Yeah, I’d day the right side needed debulking at the very least & probably shortening as well. The “elbow” underneath it can’t be doing any good! Might be worthwhile pursuing that if you don’t have any improvement by 2 mos post op.
1 Like
Day 11 Update
Yesterday (Day 10), I experienced significant pain all over my throat, and it felt incredibly tense. I tried diaphragmatic breathing techniques and straw exercises (non-phonating) to relax it, but nothing seemed to help. The pain didn’t feel like inflammation but more like something shifting or moving inside my throat. It was very sore, though not like a typical sore throat. I even had to have my dinner blended into liquid because everything else hurt too much.
By the end of the day, I felt worse and was quite down when I went to bed, thinking I might be going backwards. However, this morning, my throat felt noticeably better (not good in any sense, but relatively speaking)—almost as if things were settling into some sort of equilibrium (if that makes sense!). I’m not sure if this is post-surgical tissue “healing” pain, but I asked ChatGPT, and it suggested:
Possible Explanations (ChatGPT):
-
Post-Surgical Tissue Adjustment: After surgery, muscles and tissues may be realigning in response to the absence of the styloid, causing tension or soreness.
-
Muscle Dysfunction or Spasms: Chronic muscle tension from years of compression might now be manifesting as overcompensation or spasms.
-
Nerve Hypersensitivity: Nerves in the area may remain sensitized, even though the styloid is gone, leading to lingering pain.
-
Tissue Healing: Early scar tissue formation and healing could cause tightness or pulling sensations.
-
Fluid or Lymphatic Shifts: Temporary fluid or lymphatic imbalances post-surgery might lead to discomfort or a sensation of movement.
Obviously, I can’t say for sure what’s causing this, but perhaps it’s related to tissue healing.
I have no idea though what this means for my overall symptoms. I did a 15-second speaking test two days ago, which caused pain that lasted for a while, so I’m hesitant to push anything too soon, but will try again in a couple of days or so. I’m hoping this might be a positive sign of progress, but it’s still hard to tell at this stage as it could just be the healing from surgery as opposed to healing of the main symptoms.
2 Likes
Praying that it is the start of healing of your symptoms! 
1 Like
I have been praying for you & will continue to pray for your voice to heal w/o need for another surgery, @virenlondon.
1 Like
Day 20 Update （19/12）
So nearly 3 weeks post op, and I am starting to feel improvements
Voice - Been able to talk a little bit with a tiny little bit of pain ( would have caused severe pain pre surgery) so I believe I have turned a corner.
I am very slowly increasing the load I put on my voice (e.g when I first started phonating, about 11 days after surgery, would be 15s in one go, and now I have built it up to a minute (only once per day). Hopefully by Christmas Day, will get it to 2 minutes in one go. I have talked a little to my son, so that definitely felt good. I am very careful not to overdo it. Just a few words every couple of hours or so, but still a big win, after hardly ever talking to him before.
Exertion - Haven’t really tried much to be honest, but few days back, I did 10 pressups, and that caused a little pain in throat, but a lot less than what it would have been pre surgery. Will intermittently try more during the next week or so while trying to be careful
The main risk is to do too much too soon (e.g. wanting to talk more to my son, or do some more exertion), and hurt my recovery, so I am really resisting that urge. It’s hard to resist, but I am doing well in that respect so far.
Hopefully, the improvements continue to come. Thanks to everyone for the support.
2 Likes
Such GREAT NEWS @virenlondon! I’m excited for you & hope the healing in progress moves forward at a steady pace. What a gift for your son to hear your voice for a sentence or two! So good!!
1 Like
I should add that I have a sort of hard lump about 1 cm above the surgical site. It’s not painful
Have others had this? Would this just be normal swelling? Or scar tissue?
No point taking a photo, as wouldn’t be visible to naked eye but I can definitely feel it
Thanks for the update. Such great news! At 3 weeks it could still be swelling. You could try some gentle massage over the area to get the fluid moving.
2 Likes
Excellent news that there’s a little improvement! I’m so pleased that at least there’s a small change…Could the lump be a lymph node? Otherwise as @Chrickychricky says try massaging. I had a small lump on the actual incision as it healed which obviously was scar tissue, I massaged regularly & it’s not obvious now.
I hope that you’re voice continues to strengthen & not cause pain, praying for you & hope that this little bit of light lifts your spirits 
1 Like
6-Week Post-Op Update
It’s now 6 weeks since my styloidectomy, and I wanted to share my progress and reflections on this recovery journey.
Voice Progress
Over the past three weeks, I’ve made gradual progress with my voice, though it hasn’t always been straightforward.
Phonation Sessions: I’m currently up to 3 x 1.5-minute sessions per day, a significant improvement compared to before surgery. Initially, I could only manage 15 seconds at a time, once every 2 or 3 days. Talking briefly to my son has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this recovery, and now I read short stories or parts of stories to him most days.
