A question has come to my mind when I read about the recovery process. Could you share with me what specifically you endure during the recovery process? I have been diagnosed with Eagle Syndrome and I keep bouncing back and forth, “Do I do the surgery or not do the surgery?”
Of course!!!
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The first week of recovery is when the post op swelling is the worst which also can temporarily increase symptoms. We’ve learned by experience that sleeping/resting with head/shoulders elevated to ~30º (a wedge pillow is great for enabling this), icing your neck/incision area for 15 min every couple of hours (gel ice packs work great) w/ a thin cloth between ice pack & skin, & staying on schedule w/ pain medications for days 1-6 post op tremendously helps reduce the pain (if Rx pain meds are taken, taking a stool softener/laxative daily is mandatory). If you can tolerate steroids, requesting a tapering dose of dexamethasone or prednisone can also provide significant inflammation relief soon after surgery. By the end of weeks 2-3 you should be feeling better than in week 1. It can take a couple of months for your energy to return to a normal level.
Your throat will be sore for several days from the breathing tube used during surgery & your jaw may be stiff for a while so having softer foods ready to eat or blending regular foods in a blender can make eating easier in the first couple of weeks post op though some people have no problem w/ jaw joint stiffness.
When IJV decompression is part of the surgical process, it can take some time for the brain to adjust to the new level of blood flow it’s experiencing so vascular symptoms can be slower to reduce or resolve, sometimes taking several weeks to many months to gradually decline.
Some nerve pain symptoms can be gone as soon as the styloid is removed whereas others are slower to go. Nerves are very slow to heal & symptoms can flare up or even change during the healing process & tend to come & go as the nerves heal over the period of a few months to a year.
Usually by 6 months post op you’ll have a good idea of what is has recovered/is recovering & what symptoms remain. In spite of what doctors say, if you have bilateral ES/IJV compression, there’s a chance you’ll need a second surgery to get the best overall results.
Starting about a month post op, you can start gently massaging your incision site using your finger tips & a lubricant such as Bio Oil, vitamin E oil, or coconut oil which can help reduce scar tissue build up. Numb areas can be gently stroked w/ a very soft cloth or even something like a feather to help nerves begin to wake up. Vigorous massage is not recommended for the numb areas. Some of our members have found myofascial release therapy helpful for tight muscles that may be guarding from the surgery or the styloid damage.
I hope others will give input as I expect there are details I’ve missed. 
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Oh my!! You have provided such great information. Thank you!!
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I’m glad it’s helpful, @geppard! It’s based on my experience & that of many of our members.
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