Anxiety and stress can also cause a considerable amount of muscle tension in your neck. You may feel like you have a lump in the throat, while another person may feel more pressure on the sides of the neck towards the lymph nodes.

Together with its attached muscles, the hyoid bone has two important functions: it holds up the tongue, which sits above it, and it holds up the larynx, which hangs below it. It also transmits the force of muscles that help to open the jaw.

The hyoid bone is a ‘U’ shaped structure located in the anterior neck. It lies at the base of the mandible (approximately C3), where it acts as a site of attachment for the anterior neck muscles.

While osseous healing in any fracture typically occurs in 6 weeks, symptom resolution for a hyoid fracture has been reported at 2–8 weeks [1–3]. The patient in the present case had full resolution of symptoms by 4 weeks.

The most common lumps or swellings are enlarged lymph nodes. These can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, cancer (malignancy), or other rare causes. Swollen salivary glands under the jaw may be caused by infection or cancer. Lumps in the muscles of the neck are caused by injury or torticollis.

What does a cancerous lymph node feel like? Cancerous lymph nodes can occur anywhere on the neck and are typically described as firm, painless, and sometimes may be immovable. A lump will form when a cancer cell infiltrates the capsule and multiplies.

Lymph nodes are movable, pea-size lumps found throughout the body, but are mostly in the neck, groin, armpits, and behind the collarbone. Their role is to get rid of toxins and dead blood cells. When you have a cold or even a minor infection, your lymph nodes may swell because they’re being bombarded with dead cells.

Lifestyle and home remedies

1. Apply a warm compress. Apply a warm, wet compress, such as a washcloth dipped in hot water and wrung out, to the affected area.
2. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
3. Get adequate rest.