Neck pain when swallowing

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Ajad2523

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
17
Location
Orlando, Florida
I had an Aortic valve replacement (On-X), approximately 4 weeks ago. Every time I eat or drink anything, I feel much pain in my neck only when swallowing. Has anyone experience this? I'm so miserable with this pain, I've lost around 7 lbs. and is driving me crazy. I notice when I burp the pain goes away momentarily; however, it keeps coming back and it last around a minute or two.


Mitral stenosis and Aortic regurgitation
Aortic valve replacement/On-X mechanical valve
Surgery February 14, 2012
 
After surgery, some patients' recovery is very smooth; others may be mixed with all kinds of emotions among which maybe anxiety which causes muscles stiffness all over the body, including the neck and throat. Thus, it becomes difficult to swallow.

Share this with your doctor to have more peace of mind, and let us know.
 
Hi Eva:

Thanks for your reply, I guess I will mention that to my doctor the next time I visit him. My recovery had been smooth, the only problem is the pain in neck and shoulder when I swallow :( , hopefully I will recover soon. I will keep you posted.

Thanks again :)
 
I agree you should ask your doctor, but since it is bothering you so much that you are losing weight, I would probably call and not just wait until your next appt. It's also possible that your throat is irritated from being on the vent. Are you on any meds still that could be botherring your stomach since it also sounds like heart burn or reflux
 
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Ajad,

I agree with Lynlw that you call your doctor sooner better than later. You can leave a message for him about your symptoms and let him decide whether to see right away, or to wait..

If you recently started to have trouble sleeping, then the loss of 7 lbs triggers to my mind the possibility of having a "hyperactive thyroid".

Good luck again and keep us informed. :)
 
Is the neck pain your experiencing, throat or neck muscle? A lot of pains I experience in shoulder area are actually caused by trigger point (muscle knot) in a neck muscle. During first few weeks I had a painful spot on right side of neck behind ear and near skull. This was usually accompanied with pain in a muscle near left shoulder and left pec. Though not trigger point associated. Two seperate knots.

Later, five weeks onward. I had a spot right neck near center of collar bone that caused pain throughout right shoulder. Both areas were helped by a massage therapist, though required some self massage later on as they keep returning for awhile.

I've seemed to get frequent knots in neck muscles almost exactly behind collar bones over past several years. I've heard of a few people getting trigger point injections at their hospital as an alternative to massage therapy. I've never had those, I guess you'd ask your doctor about them. But to find trigger points you can find tight band in muscle and should find a knot somewhere in it that when pressed causes pain. Often the pain occurs elsewhere, such as knots in neck muscles causing pain in shoulders. The pain can be quite intense, but removed with pressure and stroking.
 
Hi Lynlw:

Amazingly, I started feeling better. The muscle knot I had in neck and shoulder was due to gas. I discovered this a few days ago when I was having the pain and I started to pad my back burping almost immediatelyand causing the pain to ease. After this discovery, I started pading my back every time I felt pain and it feels much better. I had my throat tube removed right after surgery because I was fighting it so they removed it so I could breath on my own, thank God I didn't have sore throat at all. I do take Nexium for acid reflux.

Thanks for your reply.

Mitral stenosis and Aortic regurgitation
Mitral valve repaired Dec. 2009
Aortic valve replacemnet Feb. 2012 with an On-X mechanical valve
 
Hi Eva:

I dis called the doctor and he said to wait until the recovery period is over, which is 6 to 8 weeks. I'm feeling much better now, I'm glad I waited :). I discovered that the pain neck and shoulder is due to gases because when I burp I feel much better. I'm taking Ibuprofen which is an anti-inflammatory and it seems to be helping as well.

Thanks for your reply

Mitral stenosis and Aortic regurgitation
Mitral valve repaired Dec. 2009
Aortic valve replacemnet Feb. 2012 with an On-X mechanical valve
 
Hi Fundy:

You are absolutely right! It is muscle pain that I used to feel, more like muscle spam running from my neck down to my shoulders. Thank God the pain is almost gone. I'm eating much better now, eventhough I get full quick but I eat 6 small meals during the day, I figure is a good way to start. I drink lots of chicken soup to help me burp and remove some excess gas I have.

Thanks for your reply.

Mitral stenosis and Aortic regurgitation
Mitral valve repaired Dec. 2009
Aortic valve replacemnet Feb. 2012 with an On-X mechanical valve
 
Hi Eva:

......doctor said to wait until the recovery period is over, which is 6 to 8 weeks. I'm feeling much better now, I'm glad I waited :)........
I'm taking Ibuprofen which is an anti-inflammatory ............

Hi Ajad,

Glad you called your doctor...Good news.

If you are taking warfarin/coumadin, you need to be careful with ibuprofen. Make sure that your doctor or whoever monitors your INR okeys the dose and/or frequency of the ibuprofen!!


Take care and keep us informed :)
 
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