Can prolonged mouth opening during a root canal procedure cause a feeling of tightness in the trachea?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having a sensation of something ball-like caught at the site of the trachea when I try to touch my chin to the chest. I do not have pain while swallowing. This started the day I underwent a root canal procedure when I had to keep my mouth open for almost one hour. I have had TMJ problems on the same side for the past 15 years. I consulted an ENT doctor who said my throat was fine and that there are no nodes on my neck. I also took USG which showed a thyroid nodule on the left while my problem is on the right. I have attached FNAC, CT Scan neck, and USG. Please explain to me about the thyroid nodule. What could be the reason for feeling discomfort or tightness on the right? Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern. After seeing your reports (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity), I think that you have two different issues. They are as follows: 1. Thyroid nodule. 2. Ball-like sensation or foreign body sensation in the tracheal area. Your CT (computed tomography) and ultrasound are suggestive of a thyroid nodule that is more than 1 centimeter in size and considered significant enough for further evaluation such as fine needle aspiration cytology to identify the cause. Your second symptom seems to be unrelated to the thyroid nodule. All your tests suggest a normal airway and neck. The most common condition which presents with a foreign body or ball-like sensation is laryngopharyngeal reflux disorder. It is a condition where the acid in the stomach enters the throat regularly and causes injury and swelling in the throat. Stress, sleep disturbances, untimely food habits, tea, chocolates, aerated beverages, etc are the common causes of this condition. Anti-reflux medications for a few weeks to two months may be necessary to treat this condition. Kindly talk to a specialist, talk to them, and take medications with their consent. I hope this has helped you. Thank you.