@cool-man-murphy-dan - Welcome to our forum! Your post was great. It didn’t seem like rambling to me. ![]()
Based on your radiology report, I’d say your symptoms sound pretty certainly related to your right styloid even though your left one is noted to be “larger than the right”. I take that to mean that even though it’s shorter, it’s thicker or somehow different in appearance making it look more significant.
We’ve learned here that it’s not always the length of a styloid that can cause it to be symptomatic. How thick, curved, pointed, twisted, the angle of growth & other physical features can cause a styloid to create terrible symptoms even if it’s not elongated. Perhaps length is playing into the symptoms your right one is causing, though, since that’s the side that’s bothering you.
I have concerns about the note that you have some narrowing of your IJVs at the level of C1 w/ collaterals. Collateral veins develop as “helper veins” when the IJVs aren’t efficiently draining deoxygenated blood from the brain. When compression is mild (as noted for you), collaterals are generally not present. They show up when compression is more severe. Interestingly, you didn’t mention any symptoms that suggest you have IJV compression so yours may be mild enough it’s not bothering you at this time.
That’s exactly where I could feel my styloid! It was painful when I poked it & radiated pain down the front of my neck. That’s what led to me find out what the lump was & get my ES diagnosis.
Since you already have bothersome symptoms, getting your styloid resected sooner than later will keep it from getting longer & causing further IJV compression + additional symptoms. It might be a thought to consider getting both done eventually since both sides are noted as causing vascular compression which may get worse over time.
Below are a couple of discussions where masseter Botox is mentioned as not being helpful. Some of our members have had temporary pain relief by getting an ultrasound guided injection of lidocaine & cortisone into the tonsil area of the throat. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help everyone, & for a few people, it made their symptoms worse. It might be worth a try to help you be more comfy for your vacation.