Good evening, everyone! I wanted to give a little update to my Eagles journey. I had an intraoral styloidectomy on my right side in 2015 which alleviated some of my symptoms but I definitely was still struggling with such symptoms as facial pressure, ear pain, teeth pain, and jaw pain. My stylohyoid ligaments were calcified on both sides, but my Cleveland Clinic surgeon would not touch them. When I asked if he would do the surgery externally, he refused.
I have had what seems like a flare up of my symptoms on both sides, but mainly on my right. My throat hurts and sometimes it hurts to swallow. The ear pain comes and goes. The facial pressure is mostly constant, and I can feel a lump behind my ear.
I had an updated CT scan done yesterday. I have already seen the results which show bilateral calcification of both ligaments on either side. The notes are very sparse, and there was no mention of measurements of the calcification nor the measurement of the styloid process on the right side that I’m thinking may need a revision. I messaged my doctor to see if she could possibly have the radiologist put in an addendum with those measurements and a comment on the styloid process. Fingers crossed.
I also wanted to update those who were following my saga with Dr. Chhetri that I had my husband call (after they told me that they weren’t seeing Eagles patients) and they agreed to at least see my scans and then make a decision. I’m concerned that if the styloid process is not long enough Dr. Chhetri will not consider my case even though my ligaments are calcified. If not, I may have to keep looking for a doctor who will consider my case.
Thanks for listening! I appreciate this group very much.
I’m sorry that your surgery wasn’t more successful, @Serenitea. We’ve had a few members who saw Dr. Chhetri for ES surgery & didn’t have great outcomes in part because he didn’t cut the styloids short enough. Others did well. For some he did the transcervical (through the neck) approach to surgery & since this allows for greater access to the styloid so it can be cut back closer to the skull base, it may be those patients who had better outcomes.
I recommend you look into Dr. Osborne who is also in L.A. We’ve heard mixed information here about whether or not he takes insurance, & if he does, which insurances he accepts. He absolutely does skull base styloid removal, & if it’s only the ligaments that are calcified, he will remove those. There are other surgeons who are of Dr. Chhetri’s mindset i.e. they’ll cut back elongated styloids but won’t touch calcified ligaments especially if the styloids aren’t too long. There are several videos on YouTube of Dr. Osborne doing ES surgery so you can see him in action if that would be helpful.
Please keep us updated about you find out from Dr. Chhetri.
•Dr. Ryan Osborne - Los Angeles ENT Doctors ENT Specialists Surgeons Cedars Sinai Medical
Thank you for your thoughtful response. Just for clarification, Dr. Chhetri was not my operating doctor. My first surgery was done at Cleveland Clinic. I am trying to see Dr. Chhetri for a possible revision, but was initially told that he wasn’t seeing Eagles patients. But upon calling again (had my husband do the second call) his office was willing to look at my scans but made no promises to take me on as a patient. Does anyone know if Dr. Chhetri will even consider patients who only have calcified ligaments without elongated styloid processes? I am awaiting measurements for the processes and then will decide where to go from there.
Thanks again for reading my narrative.
I’m sorry you’re needing revision surgery. I consulted with Dr. Chhetri for ES in 2021. He told me he could not perform the surgery because my styloid processes are “way up there.” I have no idea what he meant by that and left his office disappointed. I was able to schedule a video call with Dr. Samji in San Jose and a month later he shortened my right styloid processes without any issues.
You may want to consider Dr. Mark Linskey in Orange.
I wish you the best! 
Good thinking getting back on to the doctor to push the radiologists for an addendum! So rough the your first surgery wasn’t successful for you, I hope that you can get surgery either with Dr Chhetri or one of the other doctors on our list 