I’ve already mentioned this before and attached an MRI scan of the fibrous tissue/scar tissue. Let me repeat it once again. When only the styloid process is removed, the positive effect is only 30-40%. When the styloid process and part of C1 are removed (without resection of the stylohyoid ligament or the digastric muscle), the positive effect is higher, but if the muscles are left, the vein is often compressed by scar tissue/fibrous tissue. I will show you an MRI scan of this. Therefore, it happens that 2-3 weeks after the operation, my symptoms went away by 70%, but then they returned. And now, a year later, when I try not to cough or breathe deeply to avoid irritating the incision area (which becomes painful, inflamed, and enlarged), my symptoms worsen.
You can do a soft tissue MRI of the neck to see if you have fibrous tissue, and you might be lucky and the MRI will capture your C1 and you will see if the vein is compressed or not. A neck MRI does not always capture the area at the C1 level, and radiologists do not want to or know how to scan this area. You can also scan the angle of the craniovertebral junction. This is a whole other issue. In Russia, an MRI scan of the neck (without contrast, no contrast is needed) costs 100-120 dollars, which is not a lot of money, and it can be done at your own expense without insurance. MRI scans are almost harmless.
