My bilateral surgery was in May 2024 initially I felt really good but as time went on it started to feel worse and worse I went back to see the surgeon yesterday and I told him I was in pain and felt like they had grown back. He kind of laughed and said I don’t think so but on the other hand, they grew there in the first place, so maybe checked the CT scan, and they have grown an inch in that short amount of time.
I’m so sorry to know you’ve had styloid regrowth, @rachael. So frustrating for you! Is it Dr. Viallet that you went back to with your new symptoms? If so, I’m really glad he ordered a follow-up CT scan rather than just telling you they don’t regrow & sending you away. Is he willing to do a revision surgery for you?
Though regrowth is common, it does happen, & most often when the styloids haven’t been cut short enough initially. That’s why we emphasize finding someone who will cut them as close to the skull base as possible. That said, we’ve had members who had their styloid(s) shortened quite close to the skull base, & they’ve still regrown. Seems there is no rhyme or reason for why it occasionally happens.
Yes Dr.Viallet-before i saw him again i went to my GP and asked for the scan..hes not keen on another surgery-he did not take back to skull base..truthfully im not keen on another surgery either…
Oh no, that’s quick to have grown back! And not easy to get surgery in Canada even if you do want to…Did you have any medications to help last time, is that worth a try? 
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If you can live w/ your symptoms, perhaps with a nerve pain medication to help as @Jules mentioned, then another surgery may not be necessary, however, your styloids may keep growing so down the road, you may need to consider a revision surgery. Wait & see is a good philosophy for now @rachael.
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It’s worse this time around-feels like I’m being strangled
It’s a much different pain this time around-but I was fairly certain they were growing back and I was right!I feel strangled and the more I look down the worse the pain is
I’m so sorry! That is from nerve irritation. Getting an Rx for a nerve pain medication could calm that sensation. Some of our members have also benefitted from a muscle relaxer so it would at least be worth trying one or both to see if they calm your symptoms.
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I’m sorry that you’re feeling worse this time, that is rough! If you have access to your imaging it might be worth having a look at the hyoid bone too, the strangled sensation can be common with that as well, there might be more growth of the hyoid bone processes or calcification where the stylo-hyoid ligaments are attached if they weren’t removed…
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