Can damage to the throat affect the ability to cry ?

Question

I have had my largnx broken twice and my left vocal cords where damaged by long term intibation. I have some pretty good ability to speak but I have tussive syncopy and tend to faint once in awhile because of some vasor vegal thing. I had right frontal lobe x2 to clip an anurism. No aqparent damage. BUT I seem to be incapable of crying. It's as if my body decided never to have that reflex again. Could this be a physical thing ?

Answer 1

When you say you can't cry, do you mean you can't phycially shed tears, or that you are incapable of feeling sad to the point of crying? It is possible that your brain surgeries have caused mininmal damage to your frontal lobe, which is responsible for impulse control, judgment, language, memory, motor function, problem solving, sexual behavior, socialization and spontaneity. It's likely, but if your doctors say you have no damage, then it doesn't seem possible.
I think you have been through a lot and have experienced emotional trauma. Talking to someone you trust may help. It may not seem to you like you have emotional problems, but maybe not being able to cry is a sign that you need to work through some of the things that have happened to you recently.

Answer 2

Crying is more emotional than physical, although it can be either, it's not likely that physical damage to your throat will have an affect on your ability to cry. It may, however, affect your ability to vocalize crying.