Can swallowing with your head in a weird position (tilted back or turned to the side) cause tearing or injury of any kind? Like swallowing food or drinks while the muscles in the throat/esophagus is stretched, because it hurts when you try to swallow with your head in some positions (looking up and to one of the sides as far as you can while swallowing). I've got this lump on one of the sides of my throat now, and I'm wondering if it's from doing this? I can't remember if it was there before.