Vocalist.org archive


From: john schweinfurth
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: esophageal spasms
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

On Fri, 31 Dec 1999 09:45:16 -0500, VOCALIST wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jennifer L. Fretwell
I am wondering, Dr. Messmer, if my throat pain of the past 18 months could
> > be a cricopharyngeus spasm. Does this type of spasm usually produce
pain
> > when speaking and swallowing along with quick fatigue of both the
singing
> > and speaking voice?
>
> There can be a dysphonia associated with it. The "pain" is not usually
> severe, and is more of a pressure or squeezing, rather than pain as with
a
> throat infection. It is better to have an exam to determine, however.
An
> ENT can often determine how much is pharyngeal and how much laryngeal.
>

What you're describing, Jennifer, sounds more like a primary laryngeal
problem and not cricopharyngeal spasm. The key to that is the voice fatigue
that your describing - that would not be caused by cp spasm.

Fatigue always implies that the muscles are working too hard - either you're
overdoing it or the voice is not working efficiently, and therefore normal
voice use requires too much effort, leading to fatigue.

One possible cause is reflux. That would explain the swallowing problem as
well. Becuase the muscles of the back of the larynx are involved, they
don't work efficiently and may also be inflamed on their own.

Another possible cause is vocal strain, ie. 'squeezing' the vocal cords
together too forcefully to produce sound - can just a bad habit or an
indication that you may have difficulty getting good closure.

John M. Schweinfurth, MD
Laryngology and Professional Voice Care
Assistant Professor
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
(615) 322-6180





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