If the vagus nerve is compressed/ irritated, which it often is by the styloid processes, this can cause anxiety, so as well as your symptoms worrying you, which is perfectly understandable, you might have the vagus nerve causing anxiety. So if the vagus nerve is affected and causing the anxiety then a psychiatrist would be unlikely to help…cognitive behavioural therapy could possibly help you understand and accept the symptoms for what they are I guess? Some members have tried anti-anxiety medication, personally I’d be concerned about that if there’s a nervous system reason for the anxiety, but that’s a personal choice…
We have info about surgery and a list of questions we suggest members ask doctors if they’re considering surgery, here’s a link and the questions in case it’s helpful:
ES Information- Treatment: Surgery - Welcome / Newbies Guide to Eagle Syndrome - Living with Eagle
Questions To Ask Your Doctor:
- How many ES surgeries have they done and what was the success rate?
- Whether they’re going to operate externally, or intraoral- through the mouth. Whilst some members have had successful surgeries with intraoral, external is better for seeing all the structures, to be able to remove more of the styloids, & also there’s less chance of infection.
- You need to ask how much of the styloid he’ll remove- as much as possible is best- & anything left needs to be smoothed off. The piece needs to be removed too- some doctors have snapped it off & left it in! If the styloid is only shortened a bit it can still cause symptoms.
- If your stylohyoid ligaments are calcified, then any calcified section needs to be removed too.
- There’s usually swelling after surgery; you could ask if a drain’s put in to reduce swelling, or if steroids are prescribed. It’s not essential, but can help with recovery a bit.
- Will it be a day case surgery or will you need to stay in?
- Obviously ask the risks- we know from experience on here that temporary damage to the facial nerve is quite common, and also the hypoglossal nerve and the accessory nerve. These usually recovery very quickly but in some cases members have needed physiotherapy. There is also the risk of catching a blood vessel or having a stroke, but these are very rare.
- Ask if the surgeon monitors the nerves- this should be done to see if there’s stress on the nerves to avoid damage as mentioned above.
- What painkillers will be prescribed afterwards.
- Ask about recovery- most doctors either down play it or are genuinely unaware of how long the recovery can take!
- We have heard that occasionally doctors use surgical clips which are left in, it’s been suggested that these could interfere with chiropractic adjustments if needed post-surgery, so something to consider, and also we have now seen members who’ve been left in pain from the clips and needed further surgery to remove them, so do ask if they might be used.