I also have way more fatigue than before and pain in my neck, and I sound stopped up in my head, for over 4 months now, and I need help, no insurance and don't know what to do. Someone please advise and thank you.--Janie

[vuladams]

Could be Eosinophilic Esophagitis, GERD, or Thyroid Nodules. See a Gastroenterologist and also an Endocrinologist. Be prepared for an endoscopy and possibly a biopsy as well as an ultrasound of your thyroid.

[wyatt1]

I had the same thing and it was muscle spasms.   Once I knew what was wrong I relaxed
and the spasms went away after a wek or so.