Hi,
Has anyone had a styloidectomy, found relief for a few years only to have it re-calcify 4 years after the original surgery? I had my operation on my right side in 2021 and the end of 2025 I have the sore burning throat again. I went in for imaging and sure enough the same side has Re-calcified.
Thank you
@beachlady - I’m very sorry your styloid has regrown. We’ve had some members who’ve had styloid regrowth. This usually occurs when not enough styloid was removed the first time around though we’ve got at least a couple of members who had literal skull base styloid removal & the darn thing still grew back.
Please remind me who did your surgery. Since we don’t know exactly what causes styloid elongation so the cause can be removed along w/ the styloid, it may not have anything to do w/ the surgeon, his/her surgical technique, or how much styloid was removed. I only stated the bit about not enough styloid being removed because in most of our documented regrowth cases, that has been the issue.
https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/search?q=styloid%20regrowth
and this post which showed up on the forum as I was responding to you:
Dr Anthony Bunnell was my surgeon. I am in Clearwater, FL and don’t know whether to go back to him in Jacksonville or try another doctor. I was so shocked to see it in the scan today. I just couldn’t believe it.
In my initial surgery Dr. Bunnell said he went as far back to the skull base as he could without damaging anything back there. While conservative is probably best, having to recut into my neck again is not something I’m looking forward to.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it so much!
@beachlady - We had another member who saw Dr. Bunnell for her initial styloidectomy & had unresolved pain post op. Dr. Bunnell refused to do a revision surgery so she went to Dr. Hackman for the revision surgery, & as far as I know, has been quite happy w/ the results.
Thank you! Where is Dr. Hackman located and what is his or her first name?
Thank you so much 
@Kiki67 had her revision surgery with Dr Hackman, so have a read of her story in the post @Isaiah_40_31 has linked!
Dr Hackman is in NC:
Dr. Trevor Hackman, UNC Ear, Nose and Throat Oncology Clinic – in the N.C. Cancer Hospital, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, (984) 974-6484
Here’s a link to the doctors list in case you want to look up any other doctors, although it’s quite hard to find doctors who do revision surgeries:
Doctor Lists – no discussion - Symptoms and Treatments / Doctor Information - Living with Eagle
To be fair to your first surgeon, it may well be that it would’ve been too risky to continue, everyone’s anatomy is slightly different, and sometimes the styloids grow tangled in between the cranial nerves, so his caution might well have been justified.
I hope that you’re able to get treatment again!
Thank you so much everyone!!
I love all of you for your dedication to helping all of us! 
I will keep you updated during my journey.
Thank you!
