Hi all,

I posted once before about the dsphagia problem and sure enough that's what my dr. said is going on now with my TOS. It got so bad that I almost went to the ER because I was hyperventilating. I managed to get that undercontrol psychologically but physically this swallowing issue is getting worse. Now I have to stop talking because not only the swallowing is difficult, but the muscle seems so tired and full of spasms that it hurts to talk. These sypmtoms come and go but are worse toward the end of the day. My GP says that I'm having muscle spasms in the throat. I'm not real clear on the anatomy but the spasms I really feel are on my left side in the TO area. Had an upper GI and awaiting results. My GP says not to worry that my throat won't close up, but this is really getting concerning.

Anyone else have the same problems or have some suggestions?

Thank you and hope that some of you are finding pain relief today.

I also have swallowing problems. I don't think one day goes by that I swallow something and it seems to get stuck in my throat. I end up trying to clear it out before I start to choke on it and I always try to keep a glass of water close by. It doesn't matter whether I cut a smaller piece of food or chew it 100 times. Even swallowing pills has become difficult for me lately. My throat just seems to have a week feeling to it.
I am 3 months post op from a right brachial plexus/neuroplasty re do and the swallowing is becoming worse. It feels to me as though I don't have enough muscle strength in my throat to move anything down.
I have an appt with my Dr on Tuesday. I'll bring it up and see what they have to say.
It's not the problem that your throat will close up, the problem is choking on something and not having someone around to help us out.
Take care and wishing you a low pain or even better a pain free day.
Hugs
Dawn

I had it before at my bad times- and occasionally still if I get tight or mini spams in the neck area.

I found a few things that might explain it -
[As the head and neck are brought forward, the patient is forced to extend the occiput to keep the eyes horizontal, resulting in overactivity of the suboccipital muscles. With the head in a forward position, a passive tensile force is created in the hyoid muscles resulting in hyoid muscle tension, causing the mandible to be depressed and translated posteriorly. The patient is therefore forced to contract the temporalis and masseter muscles to keep the mouth closed.

This abnormal mandibular positioning can cause myofascial stress to the masseter and temporalis and temporomandibular problems. Porterfield and DeRosa1 state that symptoms such as excessive dry mouth due to mouth breathing, dysphagia, suboccipital headaches, teeth clenching, pain in the head and face over the temporalis area, and tightness over the throat region may occur.]
from - http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/17/18/06.html

and [The pain referral pattern of the SCM includes pain over the cheekbone, in the forehead, on top of the head, in and behind the ear, over the chin, over the SC joint, over the forehead, and deep in the throat.3 The throat referral is a commonly overlooked cause of sore throat, often mistaken for pharyngitis. The patient will often feel a fullness in the throat, especially upon swallowing, which feels like a partial obstruction. The forehead referral pattern is one of the very few instances, if not the only instance, where referred pain can cross the midline, as the pain is frequently felt in the contralateral forehead area in a patient suffering from a TP in the clavicular division of the SCM.]
from - http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/09/08/15.html

A link to that whole thread-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ght=swallowing

useful links thread-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=84

check into the triggerpoint links and find a way to reduce those and any muscle spasms

I have had the same thing in the neck area and around the throat and chin. I think mine is mostly spasms in the muscles when they get irritated or catch on the cervical ribs I have. Its annoying and sometimes painful. Mostly to get it to stop a little stretching or a muscle relaxer. Strange thing is my cervical ribs are floaters which means they aren't actually conected to the spine...weird as it sounds...I've seen the x-rays..and they catch in the muscles in the neck and create the spasms...sometimes I get the swallowing problems and it feels like I'm being poked in the throat. So I know the feeling, may not be the same anatomy and physically as everyone else, but I know the feeling.
Also been getting extreme pain in the chest and right above the breast area...more sore muscles.
Hope this advice helps. At least I don't feel weird, knowing I am not the only one getting it.

Are they looking into removing your floating cervie ribs??
Have they bothered you all your life or just at times?
sorry I am full of questions sometimes LOL

wow, I had no idea the cervical ribs could float around. I have bilateral TOS so they removed my left cervical rib, but I didn't do the other side. Oddly enough my left (with rib removed) is the side causing the throat problems...or at least that's where the muscles spasms are felt. I, too, have the pain above my breast in the chest area on the left sometimes. My jaw and tongue are bothering me too, but not as bad as the throat.

So it seems as thought some of you have had the surgery and others haven't. Those of you who have had surgery, did the throat issue come on before or after or both?

Do you know if this is a progression of the TOS?

Thanks for all the help
Tanya

I'm not sure where the thread is for Carol. but see her website. regarding VCD. I have heard from a MD that there is a corellation between RSIs and the swallowing problem but I don't know if it is strictly VCD. I do know that when some people with RSI learn to use voice activated software, they may develop a diff kind of RSI in the throat area. Working with a speech therapist that specializes in this can sometimes help.

http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com/

"CAN'T BREATHE? SUSPECT VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION!
by Carol Sidofsky"

My swallowing problems aren't as severe as most of you guys that posted. However, I have noticed. I have had more occasions of choking and hoarseness since my car accident in 2001 (the likely culprit of my TOS). I received my official TOS diagnosis this past December, and in March, I was diagnosed with asthma. I don't know if any of this is related, but it's interesting that many of us have had breathing/swallowing/talking problems...

Try to stay positive, and I hope you find some answers soon.

I just want to throw this out there for anybody who has a problem with hoarseness, you might want to get your thyroid checked and also if it doesn't go away, maybe see an EN & T dr. I had hoarseness that lasted for quite a long time and my PM dr. referred me to an EN & T and I had a benign growth on my vocal cords which he removed.