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What Causes Pain In The Tonsil?
I have been to 3 ENTs and 3 general practitioners because of a pain in my left tonsil. I also had an MRI and no one can give me an explanation as to why I have had a pain in the tonsil for nearly 1 year other than tonsil stones and possible reflux. I have not had any other symptoms -- just a pain (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst, it would be a 1). I can only describe it as a pain or 'tightness' in the tonsil and I am always worried that someone missed something and there more to the issue than tonsil stones...any thoughts on whether or not I should revisit the issue?
Mon, 9 Jan 2017
Hi,
Pain in only one side of tonsil (left side in your case) might be due to:
1) You might be having some nasal obstruction on left side on your nose. So in that side the nasal secretions may not be able to pass outwards,so they are passing backwards and irritating your throat with mild inflammation in your left side of tonsil. It can be diagnosed by doing nasal endoscopy (and CT scan Paranasal sinus if needed and treated if any obstruction found.
2) Styalgia- the condition is caused by an elongated or misshapen styloid process, the slender, pointed piece of bone just below the ear, and/or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament which irritates a nerve(called glossopharyngeal nerve) and causes dull aching pain in your left tonsil.
It may be visible on an orthopantogram or a lateral soft tissue X ray or a CT scan. If diagnosed, you may be given medicines like Carbamazepine/Gabapentin/Vitamin B12 which have a role to reduce the irritation on the nerve causing chronic pain in one tonsil. If not improved by medicines, then surgery is the option to partially remove the styloid process.
Also do warm saline gargles. Drink warm turmeric milk as turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. Avoid dust, smoke and other pollutants. Avoid spicy and oily food.
Hope this answers your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Riddhi Shah
Pain in only one side of tonsil (left side in your case) might be due to:
1) You might be having some nasal obstruction on left side on your nose. So in that side the nasal secretions may not be able to pass outwards,so they are passing backwards and irritating your throat with mild inflammation in your left side of tonsil. It can be diagnosed by doing nasal endoscopy (and CT scan Paranasal sinus if needed and treated if any obstruction found.
2) Styalgia- the condition is caused by an elongated or misshapen styloid process, the slender, pointed piece of bone just below the ear, and/or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament which irritates a nerve(called glossopharyngeal nerve) and causes dull aching pain in your left tonsil.
It may be visible on an orthopantogram or a lateral soft tissue X ray or a CT scan. If diagnosed, you may be given medicines like Carbamazepine/Gabapentin/Vitamin B12 which have a role to reduce the irritation on the nerve causing chronic pain in one tonsil. If not improved by medicines, then surgery is the option to partially remove the styloid process.
Also do warm saline gargles. Drink warm turmeric milk as turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. Avoid dust, smoke and other pollutants. Avoid spicy and oily food.
Hope this answers your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Riddhi Shah
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