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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Chronic Headache, Sore Throat And Neck Pain?

I am a 44 year old woman with chronic headache, sore throat and neck pain. I am 5 5 tall and weigh about 148 lbs. A few months ago I lost hearing in one ear after having a cold, so I went to an ENT to check it out. He tested my hearing and used some sort of scope (through the nostrils) to take a look inside. He found that I had an enlarged adenoid. He prescribed steroids, Afrin, and Nasonex. My hearing came back. This was about 5 months ago. Although it helped my hearing, my sore throat and headache remain. About three weeks ago my primary care physician checked my throat and neck and found nothing unusual. My throat was a little red (as always). She ordered a hemogram, comprehensive metabolic panel, and a Glycated Hemoglobin Lab Test. All results were normal. I still have the headache and sore throat. I think the adenoid is swollen again because it feels very similar to the first time and I feel pressure in my ears and behind my nose. What should I do next? Would an MRI of the head and neck be prudent? I ve had the chronic headache for months, and the chronic sore throat for years, but no one can figure out why.
Wed, 3 Jan 2018
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi there,
thank you for posting your query on healthcare magic.
An enlarged adenoid causes a variety of symptoms like
1.blocked nasal and sinus passages,
2.mouth breathing
3.chronic headache
4.reduced hearing
5.pressure with the ears as if eustachian tubes seem blocked
6.sinus congestion
7.post nasal drip
Since you have a history of enlarged adenoid, it is very likely that it has grown bigger and thus causing all these symptoms.People with enlarged adenoids do not get proper sleep at night because it causes breathing obstruction even though they do not realize it, this makes them breathe through their mouth at night.Due to the frequent breathing obstruction at night, people wake up with headaches almost regularly.
Secondly, because of the excess mucous in your sinuses, there is dripping of this mucous down the back of your throat which tends to pool around the pharynx and often leads to pharyngitis hence the chronic sore throat.
Since you have been clinically examined and the doctors did not find anythingelse, your symptoms are most likely attributed to the enlarged adenoid.
Now, you can get medications like steroids to reduce that in size but it will keep growing back with exposure to cold and allergens.Preferably for you, surgery to remove the adenoid is the best line of treatment.
Hopefully this helps with your case.
Thank you for visiting healthcare magic.
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What Causes Chronic Headache, Sore Throat And Neck Pain?

Hi there, thank you for posting your query on healthcare magic. An enlarged adenoid causes a variety of symptoms like 1.blocked nasal and sinus passages, 2.mouth breathing 3.chronic headache 4.reduced hearing 5.pressure with the ears as if eustachian tubes seem blocked 6.sinus congestion 7.post nasal drip Since you have a history of enlarged adenoid, it is very likely that it has grown bigger and thus causing all these symptoms.People with enlarged adenoids do not get proper sleep at night because it causes breathing obstruction even though they do not realize it, this makes them breathe through their mouth at night.Due to the frequent breathing obstruction at night, people wake up with headaches almost regularly. Secondly, because of the excess mucous in your sinuses, there is dripping of this mucous down the back of your throat which tends to pool around the pharynx and often leads to pharyngitis hence the chronic sore throat. Since you have been clinically examined and the doctors did not find anythingelse, your symptoms are most likely attributed to the enlarged adenoid. Now, you can get medications like steroids to reduce that in size but it will keep growing back with exposure to cold and allergens.Preferably for you, surgery to remove the adenoid is the best line of treatment. Hopefully this helps with your case. Thank you for visiting healthcare magic.