Hello everyone,
First of all, I want to thank everyone who commented on my previous posts and shared their experiences and perspectives with me. Feeling understood and being able to compare experiences with others is incredibly helpful.
I wanted to share the latest update. On August 11, I had a telephone consultation with Dr. Manuel Bernal-Sprekelsen. After reviewing my case, he agreed with Dr. Gerd Bordón that there is no real reason to proceed with a cervical injection and that the focus should remain on Eagle Syndrome. The imaging clearly shows elongated styloid processes, and several specialists who evaluated me this summer agree that the Eagle Syndrome on the left side is symptomatic. Dr. Bernal also believes that Eagle Syndrome is the main explanation for what I am experiencing.
However, he explained something that I found particularly interesting: pain caused by Eagle Syndrome can lead the neck to unconsciously adopt compensatory postures, creating muscle tension and imbalances that may also affect the muscles in the front of the neck and around the laryngeal region.
For that reason, before considering surgery, he recommended six weeks of cervical isometric exercises. In his experience, some Eagle Syndrome patients improve considerably with this type of rehabilitation.
We also discussed my treatment with duloxetine. Although it seems to have reduced the intensity of the pain somewhat, the pain continues to appear and still has a very clear relationship with certain neck positions and movements. For that reason, from my own experience, I continue to feel that there is an important biomechanical component, it is not just neuropathic. This doctor also acknowledged that it can sometimes be very difficult to determine whether the precise source is a muscle, tendon, nerve, or a combination of different structures.
I have already started the exercises, although I am finding that I need to do them very gently, because if I push too hard, they seem to trigger the same anterior throat pain that I have described in previous posts.
So, for now, the plan is to complete these six weeks of rehabilitation and then speak with Dr. Bernal again to decide whether to proceed with surgery. Which I am sure I will end up doing.
I would be very interested to hear from anyone who underwent cervical exercises before a styloidectomy, and whether it helped reduce your symptoms.
Thank you again for all your help, and I wish everyone the very best with their own journey!