Stabbing pain in left side of throat

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Stabbing pain in left side of throat

Sharp pain left side throat when swallow

Asked for Female, 22 Years

I have severe sharp throat pain when I swallow on the left side of my throat for last 5-6 hours. I feel like something moves when I swallow with sharp pain. I have a mild history of acid reflux but I'm worried if this is something very serious. Please guide me.

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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Stabbing pain in left side of throat

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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) is a rare pain syndrome that affects the glossopharyngeal nerve (the ninth cranial nerve that lies deep within the neck)  and causes sharp, stabbing pulses of pain in the back of the throat and tongue, the tonsils, and the middle ear.  The excruciating pain of GN can last for a few seconds to a few minutes, and may return multiple times in a day or once every few weeks.  Many individuals with GN relate the attacks of pain to specific trigger factors such as swallowing, drinking cold liquids, sneezing, coughing, talking, clearing the throat, and touching the gums or inside the mouth.  GN can be caused by compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve, but in some cases, no cause is evident.  Like trigeminal neuralgia, it is associated with multiple sclerosis.  GN primarily affects the elderly.

Treatment

Most doctors will attempt to treat the pain first with drugs.  Some individuals respond well to anticonvulsant drugs, such as carbamazepine and gabapentin.  Surgical options, including nerve resection, tractotomy, or microvascular decompression, should be considered when individuals either don’t respond to, or stop responding to, drug therapy.  Surgery is usually successful at ending the cycles of pain, although there may be some sensory loss in the mouth, throat, or tongue.

Prognosis

Some individuals recover from an initial attack and never have another.  Others will experience clusters of attacks followed by periods of short or long remission.  Individuals may lose weight if they fear that chewing, drinking, or eating will cause an attack. 

Research

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes at the National Institutes of Health conduct research related to GN and support additional research through grants to major research institutions across the country.  Much of this research focuses on finding better ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure disorders such as GN.   

View research on this topic.

View studies being conducted about this condition.

View NINDS publications on this topic.

Organizations

American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
Provides self-help coping skills and peer support to people with chronic pain. Sponsors local support groups throughout the U.S. and provides assistance in starting and maintaining support groups.

P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850

http://www.theacpa.org
Tel: Rocklin
Fax: 916-652-8190

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Stabbing pain in left side of throat

NINDS Disorders is an index of neurological conditions provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This valuable tool offers detailed descriptions, facts on treatment and prognosis, and patient organization contact information for over 500 identified neurological disorders.

Neurological Disorders and Stroke »

What causes sharp pain on left side of throat?

It is usually caused by a bacterial infection. A peritonsillar abscess forms in the tissues near the tonsils, usually when tonsillitis becomes severe or is left untreated. It may cause intense pain on one side of the throat. It may also cause fever, swollen lymph nodes, and trouble swallowing.

Why do I have a sharp stabbing pain in my throat?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is characterized by a sharp, jabbing pain deep in the throat, or in the tongue, ear, and tonsils, lasting a few seconds to a few minutes. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is generally caused by a small blood vessel that presses on the nerves as they exit the brainstem.