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.
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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):
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Post-Surgical Tissue Adjustment: After surgery, muscles and tissues may be realigning in response to the absence of the styloid, causing tension or soreness.
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Muscle Dysfunction or Spasms: Chronic muscle tension from years of compression might now be manifesting as overcompensation or spasms.
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Nerve Hypersensitivity: Nerves in the area may remain sensitized, even though the styloid is gone, leading to lingering pain.
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Tissue Healing: Early scar tissue formation and healing could cause tightness or pulling sensations.
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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.
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Praying that it is the start of healing of your symptoms! 
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I have been praying for you & will continue to pray for your voice to heal w/o need for another surgery, @virenlondon.
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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.
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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!!
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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
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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.
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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 
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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.
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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
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@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.
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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.
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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 
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I still have mine 2 months after surgery, and currently having a thyroid flare up to where it’s making the lump a little uncomfortable.
I know this post is old, but how are you feeling and doing nowadays? 
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@B2025 - I’m sorry you have some symptoms that haven’t started resolving. What is still hanging on for you at 2 mos post op? Were you diagnosed w/ bilateral styloid elongation? Have you had some symptoms that resolved since your surgery in August? Do you mind sharing who did your surgery?
Do you have nodules or cysts in your thyroid or have you been diagnosed w/ calcification of your thyroid cartilage?
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Things went pear shaped for me around april 2025. Will post a longer update now
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Just a recap - pre surgery - 2 seconds of phonation causes major pain. light exertion (e.g walking with a 2kg shopping bag) causes pain on throat
3 months post surgery - very positive (could do most phyiscal activities, and speak for over 45 mins a day
So as mentioned above, at 3 and 4 months, things were going so great,. Unfortunately, I got greedy and wanted to get back in to work asap, and I thought my level was good enough. So I started practicing for interviews. Bearing in mind I hadnt had a proper conversation before surgery for 5 years, I did need the practice. One day in Apr 2025, I kept repeating various answers to various interview questions. I felt fine at the time, but the next day was in absolute agony, and unfortuantely, even after resting a few day, voice never really came back. Could speak for a couple of minutes a day and do a very light amount of physical exertion, but that was it. And gradually since then, have been getting worse to now where I am once again, fully mute and light activity is painful, so pretty much housebound for the last few weeks, and i think unless some intervention is done, i will be like this for life.
In Sep 2025, I did revisit my surgeon (Hughes), but he wasn’t really sure about what was going on. after that I sort of just left it. At the time I could still speak a few sentences a day, and coudl do very light exertion, so quality of life, although quite poor, wasnt like pre surgery (very poor), and i was hoping it would slowly get better. But it has now got gradually worse, and now back to fully being mute and unable to do basic tasks (and definitely no exercise)
So I have decided to try once more (even though I am voiceless, and walking few hundred metres causes throat pain now) to try and get fixed. To be honest, I should have done this a long time ago.
I should add that I did get a submandular gland removal because it was always swollen and v irritating (v weird feeling), and i thougth it maybe contributing to these life-restricting symptoms, but, it just got rid of the irritation, and the life-restricting symptoms has remained.
I am trying to figure out the possibilities. So far, I have come up with 2. I should add that I still fully believe the issue is most probably something to do with the stylohyoid/styloid chain, becasue I had these voice and exertion issues for many years with multiple treatminets and scan, all to no avail, and after teh styloidectomy, the recvery was quite fast (not instantaneous, but definitely very successful)
Possibillity 1 – I over stressed the healing tissues at the surgical site that day in April 2025 (of the styloid removal) and something happened to them, e.g. the intense muscle strain from overphonation in April 2025 may have caused a “tug” on nerves or vessels, trapping them in that scar tissue, and the scar tissue is essesntially impinging on/irritating the same things (e.g vessel or nerve) that the original styloid was impingning.
Possibilty 2 – As I understand, in the initial styloidectomy, the surgeon resected the ossified styloid process/calcified stylohyoid up to skull base (confirmed on CT), but left the remaining non-calcified part of stylohyoid ligament. As there was now another (April 2025) trauma, the remaining part underwent changes (even if not fully calcified and visible on CT) and is now causing issues.
Other than these possibilities, I can’t really think of anything else, but would be open to suggestions.
Obviously, I am very keen to get better. For around 4 months, I could talk to my wife and kids for the first time in years, and was able to interactively play with them, go swimming, gym etc. And now I am back stuck, unable to speak, and unable to do anything physical.
I have recontacted my surgeon (Dr Hughes - London) to see if he is willing to explore this further, but if he isn’t, I think i will start contacting otehrs. He didn’t seem very convinced when I mentioned fibrosis back in Sep 2025, but it has to be soemthing.
Do you know of any members that had a very good initial success, but then after a few months (or years), exactly same symptoms came back (And not because the styloid wasn’t fully resected to base as Hughes assured me he did, and is proven on CT).
Also, and suggestion or other posssibilities will be welcome. E.g what kind of scan would really get a good look at the scar tissue and the thing it is impinging?
Thanks for reading
Probably missed a few bits here, but will edit if I think of them.
@virenlondon I hope you don’t mind I inquired with ChatGPT, as my first thought would be MRI neck/skull base with contrast ideally on a 3T, thin slices.
This was the response: Given the relapse after over-phonation and exertion, I’d probably ask for a 3T MRI neck/skull base with contrast to look for postoperative fibrosis/scar tissue, soft tissue tethering, nerve/vessel irritation, and the hyoid/stylohyoid region. I’d also consider a repeat CT with 3D reconstruction to confirm no residual/recurrent calcified stylohyoid segment, plus CTA/CTV if vascular compression or positional/exertional symptoms are suspected. Since the main symptom is loss of voice/throat pain, I’d also want a laryngologist to do flexible laryngoscopy/stroboscopy to assess vocal cord function and nerve-related laryngeal issues.
Definitely ask for thin-slice imaging — around 1 mm or less — otherwise small scar tissue, ligament remnants, or subtle compression can easily be missed.
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