I have been in terrible pain and experiencing unbearable discomfort for the last 4 years. In that time, I’ve had 3 sinus surgeries trying to fix the problem. No resolve. I was tossed around between about 6 different doctors at the hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology (Ear Doctor, Cheek Sinus Doctor, Forehead Sinus Doctor, Larynx Doctor, Voice Doctor, Swallowing Doctor). It was exhausting. The whole time I was telling them there’s something seriously wrong with my throat and I know it. I begged them to stop dismissing me but it did no good.
Then I had two molars extracted trying to fix the problem. No resolve. Then the tension in my neck/throat/jaw was so tight, it tore a hole in the roof of my mouth where the molars were. The oral surgeon stitched up the hole in my mouth 4 different times, but a month or two later it would tear apart. The oral surgeon told me there has to be something wrong with your neck/throat because he’s never seen anything like this.
Then, I was sent to a prestigious hospital to their Head and Neck Department to close the hole in the roof of my mouth, called an oral fistula, by way of a facial artery muscular mucosal flap. After that surgery, my symptoms increased dramatically. The prestigious hospital referred me to pain management, who did nothing but offer me narcotic pain medication, which I declined, saying I wanted to resolve my problem not mask it.
Then, I was referred to a thoracic surgeon for the tension in my neck/throat. I was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. I had an absolutely brutal surgery to remove my top rib. The surgeon told me that my top rib was completely calcified and it was the worst surgery she had ever done. This reduced some tension in my chest, but did nothing to help the terrible pain and discomfort in my neck/throat/jaw.
After that, a thoracic surgeon operated on my shoulder, and released my pec minor. No resolve.
Then, I had trigger point injections, multiple nerve blocks, botox injections in my neck and trap. No resolve.
Then I was sent to pain management, who did nothing but prescribe me narcotic pain pills.
I went back to the Head and Neck Department at the first hospital and was told there is nothing wrong with me, that I should see a psychiatrist and take antidepressants. I pleaded with them, and begged them to do some sort of scan or look for something. Sadly, they were very quick to label you with an anxiety problem and treat you like you have a mental health problem.
I had to switch dentist because my previous dentist went out of network for my insurance. This week, I went to a new dentist for a routine cleaning. They took x rays and before I even spoke with the dentist about my struggles, he came into the room and said “I’ve looked at your x rays and your styloid process is severely elongated on both sides, and the left side is completely calcified all the way down into your throat You have a condition called Eagle’s Syndrome.”
So, now I’m referred back to the Head and Neck Department at the first hospital. I’m not sure why they didn’t catch this, as they took CT Scans of my head, face, mouth, and neck, along with MRI’s of my face, orbits, jaw, and neck. I’m expecting it to be an unpleasant experience trying once again to convince them that there’s something wrong with me. This has been the most challenging thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.
For the last few years the tension in my throat has been pulling down on my ear. It’s gotten so bad that it’s disfigured my ear. I’ve told the doctors this on multiple occasions and they look at me like I’m crazy. I’m curious to see if anyone else has had these symptoms and would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice. Thank you!
