Like Isaiah says we’re not doctors on here, but I agree they look a little long, & strange angles/ curved. Styloid processes can grow elongated in sort of joints too, yours look a little like that.
I’m not surprised that your symptoms worsened after having wisdom teeth out! There would’ve been some pulling/ tugging, and pressure on your jaw area, as well as the trigeminal nerve close by (it exits the skull close to the styloid processes, and can be affected causing pain in the jaw & teeth), so that could cause pain in the area too.
ES is so hard to deal with, but worst still when you’re not believed, & don’t have family support, so I feel for you. I hope that the scan shows the styloids as well as the x-ray does, & you can take it from there…
Hello Isaiah, and Jules
Thanks so much for your replies!!! You gals are so good because that’s exactly what my Oral Surgeon said! That they look elongated and my left one has a peculiar look/angle about it!! It’s so nice to get some reassurance and support with all this!! People w/o this syndrome really have no clue how intense the symptoms are! It dominates your whole life no matter how hard you try not to let it! I can’t wait till I get the results and will give everyone an update as soon as I find out! Please keep me in your prayers! Thank you!
Hi SewMomma
Thanks for understanding. It’s hard enough to feel so lousy with all these symptoms and that much worse when when your love ones down play it all and make you feel like your overreacting and being a hypochondriac! My sister who’s in the medical field doesn’t even believe there’s such a thing like ES and questiones the Dr.s I choose!!! It’s so frustrating! My best friend said it’s probably caused from my 1 fur baby despite the fact that he’s hypoallergenic and I’ve been seen by two Allergists and tested negative to ALL pet allergies! Last year I experienced deep depression and anxiety for many months! I pretty much resigned myself to my bed and my quality of life was poor! The only thing that kept me going was my children and husband. I knew I had a huge responsibility and couldn’t give up! I had to fight for them and be a good example to my young children!! I decided to try an antidepressant but after having just one dose I got hives all over my body! It was enough to scare me out of ever taking anything like that again! So, I used natural medicines and also joined a Chronic Pain Managment class that taught me a lot! I also went to a hypnotherapist who coached and equipped me with mind over matter skills! By now my life skills toolbox is plentiful! I swear I should write a book someday or a least lead a Chronic Pain Suffering class! If I ever recover from this I fully intend to use my restored energy helping others suffering with medical conditions! Thanks for being supportive and apart of this wonderful group! I’m SO extremely grateful to have found it! It gives me hope, strength, and courage! Attributes I haven’t had in a LONG time!!!
Many blessings to you and everyone else!!
It’s brilliant that you can look at what you’re going through & see some positives! And that you’ll be able to use those skills to help others…God Bless
Everything you’re feeling is you knowing your body! I drove my kids and husband crazy wanting them to feel the “click” my ligament would do when I swallowed because I longed for validation! A normal human feeling! You are normal and you know something is off!!! This is not from your pet nor your psyche. You’ve been through so much already. 
I know how you feel wanting to give back to others once you get past something. That’s a very altruistic feeling you’re having. Shows you have a good heart. Think of yourself as being on an airplane - right now you’re trying to put the oxygen mask on yourself then you can be an encouragement to others one day. Perhaps even to your children when they go through something like this! You’ll have a story to tell about persistence and courage like you said. 
So who is your appointment with on the 2nd? That’s not that far from now! You can do it - one day at a time is not a cliche. It’s a mindset that took me YEARS to learn. I hated that expression back in 2012 with a baby in intensive care but it taught me so much. Then it helped me tremendously while trying to figure out what was causing my symptoms this past fall. There were days getting out of bed was “iffy” and my stomach was the first to fight me on that task. I’m at a 20 pound loss because eating was so difficult. Quality of life was poor - exactly what you said. I’m just now starting to enjoy food again two months after my first side removal.
We’re here to help you with the physical symptoms as well as the mental/emotional part too. Mental health is a business, not a game and I’m glad you have sayings/tools to help you cope. Finding something funny to watch at night helped me too. Somewhat. I would usually have a good cry first then be ready to watch something, lol. It’s hard when you don’t know what’s wrong with you! We all want to be well! You’re reacting like any average person would!
