I have had migraines, ears ringing very loudly, pain in throat, Also pain in ear and popping, and some fatigue. So far after my partial excision everything is worse. I am very reluctant to allow this done on the other side now and am wondering who here that has these other symptoms has had surgery and feels completely cured, anyone?
I'm completely cured on my right side. My right side styloid was pressing the carotid artery and jugular vein and I felt weak, dizzy, migrane - like headaches, etc. and immediately after my surgery I was fine.
Thanks for the reply, that is encouraging, did you have partial or full removal?
It was partial.
crmfghtr said:
Thanks for the reply, that is encouraging, did you have partial or full removal?
Yes, I would say that I have had total recovery from faintness and slight nausea on the right side (presume impingement on the carotid artery) and earache, head and neck pain, earache on the left side. My longstanding knotty back back muscles have resolved. If elongated styloid processes show up on scan on your other side, I would say, go for it. In my case they obviously grew in different directions, and caused different symptoms. Sometimes the recovery takes a while.
Why was the styloid process not fully removed?
On my right side there was a partial removal and it cured the symptoms I was getting from that styloid.
However, on my left side I had a partial resections and it didn't cure all the symptoms I was getting from that styloid.
In some cases, people are fine from a partial removal, and in some, they are not. I think it all depends on the length, width, and angle of the styloid. Also, some people may have nerves or structures in different places. When I went to the Cleveland Clinic and had a surgery there, the surgeon told me that I had some bundle of nerves in the "wrong" place.
I now firmly believe that as much of the styloid as possible should be taken out in the first surgery. If you have a partial removal and still have symptoms, it's much harder to get a doctor to go in there and take out more.
Thank you, this has been very helpful. I will present your information to my surgeon, though I may have to find another as he only wants to do partial removal on the other side.
As for why mine wasn't fully removed, he went down the throat and just took a small part off, he said he doesnt go up high for full removals as there is danger to carotid. If he wont do a more thorough job perhaps I may have to find a new surgeon
Hi there, I had a complete styloidectomy on the left side in 2001 and also my left tonsil removed. It took me six years to find out what was the matter with me, actually my sister was a nurse and she met this fellow who had all the symptoms I had and he explained to her that he had Eagle's Syndrome with was a rare disease. I found the specialist myself by calling a clinic in St. John's, NL and asking the receptionist if any of the ENT Specialists in the clinic dealt with this syndrome and by what I considered a miracle there was a Dr. Smith who had done numerous operations for Eagle's Syndrome. Dr. Smith did my surgery, he took all of the styloid process as he said partial removal does not always provide complete relief from pain. For the most part I have been pain free until three years ago when I started have left sided pain exactly like I had for six year before my surgery. I have a bulged cervical disc and bone spurs in my cervical spine so in all likelihood this pain is caused by compression of the nerves and is not actually related to the surgery I had. I wish you all the best. The best advice I can give you is to make sure you arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can about this Syndrome and remember that you have to be your own Doctor.
Hi I used to have migraines 3/4 days a week I have had one side done so far and now I have only have migraines three times since my op in February I had my left styloid removed it calcified to areas around it so I had to have that removed also I hope this helps regards
Debbie
Hi again, thanks for the information, everything is a help. Hope you feel better real soon. Maureen
Crafty deborah said:
Hi I used to have migraines 3/4 days a week I have had one side done so far and now I have only have migraines three times since my op in February I had my left styloid removed it calcified to areas around it so I had to have that removed also I hope this helps regards
Debbie
I had complete removal of both styloids and it hasn't been a year yet and I'd say I'm pretty much completely symptom free!! I can't even remember exactly how miserable I was. I highly recommend the styloidectomy.