A real pain in the neck

[Grant Lamontagne]

I've had this minor problem for years and to be honest, I'm not sure what it is.  It was always easily fixed before, so I never really cared what it was...

When I would yawn or blow my nose occasionally I'd get something in my neck pop out of place.  It was painful if I swallowed, but I could always prod it back into place with my fingers and it was good as new.  This has been happening since at least high school.  I went to a doctor once about it but as it wasn't popped out at the time they couldn't diagnose the problem, and I was told if it happened again, not to fix it and come back.  Well, it's quite painful when I don't pop it back into place, and since it was so easily corrected I never bothered.

Yesterday however the thing, whatever it is popped out again and I was unable to pop it back in.  This happened around lunch yesterday, and after work (around 8pm last night) I decided to stop in at the Emergency Room on my way home.  Typical me, I couldn't find a good parking space at the ER so I said to heck with it and went home.   

It was a rough, painful night last night as whatever it is gets pinched between my throat and whatever else every time I swallow.  My wife made an appointment for me to see our family doctor this afternoon and I went, but he couldn't find anything either, so he made an urgent appointment with a speSmurfpillst for me tomorrow morning.

In the meantime the whole front of my neck now feels like it's bruised and I still get a huge shock of pain every time I swallow... and you'd be amazed how many times in a day you swallow!   

Whatever it is also seems to be putting pressure on my voicebox as it's getting difficult to speak and I sound like I have a really bad sore throat.  Other than being tired, the dull bruise type pain whenever something touches my neck and the sudden pain when I swallow I feel fine.

I guess I couldn't expect a machine with as many moving parts as the human body to work flawlessly forever huh?   

Maybe its time to go in for a warranty check!   

Def

[Ashley]

Hope you feel better soon Def.

Ash's mobile on the move.

[Nhoj]

I hope the problem isn't serious and that you feel better quickly. At least if you if you need surgery you can do a tool review on what they used. All joking aside, I hope you feel better.

[Lynn LeFey]

It sounds like an issue with the Hyoid bone, and/or Thyroid cartilage, particularly if you're feeling something going on with your vocal cords.

They're probably going to jam it back into place, give you OTC pain killer, and wrap it (REALLY TIGHT) in bandages. As your face turns purple, they'll ease off the pressure... one hopes.

In all seriousness, I hope it's nothing major, and that you feel better.

[Whoey]

yikes... hope it's not serious this time either

[ironraven]

Who's close enough to make sure Def goes to the doctor? It's either that, or we fix it... with multis... and SAKs... and duct tape.... and that would be bad.

I like Lynn's theories. They are happy ones. Since it's been around a while, if it was a tumor it would have probably eatten your head by now.

[THE_LONGBOW]

Sounds like a good diet aid if it hurts to swallow. 

Hope it is not serious and you have speedy recovery.

[PTRSAK]

Since it's been around a while, if it was a tumor it would have probably eatten your head by now.

IT'S NOT A TUMOR!

[Monrogue]

Sorry to hear about this, Grant.  I hope it is nothing serious and any recovery is speedy.  You're in my prayers

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Sounds like Lynn is closest on this one.  Get well soon Boss!   

[kirk13]

Maybe its time to go in for a warranty check!   

Def

Careful Boss,they don't repair old models,they send out new up to date ones as replacements...Hang on,your wife does know this???

Seriously,holding thumbs for you here

[Taxi Dad]

keep us all informed of your swift recovery boss man.
(and if the wife is showing concern, 'milk it' for every bit of sympathy you can get  )

[Grant Lamontagne]

It sounds like an issue with the Hyoid bone, and/or Thyroid cartilage, particularly if you're feeling something going on with your vocal cords.

They're probably going to jam it back into place, give you OTC pain killer, and wrap it (REALLY TIGHT) in bandages. As your face turns purple, they'll ease off the pressure... one hopes.

In all seriousness, I hope it's nothing major, and that you feel better.

Those are a lot of the same things the doctor was saying.  Frankly I'm not too worried, although I would be a lot happier if they would just fix it.  If they suggest surgery I'm ready to go for that.  I'm one of those odd patients where if they suggest cutting me open to have a look I'm willing to lay down on the desk and tell them to go for it.  Hell, they had to learn something at Med school, right?