Challenges: Some days, I’ve felt discomfort or tightness, particularly on the right side, which is where the surgery was performed. There’s still a pulling sensation at times, but it’s much less intense than pre-surgery. On challenging days, I scale back to prevent setbacks.
Current Focus: I’m being cautious not to push too hard and allowing adequate rest between sessions, as overdoing it could delay my recovery.
Exertion Progress
Physical exertion has also improved noticeably since surgery.
Weights and Exercises: I’ve increased from managing just 25–30% of my pre-injury weights to now handling 40–60%, depending on the exercise, with only mild throat discomfort. Pre-surgery, these activities would have caused significant pain in the throat.
Consistency: I’ve started light workouts to rebuild strength while ensuring they don’t strain my throat excessively.
Challenges: While throat discomfort occasionally flares up during exertion, it’s manageable and far less severe than before.
Massage and Recovery
Massage and stretching have become essential parts of my recovery routine.
Benefits: Targeted massages, especially on the right SCM and areas under the jawline and submental area under my chin, often release tension and clear mucus, making phonation more comfortable.
Caution: I’ve noticed slight bleeding on the scar during some massages, likely from stretching the skin near the incision. This reminds me to be gentle and mindful of pressure while massaging.
Reflections at Week 6
Recovery is not a linear journey—it’s often two steps forward, one step back—but the overall trajectory is positive.
Voice Improvements: I can now phonate and exert myself in ways that would have been unbearable pre-surgery. While I still feel discomfort and fatigue at times, the severity has reduced significantly.
Exertion Tolerance: I’ve made steady progress with physical activities, but my throat still limits me more than muscle strength does.
Patience is Key: The hardest part is resisting the urge to push too hard, too soon, especially when I feel like I’m improving.
Looking Ahead
Over the next 2 or 3 weeks, I aim to:
Gradually increase phonation sessions to 4–5 x 2.5 mins minutes daily.
Continue light strength training and build up intensity as my throat allows.
Focus on gentle massages and stretches to support recovery while avoiding irritation or bleeding.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It’s been a tough but rewarding journey, and I’m hopeful for continued progress in the weeks ahead.
3 Likes
I’m so pleased that you’re seeing slow but gradual improvements, that’s really good to hear! I have been praying for you & was going to ask if things were moving forward at all, so I’m glad that you’ve updated us. It must be so hard to limit yourself & not push too hard but it’s certainly paying off by the sound of it, you’re so right that it’s an up and down recovery! I hope your son enjoys you reading to him 
Take care and will keep praying that your healing continues
1 Like
@virenlondon - I’m doing a happy dance 
for you right now! What great progress you’ve made both vocally & w/ your physical workouts! I’m excited for what lies ahead for you. Your patience is certainly paying off. The icing on the cake is getting to talk & read to your son. How special for both of you. Your wife must also be exceptionally patient as she has walked this path with you as well. How hard not to be able to have a conversation with your spouse.
As time progresses, I hope the pattern changes from 2 steps forward/1 back, to only forward steps. I will continue to pray for that.
1 Like
3-Month Post-Op Update
It’s been three months since my right styloidectomy, and I wanted to share an update on how things are progressing. Overall, I’ve seen improvements, but recovery is still ongoing.
Voice Progress
I can now manage 30–45 minutes of speech per day, spread out across multiple sessions.
Longer phonation sessions feel more stable, though I haven’t pushed beyond 20 minutes in one go.
Challenges: There’s still some discomfort and tightness, especially after longer speaking periods, but it’s manageable.
Current focus: Gradually increasing endurance while maintaining recovery.
Exertion & Physical Activity
I’ve been able to work out consistently, handling around 60–70% of pre-injury strength, again, a big improvement.
Swimming is now possible without significant throat pain.
Challenges: Higher-intensity exercises still cause some discomfort, but moderate workouts are tolerable.
Massage & Recovery
Massage continues to help, particularly in the SCM, under the jaw, and near the thyroid area.
Clicking and mucus release still happen, especially with certain movements, but seem to be improving.
Right-side restrictions persist, though they feel less severe than before.
Reflections at 3 Months
Phonation and exertion tolerance are improving, though I still need to pace myself.
Massage and mobility work help significantly, but recovery is still a work in progress.
Overall, things are better than before surgery, and I’m optimistic about further improvements.
Looking Ahead
Continue building phonation endurance gradually.
Work on slightly increasing workout intensity while monitoring discomfort.
Keep tracking mucus and clicking to see if mobility continues to improve.
Thanks to everyone for the support—looking forward to seeing how things progress in the coming months.
5 Likes
That’s a great report! I’m so glad for the improvements you’ve had - especially your ability to talk for a longer period. Being able to increase physical activity is also a good sign. I bet those two things are adding a previously missing dimension to your family life. 
Slowly moving in the right direction, really good news, thanks for the update! Shows how much patience is needed…Praying that you see lots more progress 
1 Like