Hi all!!! Would love some help - I have a bit of a weird case but I know many people with eagles have complex histories so hoping you guys can give me an opinion of imaging etc
Hi everyone, I’m hoping to hear from members who have dealt with conflicting opinions about Eagle syndrome, particularly alongside constant under-jaw tightness, throat pain and facial spasms. I’m struggling to understand what is causing what and who would be best to evaluate it.
My jaw pain began in 2024 after a wolf grabbed me by my ponytail and dragged me around for several minutes while I was working at an animal sanctuary. I subsequently had several whiplash incidents, followed by a very forceful dental extraction involving substantial pressure on my jaw. I was largely bedbound for about a year and underwent treatment for craniocervical instability, including PRP, prolotherapy, PT and stem-cell treatments. My symptoms eventually largely resolved, apart from some SCM pain and weakness, and I had several months when I was doing much better.
Eagle syndrome was being investigated during that earlier period. My July 2024 CBCT report described mild calcification of both stylohyoid ligaments, but the radiologist felt it was insufficient to call Eagle syndrome and did not explain my symptoms. However, Dr. Osborne, Dr. Omrani and Dr. Nora Kahenasa have supported an Eagle diagnosis at different points. A few doctors firmly told me I did not have it, while others told me I did. Because I had been reassured so strongly that I didn’t have Eagle syndrome, I didn’t think I needed to be especially cautious about that possibility during PT.
My symptoms returned during about four months of intensive treatment involving frequent traction, repeated thoracic extension over a foam roller, neck mobilization, deep massage and digging pressure underneath my jaw, and forceful jaw stretching. I also had chiropractic adjustments. Much of the jaw treatment was done because the problem was initially thought to be TMJ-related. These treatments repeatedly aggravated the area, and the under-jaw work was followed by significant swelling, tenderness and persistent pain.
The symptoms that keep bringing me back to Eagle syndrome are a deep, stuck-in-the-throat sensation, beneath the corner of my jaw. It feels as though something is digging into that area and pulling on my throat and jaw from underneath. I also get intense pressure into the left roof of my mouth.
Swallowing and neck rotation are among my biggest triggers. Swallowing—even saliva—can cause severe, sharp, searing or electric pain toward my ear, jaw and tongue, along with increased gripping underneath my jaw. Turning my head from side to side or looking up markedly intensifies the deep digging, pulling and throat pain. I also have clicking or snapping underneath my jaw and along my upper neck. These ordinary movements can be extremely painful.
The tightness is constant, with additional flares during movement and swallowing. The whole sling underneath my jaw feels gripped, swollen and burning, from the floor of my mouth beneath my tongue through my chin, jawline, front of my neck and the area underneath my lower lip. It affects both sides, although the left is worse. The area is extremely tender, and even light pressure can reproduce the pulling and nerve-like pain. It is markedly worse when I lie down, which makes resting difficult.
I’m also having lower-facial twitching and spasms, with painful tightness when I smile, frown, purse my lips or talk. Even bringing a cup to my mouth or drinking through a straw can be extremely painful. My doctors have been discussing the digastric and other muscles in the suprahyoid chain, as well as the platysma, as possible contributors after the repeated stretching and pressure. Nearby ligament problems have also been raised. Dr. Aufiero’s MRI order described my CBCT as negative for classic Eagle syndrome bone ossification and asked for assessment of the surrounding ligaments and soft tissues.
Another complication is that I developed persistent raw, burning throat pain after inhaling very hot steam in a sauna in April 2026. Since then, my throat has been sensitive to smells, temperature and food textures, with episodes of clamping or spasm. A superior laryngeal nerve block gave very little relief.
I’m now working with an ENT who thinks I have both Eagle syndrome and laryngeal hypersensitivity/spasm, and that they are aggravating each other. It has been extremely difficult to distinguish the laryngeal pain from possible glossopharyngeal or trigeminal nerve pain, and to understand how those overlap with the constant muscular tightness and facial spasms. My understanding is that intubation isn’t a workable option for me at the moment because of the laryngeal hypersensitivity and spasm, which further complicates figuring out the next step.
Light perineural injections around the platysma briefly helped some nerve pain, but the deeper under-jaw constriction remained.
I’d really appreciate members’ experiences with this kind of overlap. Has anyone had Eagle syndrome alongside laryngeal hypersensitivity or spasm, with severe worsening during swallowing, neck rotation and lying down? How did your doctors distinguish the different sources of pain and work out a treatment plan? I’m struggling to know which specialist to turn to and would love recommendations for someone who could consider the whole picture, including the concerns about intubation.
. I suggested there based on your lack note about symptoms that you might have IJV compression because of the nature of your neck injuries, but I’d say from the information you just posted, that is not among the causes of your symptoms. It sounds like your symptoms are nerve related.
