I got a popping sound and got hurt while yawning. Did I break something in my throat?

Question

Hi doctor,

I yawned and heard a popping sound and got hurt. Did I break something in my throat? Can a bone from the throat be broken due to yawning?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for the query.

I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you have been suffering from pain in the throat after yawning. And your query is about the possibility of breaking a bone from the throat after yawning. I think it is impossible, and only yawning cannot break or dislocate bones from the throat.

But yawning can dislocate the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ can cause throat pain; it is due to referred pain. Your jaw pain can radiate to the throat, which makes you think that your throat is the source of pain.

There are some muscles in the throat for eating, drinking, and swallowing. Yawning may overstretch muscles not intended to be moved in that way and cause pain in your throat. Again overstretching the jaw like yawning can cause jaw dislocation with producing sound. It can cause pain and radiate to the throat as it is a referred pain, so you can think that your throat is hurting.

For your pain, you can take NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Naproxen, Aceclofenac, Ibuprofen, etc. By applying ice on your hurting area and taking liquid foods until the pain does not get subsided. In case of any other query, knock me, and I will try to reply to you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Thanks for joining us again. It is not possible, and you cannot break your hyoid bone from making yourself burp. Let me explain that.

A tremendous blow or stroke needs to break a hyoid bone. Otherwise, it is impossible. The hyoid bone is your shaped bone in the throat is well-protected by different structures like tendons, muscle, etc. It is rare to find the hyoid bone. Strangulation is the leading cause. Sometimes hanging may cause a fracture of the hyoid bone. More than 80% of hyoid fracture has resulted from both strangulation and hanging. Other causes such as car accidents, gunshot injury, sports injury like weight lifting, boxing, etc., can cause fracture of the hyoid bone. Sudden neck movement, sneezing, yawning can cause a sprain in the neck muscle, and pain can radiate to the throat muscle due to sprain. But burp cannot cause fracture or dislocation of the hyoid bone. In case of any other query, please do ask me.