@vcp02 Thank you for all these details! I have my second side out with Dr. Hepworth next month. Prayers for swift healing! One question (because I got a rash from Hydrocodone): What pain med did Dr. Osbourne prescribe for you? Any side effects? Thanks!
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@Suzygrace Iâm glad that your post-op appointment went wellâŚI agree with @Isaiah_40_31 that more people do end up having the other side done, but I hope yours is manageable & you donât need a second surgery. The crawling sensation sounds horrible! Itâs good that your doctor is happy to see you againâŚ
Have you got iron tablets? That may well make a difference to your energy levels 
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I had jaw surgery as a kid and the codeine caused extreme itching⌠( its a side effect, not an allergic reaction per say) but I did mention that. He prescribed me Vicodin- which is Tylenol and hydrocodone. I believe the class is very similar but I didnât have any itching. It really helped with the initial pain post op. I only needed it for the first day and a half. Constipation unfortunately is something I have always delt with ( hoping its an eagles cause to soon be cured from 
) but that is definitely one thing to be prepared for. Dr. Osborne also gave stool softeners. Take them proactively! I didnât have much bleeding, so I was allowed to switch to ibuprofen, and am taking it still to help with swelling I cant see but can still feel. Def get some insight on your docs opinion on this. I did see some docs also are not using the âhead brasâ, as much as i want to burn this thing, ITS HELPED MY SWELLING TREMEDOUSLY. I had minimal swelling, and I always flare up like a balloon!
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I suffered from chronic anemia. Took years to figure it out. I was dismissed because âfemales have periodsâ. Long story short, I had an endo- upper and lower and my doctor found out I had H-Pylori. THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF MY ANEMIA!!!â and actually can lean to autoimmune conditions like RA if not caught. That was treated and my levels have since been stable, my (+) RA findings that were âpre-clinicalâ are now normal. This is so critical to know, and is also so over looked. Watch your vitamin D levels, keeping those normal help with anti-inflammatory properties. Testing for H-Pylori does not require a endo, a simple breath test can do the trick, ask your PCP or order it online. Lastly, ask your PCP about integra F. Its a iron supplement that has folic acid, helped me absorb iron easier and was way less harsh on my stomach. ( I also had to undergo various rounds of iron infusions that were so harsh on my body). Hope this helps!.. Can we tag @Suzygrace on this?
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@ vcp02 - I edited your post to alert Suzygrace. All you have to do to tag someone is put @ before their screen name i.e. @Isaiah_40_31. Additionally, since she has posted in this thread already, I think sheâll get notification that there are new posts to read.
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@vcp02 Thanks! Yeah, hydrocodone w acetaminophen is what I had for surgery 1. Iâll ask them about alternatives at my pre-op.
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@vcp02 regarding the scoliosis piece, have you gotten your leg lengths measured? I had a sports PT measure my legs and my right is quite a bit longer than my left, which has cause my thoracic spine to be curved convex to the left and then I correct at the cervical level. He calls it âfunctional scoliosisâ, not legitimate scoliosis because I donât have severe enough Cob angles (which Iâm guessing is what the radiologist that looks at your spine concluded?). I now have a shoe lift in my left shoe to equalize my leg lengths. Systematic reviews show that functional scoliosis can be completely resolved using shoe lifts in adult samples, with studies showing that about avg 11 months of wearing lift can significantly align the spine. Hereâs my abdominal CT that shows my right pelvis higher than my left and then thoracic compensation.
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Interesting info, @TML. I also have/had functional scoliosis, had right pelvic elevation that I battled for years & spent way too much money on chiropractors trying to get it fixed. Until I read your post, it never occurred to me that my slightly curved spine could have been caused by my unlevel pelvis 
. I feel pretty silly for not connecting the two.
After 12 years of long distance running, I was diagnosed w/ hip dysplasia which was previously undiagnosed & ended up causing the destruction of my hip cartilage. I ultimately needed bilateral hip replacement, & since thatâs been done, my pelvis is beautifully straight. Not saying that would be the fix for anyone else who reads this, but it was an unexpected benefit of that surgery for me. I was diagnosed w/ slight scoliosis not too many months after the hip replacement so it would be interesting to get a new scan of my spine to see if itâs straightened out at all now that 3 yrs have passed since my hip surgery.
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Wow!
