I was diagnosed with Eagle syndrome, and my CT scan showed an elongated styloid process of around 65mm on both sides. I had surgery on the left side in 2013, which relieved some symptoms. However, recently I’ve been experiencing stronger pain on the right side as well. Unfortunately, Dr. Corbridge has retired from the NHS.
I’m wondering if anyone can recommend another doctor in the UK , I live in Nottingham. Also, does anyone know the difference between the classic and carotid artery types of Eagle syndrome? I’m trying to figure out which type I have and which tests can confirm it. I suspect I have the classic type, as Dr. Corbridge likely would have mentioned otherwise, but I’m not certain. Can the classic type develop into the carotid type? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi. Mr. Axon is probably the most well known ES Dr in the UK, if you search his name you will find lots of testimonials. Here is the Dr list though, the UK has quite a few.
Styloids can continue to grow and create compression, usually on the jugular, rarely on the carotid artery, but that is possible. Lots of folks will get a CT of the head and neck with Contrast to look for compression, Dynamic if possible. Dynamic means different head positions, so you would really need to communicate how certain symptoms only happen if your head is tilted up, down, or sideways so it is ordered as Dynamic. Jugular Ultrasound is also good and I think the other popular one is CT Venogram.
@Andy89316 has given you some good info- Mr Axon is the most experienced with ES in the UK that we know of, but he does have a long waiting list on the NHS. Mr Hughes in London has done quite a few surgeries too…the other doctors we don’t know so much about; their names have been given to us by members but some could’ve been a little while ago.
If you look in the Newbies Guide Section about common symptoms and possible explanations, there’s a section about Vascular ES & the common symptoms, so have a read of that & see if you have any of those, they’re slightly different depending on whether the jugular veins or carotid arteries are being compressed. ES Information: Common Symptoms And Possible Explanations For Them - Welcome / Newbies Guide to Eagle Syndrome - Living with Eagle
As @Andy89316 says, a CT with contrast does usually show if there’s compression, I doubt you’d be able to get a dynamic one done on the NHS though. If you do think you have vascular symptoms, and were wanting to get a referral to one of the doctors mentioned, certainly Mr Axon likes the scans done a certain way at Addenbrooks so not worth trying to get one done before you saw him, I think. Yes, you can have vascular ES later after classic ES is diagnosed- it could be because the styloids keep growing & symptoms get worse, or because the stylo-hyoid ligaments start to calcify, or sometimes just aging can cause the connective tissue to weaken or a cervical disc to bulge, which can alter the position of structures in the neck enough to cause pressure on a blood vessel.
Are your symptoms different now to when you had ES diagnosed in 2013?
Thank you for the clarification and for sharing that. My CRP levels have been elevated recently, and I’ve been experiencing palpitations. I’’m not sure if this is related to Eagle Syndrome or something else. Yesterday, I went to A&E at Queens Medical Centre due to severe throat and neck pain, along with difficulty swallowing, but they were unfamiliar with Eagle Syndrome and discharged me as they couldn’t find anything.l need to ask my GP for a referral to Dr. Axon. Thanks again!
Frustrating that they didn’t help! Vagus nerve compression can cause palpitations, it’s not always because of vascular compression…lots of members have had inflammation from ES, so that might be a cause of your raised CRP levels…hope the symptoms settle fown for you!