It hurts on the left side while swallowing, and there is a bump on the same side of my neck. Why?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Every time I swallow food, it brushes against the left side of my neck, and I get burning dull pain on the back of the left side of my head. My neck and my trapeze, especially on my left side, are sore. The pain is on and off for the whole day. I had a bump on the side of my neck. My doctor said that it is a muscle that is tight and knotted. And sometimes, it is tender to touch. I had migraines.

Kindly help me to know what it is.

Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Florilyn Joyce Chulsi Bentrez

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for the query.

If you have unilateral pain triggered by swallowing, you might have glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Since you have a bump on the neck, I suggest doing a cranial MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and neck ultrasound. It is advisable to consult a surgeon or an E.N.T as you have a lump on the side of the neck. This lump might be compressing your glossopharyngeal nerve causing pain while swallowing.

I suggest you take tablet Carbamazepine 200 mg twice daily and keep a watch for dizziness and fainting.

Thanks.

The Probable causes

Compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Investigations to be done

Cranial MRI plain and contrast and ultrasound of neck mass.

Probable diagnosis

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

Treatment plan

Consult with ENT and take tablet Carbamazepine 200mg twice daily.

Regarding follow up

Follow up after a week of medications and once with MRI and ultrasound results.

Was this conversation helpful?

Answered by Dr. Florilyn Joyce Chulsi Bentrez

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team

August 24, 2021

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Florilyn Joyce Chulsi Bentrez

Neurology

Consult this doctor

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