Symptoms: My soft palate hurts and is itchy, it feels like its burning and tightening when I eat. Cold water is a temporary relief. It also feels like tiny pieces of tissue may be peeling off. Im also coughing. I cant see much in the mirror because of the angle, but from what I can see, there are no red spots or white buildup on my tongue which would suggest yeast, throat looks a little reddened but not much. It came on suddenly 2 days ago. No other flu-like or cold-like symptoms present. I thought it would go away by now as I have experienced the burning/tightening sensation in the palate once before and it only lasted as long as i was eating, but it hasnt gone away this time. Also I am experiencing a sharp pain in upper back, right side between shoulder and spine, feels like pinched nerve but makes it painful to breathe. I am only 29 years old with no major health issues. I smoke occasionally. Any suggestions for either problem? Much appreciation.