DO NOT GIVE UP
DO NOT STOP SEARCHING
As of last month, I struggled with a sore throat (on the left side only) for the past two years and I’ve been reading the stories here for about a year now. Everytime I spoke or ate the left side of my throat would just rage with pain. The pain would get progressively worse throughout the day such that, by the end of the day, it would be too painful to speak after a full day of work. Eventually I started to get pain behind my left ear. As I came to learn more about this area of my throat, I started to realize the pain felt like it was coming from what I know know to be the greater cornu of the hyoid bone.
Was not strep. Nothing on xray. Nothing on CT scan. Nothing on MRI. No visual abnormalities inside the throat. Not my voice box. Literally no indication of any abnormality besides the raging pain I experienced everytime I spoke or ate. I honestly thought I was crazy.
All this learned after after a few physicals, ENTs, anti biotics, steroid and anti inflammatory injections, etc over the course of 1.5 years…but still nothing.
Until I went to Stanford Hospital here in CA and met Dr. Dewan. As a diagnosis by exclusion (all tests possible had been performed without exception), I was diagnosed with Hyoid Bone Syndrome - a condition affecting the greater cornu of the hyoid bone.
Surgery: I had a hyoid bone recission (remove greater horns) and thyroid cartilage reduction at the end of August 2019 (just had my 30 day post op yay) under Dr. Dewan’s care. After surgery while still at the hospital, Dr. Dewan told me that the ends of my hyoid bone curved inward at 90 degrees, making the surgery a bit more involved, but gave some assurance we might be on he right track, though she had not seen this before.
Well… 
Thank the man above, my wife (by my side the whole way), my family and my surgeon…a month after surgery and I feel amazing. I can talk without pain in my throat or behind my ears. It’s AMAZING. Surgery was intense, but if this trajectory continues wow. I will give a more detailed account in due course, but I wanted to put this out there in case anyone is struggling: a) don’t stop searching and hang in there b) read these stories, they helped me know I’m not alone and to learn about my body and these conditions c) please reach out to me with any questions.
Everyone here kept me going, thank you!!