I was going to say that I wasn’t aware of any clips in my neck, but haven’t had x-rays or anything to ever see, but you’ve got your answer anyway!
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Mr Axon does fully explain all the risks, he’s very good…tbh I think most doctors do these days anyway.
That’s good. Man I wish I didn’t have a clip in my neck!
I’m glad you got clarification. Dr. Axon does a different type of external approach than my surgeon. That’s probably why he doesn’t need to use the clips or fool w/ the jaw. I did just read that some surgical clips are made of magnesium now so they dissolve over time. Hopefully dissolving clips, like dissolving sutures, are the wave of the future. That is unless, for some reason, they need to remain in place permanently.
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Okay I did the 3D slicer on my new scans. This is pretty much exactly 2 years later. Happy to report the right definitely was shortened as I was told, it’s just a tiny little bone now. The left doesn’t look to much longer than the first time, but maybe a bit?
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For reference this was my left side in 2020
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How exciting to see the very short right styloid! So glad it’s really gone & has stayed that way. Your left side looks like a nail extending from your skull base. It’s plenty long enough to be causing you troubles & looks pointed at the tip. I’m so glad you got these updated images. I continue to feel that if you have the left side removed, it will be a benefit, but that is for you to decide. I know going through this surgery twice is no fun. Been there & done that but have no regrets.
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I’m curious if it’s grown the past two years. If I knew it had then I would be more likely to believe my new pain is from the left styloid. I think it was measuring 3.5 in 2020. My right side was I think 4.5.
Either way I may as well start the process of pursuing surgery. As we all know it takes months to years to get into the right hands. Pain in front of and behind the ear, headaches back of head, pain under jaw when turning my head down to the left or up to the right. Tingling and electric like pains under my jaw all the way to my chin. And that same stupid sensation in the back of the throat and tongue which I’m still dealing with on the right.
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I think it looks a little longer…
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I’m sorry for all those symptoms but they SCREAM ES to me. I hope you’re able to find the right surgeon to help you ASAP so it’s not months & years more of that pain, tingling, headaches, etc. I will be praying for you to find a surgeon much nearer to you this time. 
I see it’s your 1 yr anniversary on our forum! Happy Anniversary, one_day!!
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@one_day I’m absolutely no expert in jaw/mandible issues nor ever properly read about it, but the TMJ on the left side of your CT scan seems to be quite… Tightly fit?
That might be of course how a HEALTHY joint looks as opposed to e.g. mine (I am pretty confident I don’t have healthy TMJs thanks to my bruxism), but just in case, have you ever chatted with a jaw specialists (not even sure who they might be… Maxillofacial surgeons perhaps?) to see if the pain isn’t caused by some TMJ things?
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I was wondering the same thing vdm. The facial stuff is usually trigeminal nerves and can be related to TMJ. Its not uncommon to have have these symptoms when you have TMJ & ES. How we hold our head and neck as well as posture can kick up all kinds of nerve problems due to tight ligaments in the neck The more your posture is off (leaning forward too much), the more the jaw and the trigeminal nerve can get impacted. I had that shooting pain from my throat up to my ears and it was painful as hell.
When we are pain, our body tries to compensate for the pain and we can sometimes adapt our body positions to positions of less pain. These aren’t always healthy positions.The only thing that helped with that intense pain (and Ive tried it all) was steroid and both injections to relax the jaw and neck. This along with massage to try and work on the tight muscles and ligaments in the neck.
I did notice the the 2020 vs recent the styloid appears longer but your chin is also lower making it look longer. best to do actual measurement to be sure. 3.5 cm is significant length to warrant surgery if symptomatic.
I had crossover symptoms hit me about 8 weeks after 1st surgery on the other side. It hit me pretty hard but thankfully, it subsided within a week. It did remind me it was there and did confirm for me I would take the other side out.
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Sorry for typo. Steroids and botox.