ES Convocation Newbie

Hello,

I am new to the group and very grateful to have found it, lots of good info here! thank you for your shares:) I found out this year from a panoramic X-ray from the dentist that I have ES. I recently had a Neck CT with contrast to evaluate my ES. It showed 4.6cm interrupted elongated styloid along with moderate TMJ disease.

I have been coping with symptoms of headaches, constant feeling of something stuck in my throat, trouble swallowing, tinnitus, jaw locking, neck pain, sharp jaw pain, I can’t sleep on my back without waking up feeling suffocated. Also the past few years I have struggled with arm weakness and pain, I am currently on modified duties at work in a job that does require a lot of hand movements but I am one of the only people struggling to the point of complete muscle fatigue. I don’t know if that is related..?. I have also had significant hearing loss the past few years, and it is affected by swallowing/jaw movements.

The CT showed no vessels are compressed, but with the styloid process being “interrupted” (in fragments) it can be compressing on nerves/vessels with movement like eating, talking certain motions.

I just got the results this week, my next step is to hopefully get referrals ENT with ES experience and an Oral & maxillofacial surgeon. I’ll keep you updated!

Happy Holidays!!

Hi & welcome!
Good that you don’t have any blood vessel compression by the styloids & calcifications, we have had other members who have calcified sections along the stylo-hyoid ligaments (the ligaments can calcify as well as or instead of the styloid processes growing longer), and this can definitely aggravate nerves in the area. The accessory nerve is one which commonly gets irritated or compressed, and that can cause arm & shoulder pain or weakness, so this might be what’s happening for you.
I hope that you’re able to get a referral to a doctor with experience, the Canadian system doesn’t seem to be very up on diagnosing & treating ES, but there are a few doctors who do the surgery…

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