They did a 360 x-ray at Dentist I think they call it, where they do the x-ray around your head and can get a good 3d image.
I actually am having some real progress on the jaw portion (TMJ/TMD). The dentist who caught the Eagle’s is a TMD specialist. He got me these dental appliances I wear for 3 months. I have a bottom one for day and a top one for night, not quite like anything I’ve ever seen before. Anyway, my jaw popped back into place after just a few nights of wearing them, and wearing them, plus I go in every week for laser therapy on my jaw area has the inflammation down significantly. First thing that’s ever helped.
Yes, that is the cone beam tomography. Dr. Samji who did my surgery doesnt put much weight on those and CT scan without contrast is the gold standard. It is just more detailed the the 360 tomography. I would push for a CT scan.
Interesting, what kind of laser therapy?
The panoramic xray can show the styloids, but isn’t as good for diagnosis as a CT; it might be something to push for. An MRI won’t show them well either, but can show other issues which can affect the nerves…a shame you have to wait a bit longer.
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were those custom dental appliances? MY oral guy suggested getting these Plackers “Grind No More” disposables and wearing them on the upper and lower. I also have osteoarthritis in my jaw and all kinds of remodeling going on. I know its all inflammation causing the pain. Ill wanr the yah, the ES surgery kicks this up. Taken me 12 weeks to get it calmed down.
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Laser therapy, like they do with animals for healing, run the light laser over the jaw and sometimes my neck and shoulders, I have noticed a good decrease in inflammation for a few days after, which seems to help the healing.
I’ll see if I can get a CT scan as well, Doctor also wants to get me a hearing test as well as the MRI. He said the MRI was to show the nerves which he was more concerned about, so I will jump thru whatever hoops he needs me to.
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As to the orthotics, they are custom, specifically for TMD/TMJ disorders, they don’t just fit around the teeth/jaw, but they even extend a little further back in a particular way, and the top one I wear at night forces my bottom jaw to stay in alignment all night, with this little piece towards the front of my jaw on the top.
I’m wondering if the laser therapy you mean is ultrasound therapy? That is something often found at physical therapy offices. Ive had it before on certain areas of my body but never tried it on my jaw. I will give it a try.
Interesting about the custom guards. Im assuming insurance doesnt pay those appliances? I know my dental policy covers braces but not TMJ related items. Health policy specifically calls out no coverage for TMJ or TMD. Its all about the diagnosis codes. LOL. Thanks for the info. I know my jaw is misaligned and pops to the left when I open my mouth.
As to the MRI,etc. I was able to bring to my PCP a recent (2018) peer reviewed medical journal article that calls out the CT Scan as the radiology scan of choice to determine the most detail and for diagnosis of ES. THis along w the 360 degree cone bean scan that showed some of the calcifications. The MRI mostly shows soft tissue and ligaments, not so much nerves but I get jumping thru the hoops for the doc. Ill see if I can find that journal article.
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redfaery,
If you have symptomatic ES, of course you have nerve issues! Elongated styloids tangle w/ up to 6 of the cranial nerves that “live” in the same area of your neck as the styloids & stylohyoid ligaments. When there is extra calcification in that area, the nerves get irritated & thus you get ES symptoms which can be very diverse & seem totally unrelated. You can also get compression of your internal carotid artery or jugular vein which can cause migraines, visual changes, pulsatile tinnitus, & high blood pressure w/in your skull. Sadly, there are many doctors who know about ES but don’t think about the cause of its symptoms.
Look up “Two Minute Neuroscience” on YouTube & watch the 2 min. video for each of these nerves: Facial, Trigeminal, Glossopharyngeal, Hypoglossal, Accessory, & Vagus. Learning the location of each one is also helpful (many pics on Google). The education you get from these short videos will help you understand the cause of at least part of your symptoms. Maybe you can share what you learn w/ Dr. Bumpous (in a very humble way, of course).
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My Dentist was so mad that Dr Bumpous told me my styloid processes were not that long, he took most of my appointment this time trying to find the perfect angle to print out what they looked like on the scan.
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The laser therapy is light therapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4743666/ there’s an article that explains it a little better. I had a chiropractic years ago that used it to pretty good affect on my neck and back, and was surprised to see a dentist using it now. I have to say the noticeable lowering of the tension/inflammation in my jaw every week definitely makes me a believer. I’m 8 weeks into the TMD/TMJ treatment, wearing the retainer/mouth guards daily and getting these laser treatments, my pain and inflammation around my jaw area is down by at least half. So of course now I notice the feeling that something is sticking in my neck even more!
Well, I’m no doctor, but they look very long to me, great pic, & glad that your dentist is on your side at least!
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That’s what I thought, I really think he didn’t look too hard at the scan since he was running late that day. I saw that view and thought those look crazy long to me.
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Thanks so much for the information! Im going to talk to my chiropractor to see if he has this. I also get my massage and acupuncture at the same office and they seem pretty good at offering all kinds of modalities. I know I have osteoarthritis in my jaw and have for sometime. I cant take NSAIDS or any anti-inflammatories and know this is inflamed. I probably should cough up the $$ and get some custom guards like you describe.
Those styloids look pretty damn long to me as well !!! You are lucky dentist is such a good advocate for you. Keep that one!
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haha funny how we go to the worst pain. Take care of one pain just to find another. Ive had the same happen.
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Snapple2020, I also can’t take NSAIDs, I have asthma and anything in that family causes me to have the worst asthma attacks, so it’s either steroids or tylenol for pain and inflammation.
Hi Redfaery! Wow. I’ll second Jules’s opinion. You styloids are very long. You have a rock start dentist. I hope you find a surgeon soon who knows how to diagnose and treat ES.
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NSAIDS give me stomach bleeds even in IV form. Tylenol and aspirin upset my stomach. I have bad acid reflux. After surgery when they were sending me home, they gave me 10mg oral of Oxycotin. I told them only in IV form especially on empty stomach. By the time I got to hotel, I had to make myself get sick. It was like pouring battery acid into my stomach. It was horrible. This is why I hardly ever take even vitamins. Ive also gotten patches of different medications which isnt always easy and found them to be marginally a benefit as they are slow release. All pain meds upset my stomach which means I would never be a good pill addict. I guess this is why I try all kinds of alternative therapies.
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redfaery ~
YIKES!! That left styloid is not only long but also wavy!! The right looks long as well (if that’s what I see to the right of the left styloid). Dr. Bumpous must have looked at your scan w/ his eyes closed 
That’s just hard to miss!! Are you able to travel out of state to see someone else or even just make an appt for a phone consult w/ Dr. Samji or Dr. Cognetti for a second opinion?
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