# I've got cramp in my throat **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 4, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680 "2011-05-04T11:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/1 "2011-05-04T11:44:36Z")
I just yawned and somehow managed to get cramp in my throat, right under my chin. It feels like the whole area has gone into spasm and I now have a hard ridge of muscle knotted under my chin. That’s a new one on me. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/2 "2011-05-04T12:21:47Z")
I get those from time to time right behind the front part of my lower jaw; I think it’s my tongue. Jesus H. Christ, they’re painful. Never thought to google it, but [waddya know, we’re not alone.](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1000&bih=784&q=tongue+cramp+yawn&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=) Two remedies I’ve found: 1. press HARD on the cramp with my thumb. or 1. tilt my head back as far as I can (with mouth/jaw closed), which seems to stretch the cramp zone and force the muscle to relax. I only discovered #2 about a year ago, but I like it better because #1 actually hurts a bit (you have to press really hard). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/3 "2011-05-04T12:24:37Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I just yawned and somehow managed to get cramp in my throat, right under my chin. It feels like the whole area has gone into spasm and I now have a hard ridge of muscle knotted under my chin. > > That’s a new one on me. ☹ I’ve had that. It’s horrible and disturbing. Chew like mad is what I do. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/4 "2011-05-05T01:00:38Z")
I always assumed it was from pulling some muscle connected to the tongue. It’s always happened to me in the middle of a yawn. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/5 "2011-05-05T01:37:50Z")
Now I’m afraid to yawn… ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/6 "2011-05-06T00:45:23Z")
I had that a time or two, too. Never really lasted too long. Didn’t even know I had a muscle there _to_ cramp. Weird, ain’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/7 "2011-05-06T00:49:39Z")
I hate that. To me it feels like some muscle has gotten stuck out of place and hasn’t quite snapped back into its proper spot. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-cramp-in-my-throat/580680/8 "2011-05-06T12:11:16Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > I had that a time or two, too. Never really lasted too long. Didn’t even know I had a muscle there _to_ cramp. Your tongue is actually pretty tall. [Here’s an anatomical sketch;](http://www.medicalook.com/systems_images/Tongue_muscles.jpg) it comes down and attaches to the bottom part of the jaw bone, far below your lower incisor teeth. I’m pretty sure that’s what’s cramping up.