Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is located in the throat. This nerve branches out to connect with many other parts of the body, including parts of the brain and neck.
The glossopharyngeal nerve is responsible for sensing taste, swallowing, coughing, and speaking. When it’s damaged by a condition like trigeminal neuralgia, it can cause a variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe pain.
Some people may not experience any symptoms at all; others may have frequent stabbing sensations in their throat or earlobes that are similar to those experienced during a migraine attack. In some cases, these sensations may be accompanied by numbness in one or both sides of your face as well as difficulty swallowing. You might even experience difficulty breathing if your airway becomes blocked because your muscles have tightened due to spasms caused by this condition.