Is it hard to swallow? Do you have a sore throat? Could this nerve be the cause? (Glossopharyngeal Nerve)

We don't think much about the pain we feel when we swallow food, drink a little water, or have a sore throat, do we? But did you know that behind all this, there is a small but very important part of our body that is working? Today we are going to talk about one such very special nerve. That is the glossopharyngeal nerve. Although the name is a bit complicated, the work it does is very simple and essential.

Let's first see, what are these nerves?

Simply put, nerves are like a system of tiny wires that run throughout our bodies. Our brain is the main control center. From this control center, messages are carried to all our sense organs, such as our arms, legs, eyes, ears, and throat, and from those organs, messages are carried back to the brain through this system of wires called nerves. It is like the electrical wiring system in our house. Electrical and chemical messages (neurons) from the brain travel along these.

So, what is this Glossopharyngeal nerve?

The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth of the 12 main pairs of nerves (9th Cranial Nerve or CN IX) that originate in the lower part of our brain (brainstem). They come in pairs, meaning there is one on the right side of our neck and one on the left.

The specialty of this nerve is that it can perform three main types of functions, as if the same person were doing three jobs.

• Motor: Helps move muscles. This is what makes the muscles in the throat work when we swallow food.
• Parasympathetic: Helps the body's organs and tissues relax when we are not active, that is, at rest. For example, this is what reduces the production of saliva in the mouth after we finish eating.
• Sensory: Gives us sensation. This part helps us feel things like taste, touch, and temperature. It is this part that gives us the pain when our throat hurts or the feeling when our ears feel full.

What are the main functions of this nerve in our body?

The glossopharyngeal nerve plays a very important role in our throat and mouth. Let's take a look at what it does.

What are the diseases that affect this nerve?

Like any other organ, the glossopharyngeal nerve can be affected by a variety of diseases and injuries, some of which can have a significant impact on our daily lives.

Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia (GPN)

This is the most common and painful condition associated with this nerve. Simply put, this is severe pain in the nerve.

• What happens?: For no apparent reason, you suddenly feel a severe, sharp, electric-like pain in your throat, back of your tongue, or inside your ear.
• How does the pain come on?: This pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. It can come on suddenly when swallowing, talking, sneezing, coughing, or laughing out loud.
• Impact: This pain is so severe that some people are afraid to eat or even drink water for fear of the pain coming back.

Glossopharyngeal Nerve Palsy

This occurs when an accident, stroke, or other medical condition damages this nerve and causes it to lose its function. The nerve may become partially or completely disabled.

• Symptoms:
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
• Loss of taste sensation on the back of the tongue.
• Voice change.
• Loss or weakening of sensation in the back of the throat (gag reflex).

Other reasons

In addition to the above conditions, this nerve can be damaged for several other reasons.

• Tumors and Cancer: Tumors or other tumors in the brain, mouth, throat, tonsils, or skull base can cause compression of this nerve.
• Complications of some surgeries:
• Carotid Endarterectomy: This nerve can be damaged during surgery to remove fat from a major blood vessel in the neck.
• Tonsillectomy: In some cases, scar tissue that forms after the tonsils are removed and heals can compress this nerve, causing pain. This condition is called Eagle Syndrome.
• During anesthesia: Some tubes (laryngeal mask airway) that are placed through the throat during anesthesia can damage the sensitive tissues of the throat and this nerve.

What can we do to protect this nerve?

Sometimes, conditions like glossopharyngeal neuralgia can occur for no apparent reason, making it difficult to prevent them. However, by reducing the risk factors we can control, we can minimize the damage to this nerve.

• A healthy lifestyle: If you smoke, the best thing you can do is to quit. Limiting alcohol consumption is also very important. These things reduce the risk of mouth and throat cancers.
• Getting the HPV vaccine:Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can cause throat cancer. Getting this vaccine can reduce that risk.
• Nutritious diet and exercise: A balanced diet and regular exercise can help maintain good overall health.
• Choosing an experienced surgeon for surgery: If you need to undergo throat or neck surgery, it is very important to choose a surgeon who has good experience in the field. This can reduce the risk of complications.

What time should I see a doctor?

If you have one or more of the following symptoms, do not ignore them and definitely see your doctor for advice.

• Difficulty swallowing food and drink (dysphagia).
• If you feel discomfort or pain when opening your mouth.
• If you often feel dry mouth.
• If you feel like you have lost sensation in the back of your mouth or throat.
• If the gag reflex feels weak or absent.
• If you experience a sudden, sharp, electric-like pain in the throat, ear, or tongue area.