Hello, I am 37 and my name is Tim. I had surgery done on my right side because I had the most swelling and tinnitus. I guess my questions are everything lol. My symptoms started about 6 years ago and have had a lot of other surgeries trying to find and fix the problem. It will be 3 weeks since the surgery in 2 days. Still can’t move my lip down on the right side( affected side). I have noticed a little pinpoint pain on the other side but I’m hoping that will resolve. My throat clicks and it still does now. I do know the surgery is doing something because I can actually burp when it was all bubbles before and I blamed that on GERD. The back of my neck is still swelling and my hands will not stop sweating since the surgery. I guess my main questions are how the symptoms got better for you guys and how long it took? The swelling I get at the back of my neck had went away since surgery and came back last night. Not gunna lie I did 5 pushups because after so long of not being able to do things you just want to run. I feel horrible for anyone who gets this. Thank you for any help!
Hi Tim and welcome to the site!
I’m glad you’ve been able to have the surgery, but it is still very early days! Definitely no more push ups for a few more weeks at least- you’ll have stitches inside which are still healing, so it’s not surprising that you had swelling again! If you haven’t been icing, it’s a good idea to do that regularly, with an ice pack wrapped in a towel so you don’t get your incision wet. And if you can sleep propped up a bit (with a wedge pillow for example) that will help too. You could ask your surgeon about when its safe to do exercise again if you have a follow-up appointment.
The trouble with your lip is probably irritated Facial nerve- it’s quite common to have this after surgery, but nerves can take a while to heal so could be a couple of months or so…I’m not sure about your hands sweating, it’s not something I can remember anyone else mentioning, I’m guessing maybe the vagus nerve could be irritated? Again nerves can take a while to settle. And if you had any nerve pain from the styloids before surgery that can take quite a few months to get better- some members have seen improvements even up to a year after surgery!
Some symptoms don’t always resolve until the other side is removed (if you have bilateral elongated styloids), as the styloids are connected to the hyoid bone, & then to the other side styloid in a sort of chain, so having one side removed can upset the other side & it can ramp up a bit, it could explain the bit of pain you’ve noticed on your opposite side. And recovery does vary considerably with everyone as different surgeons often use different techniques. Unfortunately we have had a few members who do still have click in their throat & that one is quite a mystery…
I hope that things do start to get better for you, & take it easy 
Thank you very much and I do understand that completely. The incision has healed up very well. I had to get my wife to help me take those stitches out. With them being on the inside was just hoping we clipped the right one. I think I took them out on day 10. They had me an appointment to go have them out and Dr. Snell was out and the doctor I seen said he was too nervous to remove them and I just couldn’t leave them for a month for a follow up. Yeah it still hangs up a little. Before the surgery I could push my throat over and make it stay and place and when I would relax it would click back 3 to 4 times. So many doctors that couldn’t figure out what it was just would have me showing other doctors and nurses. The push ups were very dumb on my part but when you just get that taste of the pain easing it’s hard not to run with it. (Lesson learned). I’m hoping the other side doesn’t need it. All my neck swelling and cervical neck pain would swell at the back right side of my neck and run down the shoulder blade. I had both shoulders done (surgery) out of desperation. I can actually burp now which actually made me tear up lol. Before it was only bubbles. I’ve had to live on Imodium. I’m hoping that will improve with actually being able to burp close to normal. Sorry to sound gross. Anyone else you know experience ibs or ibs-d? Thank you so much for the message and allowing me to join the group. Hard 6+ years. 2 more days will be 3 weeks. Thank you again so much and it’s nice to meet you!
Sounds like you’ve been through loads to get answers, it’s so rough, unfortunately it’s not uncommon…the swelling sounds unusual , I presume it’s not enlarged muscles? Some members have had enlarged SCM muscle for example?
The styloids can commonly irritate the vagus nerve which can affect digestion, it often seems to slow down bowel function, but maybe it could be the opposite for you, I have had a look online & it can also cause diarrhea…
The lip ring hole side you can see before the surgery swelling and after. It’s been back and forth going down because I do have a physical job and couldn’t take off but a week and I think most people that get this surgery have a drain tube and I didn’t get that. This was only his second surgery but when you are desperate it was worth the risk. I did have a ct scan about 2 years ago where the doctor said I had a swollen muscle in my neck. I’m just hoping the styloid was causing it. It was just a partial removal. Looks like a little bone with a ball at the end. I have noticed some relief and Isaiah had said that it can be a roller coaster of good and bad days. I don’t know how long it was but the doctor said it was pretty bad. I’ll have to look that up on what you mean on the muscle. Thank you
@T.W - The SCM is the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Those are the muscles you feel if you grabl the sides of your neck between your thumbs & first fingers. They run in a V shape from just behind your ears down to where your collar bones “meet” at the top of your chest. ES often irritates the spinal accessory nerve which innervates the SCM muscles so those muscles can become sore or swollen. Pain can also radiate into the collar bones, trapezius muscles (tops of your shoulders), & under the scapulas (your “wing bones” on your back). Getting the styloid(s) removed often helps relieve shoulder pain.
Here’s a picture to help you understand where these muscles are:
I can see the swelling in the area around your lower lip. That will go away over time and your lip should start to function again more normally within a few months. You can do exercises to encourage the nerves to heal. Here is the link to a video with some good exercises to start waking the nerve up. Though you didn’t have Bells Palsy which can cause similar paralysis of the mouth, these exercises will be helpful for you:
Thank you for that picture. That does help a lot and that’s exactly where I will swell. The scm “v” muscles and through the shoulder and right into the right wing. Back of the neck will bulge out when it’s really irritated. Like you said it’s a roller coaster and I’m just gunna keep faith those muscles will get better in time. The earaches will come and go now. Acid is still bad but I believe my stomach is trying to get better it’s just gunna take alot of time. I started the horrible earaches about 13 years ago when I was around 24. I’ll be trying the stretches you sent for the lip and even though it’s been 3 weeks since the surgery I’m thinking maybe I need to ice everyday for the next couple months for the muscle. That burning fire is not fun. Gotta say you guys are helping a lot of people out. It’s good to be able to talk to people and ask questions.