Hi! Wow, thank you so much for sharing this with me! It’s so comforting to find people who understand. Our experiences sound so similar!!! I gradually noticed more and more little changes and tension in my voice over the last year and a half I would say…culminating in being in insane pain when I talk and my singing being very affected since this February. Sounds like we had a similar journey…I did EVERYTHING possible for allergies, tried reflux diet/medications, got a bajillion other tests, vocal cords always perfect, voice therapy didn’t relieve the pain…you know the story. I’m so relieved for a diagnosis but also very worried. I’m processing some anger that 6 months ago a big-name Hollywood ENT refused additional imaging! I had asked for a CT and they said it wouldn’t give us any additional information. I can’t help but think I could’ve discovered this 6 months ago if they had only known about this or really listened to me more. But here I am today, thankful for the ENT who DID think to rule it out. I had never heard of it before and I really went down the google rabbit hole about muscle tension dysphonia and anything else that can effect the voice. My primary care doctor dismissed it eventually as “stress!” - she made me cry! I was like…REALLY!? I’m a professional singer. I know when something is wrong. And I know the difference between stress/anxiety and what I am experiencing. Who in their right mind wants to make stuff like this up and have to see a million doctors? Ugh - the gaslighting was real. I’m so heartbroken for everyone who’s had to fight their way to a diagnosis and have doctors not really believe them, listen or know more. This whole experience has really reminded me to trust myself and not give up.
Anyways!! I would love to stay connected on our journeys 
I’m really grateful for the forum. I’m glad to know the lidocaine shot gave you some relief…I’m hoping to try it out before consulting more about surgery. I really just want some relief from this constant pain when I talk - oof it’s exhausting. Did the shot have a steroid too? Did it have any other weird affect on your voice, or it was awesome and just took away some pain?
I think I may have read the same article as you! Was it this one? http://www.atempovoicecenter.com/blog/2018/9/19/eagle-syndrome-a-rare-bird-indeed. I read this after the CT was ordered, when I first learned of Eagles, and it blew my mind how much it sounded like my story. It gave me an instinct that I finally had an answer and sure enough my ENT called me a few days later confirming it. I’m actually trying to reach out to the woman in this article to talk to her! I’ll let you know what I find out.
Thanks so much for your message. It’s so horrible to be a singer and be dealing with such a rare, mysterious thing. I just daydream about singing freely again. I know I will never take my voice for granted again!! Praying for healing for myself and everyone dealing with this!! Good luck with your appointment and keep me posted!