You’re going to get through this. We’re with you as you search for answers!!! Keep checking in!!!
Great attitude, Christy! “Paying it forward” is an excellent way to use what you’ve learned on your ES journey to help others with chronic pain whether from ES or something else. It’s why Jules & I are here as moderators. It’s very fulfilling to know you can help someone else cope better with their situation & feel understood & supported.
You know we’re here pulling for you!! 
Hi SewMama,
My appointment on the 2nd is with Dr.Samji. Tomorrow I’ll be getting a CT scan. Hopefully I’ll know something soon. There’s so much anticipation building! How are you doing after surgery? Do you feel it was worth it and successful? Did you have trouble eating before and after surgery?
Hi there,
That’s awesome you live close enough to see Dr. Samji. I pray he takes you on and you’re on your way to getting better!
My very first symptom in January of 2018 was a feeling of “un-coordination” when I swallowed. Sort of like I was choking but the best way to describe it is that food would sort of “fall off” the back of my tongue before I was ready to swallow and it felt like I was going to choke. Then a “click” on my right side started when I swallowed that totally freaked me out at first and made swallowing that much more unpleasant.
The click on the right was gone the second I woke up after surgery - Alleluia. There’s a faint on one the left so that sucker’s coming out asap, hopefully this summer. I’m still having that weird feeling when I swallow but I believe when my tongue is set free (it is anchored at the hyoid which is restricted/pulled when we have calcified ligaments) I will be able to swallow with ease. That is my hope!
But I’m enjoying food soooo much more now after just having one side removed. Surgery was not only worth it but there was no option for me otherwise. I hope to live a long life and that click (ligament was getting caught on something I guess) was no way to live. Forward was the only way to go for me and I can’t wait to finish the process by having the second side done. I had 3 cm of calcification removed and my scar is pretty small. Everyone needs a different approach and Dr. Samji is definitely very very experienced. We’ll see what he says! Let us know how the scan goes
Hi Christy,
Your long list of symptoms sound much like mine and I have seen as many doctors and specialist. I agree, quality of life is an issue. The worry of not knowing what was happening is the worst. It sounds like you are on the right track.
After many different tests my head/neck surgeon feels that I am a candidate for surgery. I am now waiting for Dr. Cognetti to get back to me for a consult.
It’s a long road but keep forging ahead - you are your best advocate. This site as been a godsend for help, advice and emotional support and so glad you found it.
All the best,
Brooklyn Girl
Hi BrooklynGirl
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement! I’m sorry to hear you also struggle with similar symptoms! It is scary not knowing what’s going on with your body. I’ve come to a place where I take life one day at a time and take nothing for granted!!
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
I feel like I’m still in the race by just a pinky toe but I’m still trudging forward. I may be down but not out!
It has been a LONG road but thanks be to God that I found this amazing group along the way that’s rooting for me and providing support! I now find some strength and hope that this too shall pass and I will eventually reach the finish line! I pray we find that together and our quality of life improves A LOT!!!
Many blessings to you!
Hi SewMomma,
It definitely sounds like there are some positives in there and your on your way to pain relief and recovery! I pray for another successful surgery on your other side!!! Keep us posted! (((Hugs)))
CHRISTY
You are in good hands with D.Samji. I never had surgery with him, but 3 years ago, his office ordered a CT scan for me in Fl. I paid for a phone consult and he was willing to operate on only one side. I almost went to him but life got in the way and
CA is about as far from Fl as you can get.
I owe his office so much because that CT scan provided me with what I needed to see a doctor nearer and I just had my second complete styloidectomy from the skull to the hyoid in 6 months. We owe Ben’s friends for giving us voices and tools.
Hi Emma,
Thanks, that is very reassuring! I do hear wonderful things about him and I feel truly blessed his office is only a two hour drive! I’m very much looking forward to my appointment. I hope your recovery well feeling much better each day! Many blessings to you!!!
