Hey guys (:
Still working on the recovery. Shoulders are starting to feel better, been noticing weird left rib pain, and hip pain. Also the random snapping of my c1-c2 on left side is sadly still here… It really sucks. Starting school on Monday, and will continue to post updates. Here is the photo, stitches were removed today. Surgery was 8/10/22 (my birthday🤣)
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Thank you for sharing . Im awaiting surgery and been alittle unease .Hearing your successful story and others help me . Your incision looks great . Happy healing and praying for full recovery
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That looks like it’s healing really well, good your shoulders are feeling a bit better. Hope that the other symptoms improve too…take it as easy as you can when you go back, & hope you can have a belated birthday celebration! 
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Perhaps w/ some more healing time, the C-1-2 situation will change. You still have a lot of internal swelling going on which is likely affecting the small, supporting neck muscles near them. Muscles may relax & snapping grow less intense or go away completely in a few months. That will be my prayer for you!
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Thanks for sharing…
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Thank you for sharing and Happy Belated Birthday… what a Gift to receive LoL
I had my first Appointment last Tuesday with an ENT/Otolaryngologist who Confirmed my Diagnosis, who offered Intraoral although he isnt knowledged with ES and my Left Styloid is actually Calcified to my Hyoid and my Right Styloid is possibly down to my Jaw…
Today was my first Appointment with my preferred Specialist with hopes of Scheduling my Surgery but, unfortunately he recommends that I see a Neurologist before he proceeds due to an Attack 4 Months ago (which I feel is what caused my Symptoms) because he is afraid there is more going on Neurologically rather than just ES 
but he said I should expect Surgery Mid to Late September… he also only wants to remove 1 side and save me from having a Scar on both sides?
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@MamaBear6 - Most surgeons will only remove one side at a time. Your situation is grave enough that having both removed may eventually be necessary though we do have members who have no problem w/ the second elongated styloid once the first is removed. The fact the remaining one may be connected to your jaw doesn’t bode well for not needing it removed. @hyperichard, who started this thread, just had his second ES surgery, & his styloid was found to be attached to his jaw. That’s to say, it’s uncommon but can happen depending on the angle the styloid is growing.
The scar becomes a non-issue when the ES symptoms are bad enough, plus most surgeons make the incision(s) in neck creases so once healed, the scar(s) blend into the creases & are basically invisible. Not doing a second surgery because of the possibility of a second scar is a really lame excuse on a doctor’s part.
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Thats what I was thinking… Im not worried about Scars… just MAKE ME BETTER!! Im not here for Vanity Sir, Im here for Sanity LoL
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@hyperichard I see youre from Florida… who did your Surgery, if you dont mind me asking?
I love that comment MamaBear! Quite right, I think most of us would agree with that 
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Dr Hepworth in Colorado did my surgery. I highly recommend him, he is very good.
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Ive heard nothing but good about him but I truly dont think I can wait that long for him 
nor can I afford the Travel expenses at the time… this all has hit me suddenly and has taken me down quickly unfortunately… I see everyones stories where they have suffered for years upon years and my hearts aches for them, as there is absolutely no way I could endure this for years-Im working my way into my 5th Month and my Quality of Life depletes more and more daily… after seeing my Specialist on Wednesday, hes wanting me to see Neurologist before Scheduling my Surgery to see if I have a TBI… although I feel its Vascular Compression or even my Vagus Nerve, they fear it may be more serious and my heart aches but I understand their concerns…
@MamaBear6 - I’m so sorry your symptoms are progressing so fast!! Very challenging for you especially w/ kiddos to care for.
If you do have vascular ES, Dr. Hackman is also a good surgeon to see & he isn’t booked out as far as Dr. Hepworth. Both require in person first consults though which means traveling twice - once for the consult & once for the surgery. Dr. Hackman will do bilateral surgery so it all gets done in one fell swoop. Dr. Hepworth will not.
I feel for you, @MamaBear6, sending you a hug 
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You are only nine days out. Hard to tell anything that soon. I’m nearly two months out. And watching things gradually normalize. Don’t judge anything yet!
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No huge changes yet, still working through the symptoms on day 9. But I’m truly shocked how fast the scar heals. Here’s a day 9 pic.
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It will likely be a couple of months before you notice any really solid changes. Being patient & optimistic are the two best things you can do besides not pushing yourself physically for awhile.
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I will try my best. I start senior year of college on Monday as an acting major so still gotta move quite a bit.
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Wow, that has healed quickly! But there’s still be internal stuff to heal, hope you can avoid anything too strenuous!
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Three weeks later and the scar is basically gone lol… my brain fog has continued to get better, but I do feel that my instability has gotten worse and as of now my pain is worse. But I am trusting the process and hanging on. I also think because I’ve had to walk so much and do movement classes for acting it’s made my neck recovery a bit harder.
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