I’m having my left side styloidectomy done February 18. Right side was done last October. One thing I learned from that surgery was to not wear my hearing aids for quite a few days afterward because text tones, etc, coming from the paired cell phone into my hearing aids made me snap my head/neck up and backward in surprise. This caused some very painful muscle spasms just below and to the right of the base of the skull, near to where the top end of the incision was made. I’m sure everyone here has had muscle spasms (Charlie Horse) in other parts of the body and know how painful they can be. I found these base-of-skull spasms worse and “hotter” than anything I’ve ever experienced. So, best to just leave the hearing aids out for a while during the healing process. Or, simply un-pair them from your cell phone so as to avoid head jerks from loud incoming tones. Another option is to turn the cell phone volume way down or turn it off. Maybe communicate with friends and loved ones quietly via email for a couple of weeks? I’ve read quite a lot here in regard to pain and it is hard to address in words as to what treatments to use. Ice packs definitely helped me with spasms, but did not provide immediate relief. The prescribed Oxycodone helped only somewhat, and I only wound up using less than half of what came in the bottle. The prescribed muscle relaxers were much more reliable for sleeping. Lessening (removing) jarring, sonic triggers that can cause sudden head movement (whether you wear hearing aids or not) can be a big plus in reducing unnecessary stress and extra-added pain. Having lived with Eagle for many, many years, and not knowing it was Eagle until August of 2025, I did tell myself a few times that the post-op pain would pass (it did) and that this new pain was a reminder that many things were about to get better.
Great information, @Octoberkurt! I’m sorry you had to learn the hard way about not using your hearing aids or having them adjusted differently immediately after surgery but at least you know for round 2. I’m glad your recovery has gone well & your next surgery is coming up soon. I’ll put the date on my calendar & will look forward to your post op update.
BTW - I’m getting my first hearing aid next week. I’m a bit apprehensive about learning to manage it so it doesn’t drive me nuts. 
Trust me, wearing a hearing aid won’t drive you nuts. They are amazing. I do, however, remember when I first wore them, that the newly heard sounds became rather dizzying, literally. I did, though, follow instructions to wear them only for a few hours each day until I became accustomed to the programming, and it helped to get over the new sound sensations. A word of advice: Stay in close contact with your audiologists and work with them on every little thing you notice that may not seem right. There was a time a few years after I got a different set, where they were not programmed correctly and I though my hearing had really gone down hill. My head hit the audiologist’s desk when they were re-adjusted correctly. Brought tears to my eyes, I don’t mind saying. Change your filters, too, from time to time. Earwax can obstruct input.
I hope that your second surgery goes smoothly and that you heal well , praying it’s successful 
Thank you! I’ll post an update a few days afterward. This left side has a longer styloid with very obvious compression of IJV and nerves against the transverse process of C1. It’ll be really nice to find out what symptoms show improvement over time. Looking forward to it. It’s been many years to get to this point.
@Octoberkurt - Thx for the info on hearing aids. Fortunately, my ears don’t produce much wax, but I’ll keep the info about cleaning filters in mind.
Sorry, I meant to say to change the filters once in a while, like every few months. Cleaning them is next to impossible. Anyway, they’ll school you on that. I just can’t wait for the 18th, but they told me today I’m first to go into the operating room. So I have to be there at..fiiiiiive…..thirrrrrtyyyyy…..sigh. Well? Almost there!
Goodness, that’s early! But better than waiting all day, especially not being allowed to eat and drink!
My first ES surgery was also first on the docket. I recall having to be at the surgery center about that time so sending my sympathies, but also, it’s great to get it over with early in the day!!
Yes, I agree that getting it finished early will be better than the first surgery, which was around 3PM. The only downside is that we will have to leave for Scottsdale from the Sedona area at, say, 4 AM to make the hour and a half drive. I suppose we could get a room closer to the hospital, but I don’t think either one of us would get much sleep. Choices, choices.