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Health

Pain in the caddy

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Pain in the Adam's apple can be a symptom of many diseases, the most common of which is thyroiditis. This is an inflammatory process that occurs in the thyroid gland and affects the condition of the entire body. For what other reasons does pain in the Adam's apple occur?

Pain in the Adam's apple

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What types of pain are there in the Adam's apple?

The Adam's apple is a protrusion that can be seen on the neck of men, which is formed by the plates of the thyroid cartilage. These plates converge at an angle, so the Adam's apple protrudes from the front of the neck.

Subacute thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis is swelling (inflammation) of the thyroid gland that usually accompanies upper respiratory tract infections.

Reasons

Subacute thyroiditis is quite rare. It is thought to be caused by a viral infection. This condition often occurs after a viral upper respiratory infection, such as mumps and influenza.

Subacute thyroiditis occurs most often in middle-aged women with symptoms of a viral respiratory tract infection.

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Symptoms

The most obvious symptom of subacute thyroiditis is pain in the Adam's apple. Sometimes the pain may extend (reflect) to the jaw or ears. Painful enlargement of the thyroid gland may continue for weeks or months.

Other symptoms of thyroiditis include:

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Hoarseness
  • Tenderness in the Adam's apple upon palpation
  • Weakness

Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of another thyroid disorder, hyperthyroidism, where too much thyroid hormone is produced, include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Heat intolerance
  • Nervousness
  • Heartbeat
  • Sweating
  • Tremor
  • Weight loss

Hypothyroidism

Another symptom that may be bothering you when you have pain in your Adam's apple is hypothyroidism. Its symptoms are:

  • Cold intolerance
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue

Usually, thyroid function returns to normal. But in some cases, hypothyroidism may be permanent.

Lab tests

Laboratory tests in the early stages of the disease may show:

  1. Low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels
  2. High serum T4 (thyroid hormone, thyroxine)
  3. High serum thyroglobulin
  4. High erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  5. Lab tests may show:
  6. High serum TSH level
  7. Low Free T4

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation and treat hyperthyroidism. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen are used to control pain in mild cases.

In more severe cases, temporary treatment with steroids (eg, prednisone) may be needed to control the inflammation. Symptoms of overactive thyroid are treated with a class of drugs called beta blockers (eg, propranolol, atenolol).

Who should you contact if you have pain in your Adam's apple?

Pain in the Adam's apple is a specific symptom that requires maximum attention, conducting a thorough diagnosis. Taking care of your health is very important to prevent the development of serious diseases. An endocrinologist and therapist will help you with this.

Prospects for Recovery from Adam's Apple Pain

The condition of thyroid dysfunction with pain in the Adam's apple should improve on its own. However, the disease can continue for a month. Serious complications usually do not occur.

  • Possible complications
  • Permanent hypothyroidism
  • Subacute thyroiditis may recur after treatment
  • Pain in the Adam's apple may be a symptom of cervical osteochondrosis

For osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

...may be observed compression of vessels and nerve formations. The neck area contains many blood vessels and nerves, including the vertebral artery, which passes into the spinal canal. Therefore, if a person is diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine with dislocation of the vertebrae, neural formations on the lateral parts of the vertebrae can cause irritation of the muscles and ligaments.

And if a protrusion or herniation of a disc directed into the spinal canal is added to this (a few millimeters of herniation are large sizes of a herniation of the cervical spine), its membrane is injured and this causes edema. Given the narrowness of the neck of the spinal canal, the edematous root fills the entire space of the canal, and this causes compression of this root. Venous congestion and inflammation of the spine occur.

In case of compression of the vertebral artery due to narrowing of the vertebral artery (stenosis), the blood supply to the brainstem and cerebellum decreases. As a result, cervical osteochondrosis is supplemented by constant ischemia of the brain and spinal cord. Acute disruption of blood flow in this area is called spinal stroke.

Pain in the Adam's apple can also occur due to compression, bruises, or fractures of the laryngeal cartilage.

The characteristic symptoms of this condition are pain when swallowing, pain in the Adam's apple, pain when coughing, difficulty breathing. As soon as a person touches the skin in the Adam's apple area, it hurts. When palpated, the crunch of broken cartilages can be felt. A person in this condition may be at risk of heavy breathing like asthma, laryngeal edema, and emphysema.

Phlegmon of the thyroid cartilage in the larynx area

With this disease, a person has a high temperature, fever, difficulty breathing, severe pain in the Adam's apple, especially when swallowing, and sometimes aphonia (loss of voice, switching to a whisper) occurs.

The inflammation can last for a long time, which is why chondroperichondritis of the larynx occurs. In this condition, the laryngeal cartilages become inflamed, pus forms on them, as well as fistulas.

Tuberculosis of the thyroid cartilage in the larynx

This disease is very often a continuation of pulmonary tuberculosis, or rather a complication. The patient may complain of a sore throat, severe pain in the Adam's apple, and a hoarse voice. All these symptoms depend on how far the thyroid disease has progressed. Additional examinations are necessary. For example, sputum examination, test results for tuberculosis bacilli. If the doctor suspects laryngeal tuberculosis, the patient should be hospitalized and undergo the necessary examinations. An otolaryngologist or phthisiologist can help with this.

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