Pain in front sides of my neck?

Ok so here it is. No neck injuries. A few months ago I started having pains on the sides of my neck beside my windpipe, around halfway down between my jaw and collar bone. It happens on both sides, more on the left side than the right side. It isn't a severe pain and is not constant, they are quick pains that happen frequently some days and some days not at all. I was referred to an ENT doctor about it and he said that although he wasn't sure what it was that it wasn't cancer, he had never seen cancer present that way. I was diagnosed with TMJ as a teen and although I do not grind my teeth I do clench them frequently, I also have anxiety that results in tense muscles, I have bursitis in my shoulder on my right side, and back pain, I work at a furniture store and spend most of my time at my desk chair or on the phone. In my living room my couch is angled straight and my tv is caddy cornered so I have to turn my head or body to the right to watch it. I do not know if any of these could be related. I had my thyroid checked about 6 months ago and the levels were fine and I do not feel any lump on my neck. Sometimes when I do have a pain at my neck it shoots sideways and I get a quick pain at my ear. Also some days my neck stiffens on the left side. I am wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what they found out. I have panic issues about health so anything I can not explain worries me to no end. And i would like some idea on what this could be, I am leaning toward muscle strain but the ENT never mentioned that and since it is on the front of my neck and happen so quickly and then are gone, I wonder if it being tense muscles is even possible. The pain is in my neck not on my neck, if that helps anyone understand as well. Please anyone that can help it is much apprecaited!