Thatâs a concept Iâve never thought of, but makes perfect sense! I have knee pain on my right side and did consider a possible leg length difference playing into it. It was something Dr. Middleton touched on at his visit in Florida that was âfixedâ with an adjustment⌠we didnât quite understand to be honest, focus on my styloids.
Thank you for sharing! I will absolutely be looking into this. <3
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Thank you for this info. I have had fatigue and exhaustion for so long. I didnât show anemia until after surgery, but my protein levels are below normal and have been for years, so anemia and low protein together are probably contributing to the fatigue. I have struggled with IBS, which I have read ES can also cause issues with the gastrointestinal system as well. I started taking a muti vitamin this week and take Vitamin D daily year round. My PCP had me stop multi vitamins because for some reason my Vitamin B6 levels were off the charts last December. At first they tried to blame my symptoms on toxic vitamin B6 levels but the neurological symptoms didnât add up. The human body is indeed a complex system, and so much connects and works together or doesnât work together when something is âoffâ. I am just gathering as much knowledge as I can and trying to live a healthy lifestyle to get my strength back and live life to my best ability. All of you on the forum have guided and supported me in so many ways. I am blessed and grateful. 
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Thank you for sharing this, Osbourne is the doctor that I want, but I donât have the money. I have excellent out-of-network coverage from BCBS. Iâve thought about going that way, but the cost would be 20K, still a huge stretch at this time, so I will be calling the insurance company tomorrow. Thank ou
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Good luck @Spedula , I hope theyâre helpfulâŚ
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Thank you for sharingâŚ.in my case it took 5 years to find a doctor that suggested Eagles both my many dentist and Chriopractors missed it. After my first surgery I tried to schedule my second surgeryâŚ.i was then told by 2 doctors, 2 radiologist and 2 assistants that my styliod disappeared. After wasting another $10,000 on TMJ treatment I went to a malpractice radiologist and he examined all my many cts that were declared ânormalâ to fine my styliod never moved or changed size. 3 weeks later it was removed but I am not left with 24/7 tinnitus that I do not believe would have started if my surgery was not delayed another 4 years. I always recommend getting the ct and turning it into a 3D and having the group read it for you prior to seeing the doctor. When my mishap happened it was before 3D so I was at a loss to argue with the doctors because I could not read the ct. healing takes time, building strength takes time and getting that worry to stop is always with meâŚ..most days I am ok but some days I still need a bit more restâŚ..
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@ann - Thank you for your update. Iâm glad youâre better overall but am very sorry about the tinnitus. I completely sympathize as I have chronic loud tinnitus in my left ear, also in my right but itâs much quieter. My left ear is from an inner ear surgery I had in 2019 where too much bone was removed. The surgeon dismissed my hearing change as normal after that type of surgery. Dr. Hepworth showed me on my CT scan why itâs not normal. Too much bone was removed from my inner ear so now I have a hole where there shouldnât be one. I hope as more time passes your tinnitus settles down some. Are you considering getting your other side done?
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Hi dear @vcp02 i hope you continue to improve, thank you for writing your experiences, it has been extremely helpful to me. I have BCBS insurance and scheduled for bilateral styloidectomies by Dr. Osborne. You mentioned you might be able to share the letter your husband wrote to BCBS and I and my husband would be very grateful to see it if possible.
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@Flowergirl , @vcp02 was kind enough to post the letter, hereâs a link to the post she did:
Hope itâs helpful, Iâm pleased for you that youâre able to have your surgery with Dr Osborne!
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@Flowergirl - Hello, I hope you are recovering well! I am writing to see how youâre doing now that itâs been several months since your surgery. Iâm considering seeing Dr. O. My apologies if youâve already posted an update that Iâm not aware of. I hope youâve healed and that your recovery wasnât too bad!! Thank you in advance.
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Hi dear @SeekingInfo I hope you are doing okay. Actually, I am only 3 weeks post op with Dr Osborne, itâs @vcp02 who is a few months post op now and I expect you meant to ask this of @vcp02. Itâs early days for me, but I noticed very soon after surgery that I no longer have pre syncope and other symptoms when I turn my head toward the side that had carotid compression. The other side, which has caused numerous long standing issues like trigeminal neuralgia is taking longer to show improvement, however, I understand thatâs to be expected. Recovery from surgery though is coming along. I would highly recommend Dr. Osborne. All the best
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Iâm glad that youâve seen some improvements @Flowergirl ! Patience is definitely needed, but hopefully your TN will start to ease soon 
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