I have been suffering with a sensation of having something in the back of my throat, behind or below the right tonsil (is difficult to pinpoint exactly)for about 5 months now. it started feeling like a very small lump which feels to have got more obvious over time, although it occasionally becomes less noticeable for […]

Dear Dr. Joshua,
I have been experiencing very severe pain starting in my neck, and radiating across my shoulder, down my arm and into my thumb. This started just before Christmas. I have been seeing my Chiropoactor who suggests that I have a “C6 impingement”, but based on my pain level, he suggested I go to […]

It feels like I have a constant air bubble or burp stuck in my throat. It is worse when I lay down on my back.
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
Short answer to a short question: One possible reason is GERD, meaning gastroesophageal reflux disease. This occurs when acid from the stomach enters the esophagus. You could try […]

Dear Doctor,
I am 18 years of age and I recently discovered a swelling bellow my left ear that protrudes like a lump or a gland enlarged. I just got my ear pierced on that same side about a month ago and I don’t think that it has anything to do with the piercing. […]

Since having a hernia operation and heart, lungs and kidneys failing during the operation and spending 2 months in CCU and a month in Rehab to wean me off the ventilator—I am at home now with no tastebuds and I always loved to eat. Why no tastebuds?
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
Sometimes loss of taste is actually […]

hi doc ,i live in holland but i am english,i am worried about my husband (hes dutch but he cant help that !!! ) he has seen a doc here but with no result to the problem . he has a hard lump behind each ear and the skin on his ears is very dry […]

I am very desperate for your response, no one else wants to help me. To make a long story short, this question is regarding my father. He had a ct scan and this was the result. The patient has had a left frontoparietal and a right frontal craniotomy. A subdural drain […]

Dr,
Iv noticed that the skin in my right nostrol has become simaler to cartilige. It isent the imediate area around the nostril, but the part above it. If i feel the inside and outside of my nose at the same time it feels like a plate that is there. […]

I have had sinus pressure (above eye’s, either side of nose in cheek area, as well as sometimes back of head at neck) for over 3 months now. I’ve gone to the doctor numerous times. I am allergic to PCN (which they tell me is the best for this sort of thing). I have tried […]

I had my spine doctor tell me from x-rays that I have calcium deposits in my voice box. He is not treating me for it. What does this mean? Is it something I should seek diagnosis from my regular doctor for?
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
Calcium deposits are often found in various parts of the […]

My husband an I have noticed that in the last three years our pediatrician is doing recheck appointments for a lot of conditions. We were told recently to make a recheck on a sinus infection for our son after he is done with his antiobiotics. Is this something new? Is it really […]

I am 53 years old and have been a smoker for 6 years. I just recently noticed a deep pain in my throat. It’s not like any sore throat I’ve ever had. It comes and goes and shoots down into my upper chest area a little. My Lymph glands are swollen and my throat is […]

Vocal Cords, Scratchy Voice, Ear Nose And Throat Specialist
My voice has been scratchy for over 4 months. There is no pain. What are possible causes? What type of doctor should I see if it doesn’t clear up?
 
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
 
Some common reasons for a raspy or hoarse voice are vocal chord disorders such as laryngitis, which […]

I have a terrible constant ring in my ears. I have been to an ENT and he prescribed Lasix that did not help. I have type II diabetes. When this all started I was walking on a treadmill and it felt like waterwent in my left ear. After that I was dizzy upon rising and […]

Hearing Loss and Naproxen
See Chronic Pain Syndrome - Tired of Pain - Jean asks an additional question:
I do have one further question if you’re able. I’ve always had a mild hearing loss due to massive infections as a child. Though recently my last hearing test showed an increase to a moderate loss, i’m wondering if […]

I have a history of TMJ syndrome and had surgery in 1991. They did a scope on one side and arthrotomy on the other due to a ruined disk. Recently I have had a daily occurance of waking up and my ear canals are wet with fluid. Typically it will be worse on the side […]

Hello Doctor
Is it common one month after having tonsils removed, to have severe pain with above inflammation. Pepcid was recommended . It does not help.I am 32yrs
 
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
It’s not common. Talk to the ENT doctor that did the procedure. 

I have heard about conditions where a man’s voice does not deepen very much even though he has gone through therapy. I read that sometimes the causes are psychological. I am a 21 year old male whose voice shifts between medium to high. I have read that speech therapy can help one to deepen his […]

i swallowed a fish bone five months ago. it is still possible that it may be there and causing me pain because nowadays my throat sometimes get a prickly pain.
 
Dr. Joshua’s Answer:
It is highly unlikely. Theoretically, a piece of a fish bone could become encapsulated and a granuloma (hard tissue surrounding the foreign object) could […]

Here’s a headache question from M.

On Dec. 5th I became completely overwhelmed with fatigue. I had what felt like a sinus headache (over my eyes, on my forehead and temples). I was also congested (yellowish nasal discharge), nauseous with a sore throat, body aches and a low-grade fever. It was so awful that I could […]