As I said its painful but not too serious, so please, save the prayers for folks that have real problems!  I'm heading into work shortly to do a few things, then I'll be off to see the speSmurfpillst and I'll report back when/if anything gets accomplished there.

Oh, and on a vaguely political note, those who have heard people wait forever with socialized medicine... well less than 48 hours after my not serious problem started I'm in to see a speSmurfpillst.  I'd be further along if there had been better parking at the ER! 

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[Threeme2189]

Good luck with the appointment Def!
I hope they can just prod it back into place and send you home :-)

Sent from my StoneTablet using Chiseltalk II

[AimlessWanderer]

Good to hear you're finally doing something about it mate  The best way of not getting it fixed is not getting it looked at as you've discovered, so anything else is a step in the right direction. Good luck with it feller 

[JRB65]

Good luck!

[Taxi Dad]

regarding how long you wait to 'see' a Doctor/speSmurfpillst, here in the UK our system works on the lines of "if the patient waits long enough, he/she will either get better or die before seeing someone. which save a lot of money in the long run!"

[Grant Lamontagne]

There's been a slight problem today.  My family doctor called last night and told me I have an appointment at 11:10 today but I got a call from the speSmurfpillst this morning saying that my appointment was at 1:40 so I'll have to wait an extra couple of hours. I suppose after 20 years of waiting what's another couple of hours?
 
Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[firiki]

Hope it's nothing, Mr. Lamontagne and that you recover soon. "Sitherenios" as we say here (means made of iron). Please let us know what the doc said.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I forgot to mention the funny part- I've all but lost my voice and when I called my doctor to confirm the appointment I found that they have a new voice recognition system for sorting phone calls.  Needless to say the bloody thing was pretty well worthless to me!   

Def

[nuphoria]

Sounds like a lot of fun, and the sort of thing I love with a lot as my joints are prone to all such nonsense

Hyoid bone a definite possibility, more so that it's attached only by tendons and muscles and any one of those could be damaged, prone to over tightening, or in spasm for neurological reasons. It's one of the most complex and tightly packed anatomical regions of the human body, which makes it very interesting but often tricky to diagnose and treat.

My current training (teacher training for the Alexander Technique) would dictate that you can change some of it in the absence of illness/disease, but that would probably be very limited if there's a physical explanation beyond your control. The bit you can do is learn to react differently, such as not tightening muscles up as a result of pain etc. So much that we do is almost unconscious, it takes a lot of practise to become aware of and able to interfere with these reactions. Anyway, that's just another school though....

Looking forward to hearing what they make of you

[Whoey]

factory recall 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Well I'm sure Kim won't mind a newer model!

This is like some minor flaw, like the cigarette lighter in a car that pops out with a bit too much force. Not enough to worry about, and a small detail in an otherwise decent car.  Then one day when no one is looking it pops all the way out and starts a fire.

Of course I am certain those around me are appreciating the silence!

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[Grant Lamontagne]

The speSmurfpillst can't find anything out of place but did find the results of a few things out of place, so he prescribed a bunch of pills (I hate pills) for me to take and scheduled me for a CAT scan.  If nothing is sorted by then we may have the fun of surgery.

I told him to cut me open now and let's get this smurf over with, but he said no...

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[Taxi Dad]

at least something is happening Grant, don't just ignor your body when it says it wants mending. hope the pills make some improvements and you feel better ASAP

[nuphoria]

Cutting you open should be a last resort

[Grant Lamontagne]

You can't check the oil if you don't open the hood. I'm not thrilled with the idea of surgery but I'd prefer it to this mess dragging on.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[nuphoria]

I totally understand that feeling, but cutting often does more harm than good

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah I know. They had to sever some important things in my foot to bolt the bone back together.  Even so, if they can't find the problem then let's have a closer look.  I need a solution, not tests and bull smurf.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[MultiMat]

I have had X4 lots of surgery on my throat & mouth to fix a problem & they did not work  . I avoid surgery if I can now days & that is coming from some one who works in a operating theatre  .

Def I hope they sort you out , sounds painful & very inconvenient.

factory recall 

I bet Def had a 25yr warranty