Hello All,
I got my CT scan results yesterday. The report says I have elongated styloid process bilaterally. The left styloid process is in a deeper location and may be compressing my left internal carotid artery.
It didn’t mention anything about calcification, Eagles Syndrome, or gave measurements which I was disappointed by because I told my PCP this is all information I needed for my upcoming appointment with Dr. Samji on April 2nd. However, I contacted Dr. Samji’s office and they said he can take measurements no problem. I also asked if I should come in sooner because the report says it may be compressing my carotid artery and I’m thinking this could be a serious complication and I have high pressure symptoms in my head all day!! But, his office assistant said no, I should be ok till then. Eeeks!
To be honest I really don’t see my elongated styloid process very well on the CT picture. It’s so much clearer on my panoramic dental x-rays! I guess I’ll leave it to the experts that can read those things! It’s a real skill!! Lol
I heard there’s a way to make it 3D to get a clearer image so, I hope Dr. Samji will do that If necessary. I’ll try to do it on my end as well. 
So yeah, there it is… I guess it’s safe to say I have ES?? My appointment with Dr. Samji will confirm it all soon! I’m looking forward to it because seriously this pain is unbearable!!!
Congratulations? 
Lol it’s great to have a diagnosis. It truly is. Way to go for persevering. Now we wait to see what Dr. Samji says. I love my 3D images - very helpful to look at! My particular surgeon said even though they were “cool”, he prefers the CT scan in the crazy format that we regular people can’t read 
I know you’re worried about the damage those crazy things can do inside you. Just lots of deep breaths from now until the appointment but you should be fine living your life normally. Just to be on the safe side though, I’d probably cancel the bungee jumping plans you had for this weekend. 
Hi Christy,
Many forum members have had carotid artery compression & quite a few w/ the resulting intracranial hypertension you’re feeling. It is scary but generally not life threatening. You may notice it gets worse/better w/ your head in certain positions. If so, avoid the bad positions & try to keep in the good ones.
As far as calcification goes, that’s usually only mentioned when there is calcification of the stylohyoid ligaments. When it’s the styloid processes that are elongated then only that is noted (elongation not calcification). When you make your 3D image, you will be able to see if there’s any calcification on your s-h ligaments in addition to elongation of your styloids.
To make your own 3D images from your CT scan, type “Making your own 3D Images” in the search box (click on the magnifying glass at the top of the page to get a search box). The instructions for making a 3D image will come up.
Please let us know how your appointment goes. Praying you’ll come away w/ a surgery date scheduled.
Hi Isaiah,
So, I’m kinda confused. It’s possible that my styloid process can be enlongated and not calcified? If so, would that mean I wouldn’t have to have them removed? I was under the assumption that the cause of my pain and elongation was due to calcifying.
I wonder if Dr. Samji will be able to see calcification with just the CT view and not a 3D version?
Hi SewMomma,
Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing Dr. Samji and hopefully get a confirmed diagnosis. A big part of me is reluctant to get my hopes up because of my long history of seeing Dr.s and getting nowhere. I think my mind has already placed a very strong shield to protect me from getting disappointed again! It’s sad to say but I already prepared myself for worst and lost the hope for the best a long time ago. I do find so much encouragement on this forum though and very slowly I’m opening up to being vulnerable to hope & possibility again.
Sorry for the confusion. Your bones are calcified parts of your body so an elongated styloid is merely further calcification of the styloid process bone. It would be redundant to note the styloid is calcified rather than noting it’s elongated. Since your ligaments are soft tissue, it is noted when they calcify since calcium does not belong on ligaments.
Please let me know if this still doesn’t make sense.
Hi Isaiah,
I just re-read your reply carefully and now I see your referring stylohyoid ligaments. I never heard about that before. Guess I’m still learning about all this!! But I‘m still curious if my S-H aren’t calcified would having elongated styloid process be a cause for all my pain thus needing a surgery to shorten it to relieve symptoms?