Hi everyone — I’m about 6 months out from styloidectomy + IJV decompression and I’m still struggling more than I expected.
Structurally things seem “fixed,” but my body doesn’t feel normal. I’m dealing with what feels like a really hypersensitive nervous system — a lot of muscle gripping/tension throughout my body (neck, shoulders, even into my hips), and it shifts around rather than fully settling.
It almost feels like my system is stuck in a protective pattern even though the compression has been relieved. I also suspect I may be dealing with some level of dysautonomia on top of this.
I’m trying to understand if this is part of the healing process or something I need to actively work through.
Has anyone experienced this kind of whole-body tension or nervous system hypersensitivity after surgery?
If so:
Did it calm down over time?
Around what timeline did you notice improvement?
Was it gradual or did it “click” at some point?
Would really appreciate hearing others’ experiences.
Hi! For me it took 5 years of sever pain to get to a surgery date. During that time my body according to my therapist both consciously and unconsciously moved and restricted movements to protect myself from pain. Some muscles shortened while others lengthened and my muscle itself was unhealthy and what she called stringy. I found this therapist by chance who did a muscle release therapy called myo kinesthetics. This specific therapy is not available everywhere but versions are of muscle release therapy are. I spent several months going 3 times per week to get my muscles healthy, ate really well and exercised each day. Then there is always on going mental health issues….feeling confident the pain will not be back is hard, I still now 4 years later position my self in restaurants or events with my back to walls so no one can bump my head….now 4 years out from my last surgery I can swim 40 minutes a day, pick up my grand kids but I can relax knowing I have medication in my bag incase I have issues but I still work hard each day at maintaining relaxed muscles…..for me when my muscles tighten discomfort follows. The pain of Eagles has only returned 3 times for me when my trigeminal nerve flared because of outside input but I could calm that pain quickly….all my daily symptoms except tinnitus have disappeared….i am 14 years out from my first surgery….working on you mental health and getting your body unwound from the pain is all part of the healing process….be well and be positive…..
