Vocalist.org archive


From:  "John Messmer, M.D." <jjm23@p...>
Date:  Wed Jan 16, 2002  10:25 pm
Subject:  RE: [vocalist] vocal health?

Just to be sure I understand the issue - the pain is felt in your throat
but pressure on the neck from lying on it hurts? If you can feel lumps,
you may have an enlarged lymph node which can be a result of a cold or
other minor irritation of the upper respiratory tract. One or two nodes
is not a thing you need to run to the doctor for unless the number keep
increasing or you feel worse.

If it hurts to touch the neck on the outside, but no enlarged lymph
nodes or at least none that hurt to touch it could be carotidynia - an
inflammation of the carotid artery. This is typically a viral
infection. Typically the pain is worst when you press (gently) on the
carotid itself - that's the pulse in your neck. It is usually one sided
and can hurt in the throat, teeth, ear, sinuses and eye on that side.
Usually there is little or no fever and nothing visible in the throat
such as white material and so on. It goes away in days. No treatment
is needed although ibuprofen usually helps to make it feel better.
Occasionally it is very severe.

It does not affect the voice. Singing has no effect on it.

Of course, if I were to examine you I might find something else, so if
in doubt, see your doctor.

John

John Messmer, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Penn State Hershey Medical Center



> -----Original Message-----
> From: clboyd1980 [mailto:french_6th@h...]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:49 PM
> To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [vocalist] vocal health?
>
>
For the
> past week, the left side of my throat has hurt whenever I swallowed,
> sometimes also when I sneeze, and aches dully when I lie on it. I've
> been resting my voice, but since it is not improving, I suspect it is
> not related to vocal misuse. Does anyone have any ideas as
> to what it
> could be or things that might help, etc.?
> ---Courtney




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