I have been dealing with pain and globus sensation since I was about 15. Over the years the pain has increased, specifically after I had a tonsillectomy in 2015.
Well after years and years of just dealing with it, I had some “episodes” of super sharp pain, numbness and tingling. I finally had enough and wanted answers. I had CT scans that confirmed my styloid process on both sides is elongated, although only the left side was causing pain.
I had surgery to remove my styloid process in May 2024 by Dr. Marion Gillespie. He did a fantastic job and for awhile, I thought all my symptoms were resolved. Cut to October of 2024 and the pain is back, with facial pain, ear pain and ringing, and clicking in my throat. After going back to Gillespie for some more answers, we tried an injection of anesthetic + steroids to the hyoid bone area and within hours, most of my symptoms resolved.
This confirmed that rather than Eagle’s (which I might have also had but the first surgery resolved) I also have hyoid syndrome. I have surgery today (!!!) and I’m VERY nervous about the recovery, as the hyoid bone is very involved with swallowing. Also, I get really nervous with any surgery and the risks of anesthesia.
I’m also just so happy to have this resolved and hopefully wake up pain free. I’d love to hear if anyone has a similar story or successful hyoid surgeries after the styloidectomy.
Welcome & I definitely wish you well @emmy ! I hope that the surgery helps these new symptoms, & hopefully others who have had hyoid surgery will give you info, @F_t , @a_catindisguise , @notyouravg !
Praying for a good result
@emmy - I’m so glad you’ve got a diagnosis for your current symptoms. I do need to warn you that you won’t wake up from surgery pain free. Just as with ES surgery, hyoid bone surgery can take time for the affected nerves to recover. I just don’t want you to get discouraged early in recovery thinking your surgery didn’t help resolve your symptoms.
Hi emmy, wishing you all the very best for your hyoid surgery! Glad the styloidectomy went well, even if it sounds like that wasnt the root of the whole problem. When you’re up to it, I’d love to hear exactly what was wrong with your hyoid and what the operation on it was doing - and if you can post any scan images showing the problem. I suspect I have a hyoid horn issue intermittently impacting on vessels including the carotid artery in the neck where I also sometimes get a sudden stabbing pain. Main symptom is very constricted throat/neck feeling & breathlessness.
Anyway, ignore me - just get better! GOOD LUCK!
@Isaiah_40_31 thank you so much for the thoughts!! Yes, I definitely did not wake up pain free. I am now 5 days post-op and still in a bit of pain, but it is seeming like I am finally on the road to recovery from these symptoms.
I think I actually had a combination of eagle’s syndrome and hyoid syndrome.
When my surgeon initially went in to remove my left styloid process, he discovered it had actually fractured off and was detached. Very scary, and I am very grateful it did not damage nearby arteries or vessels. This also explains why sometimes my pain was dull/achy, and other times it was sharp, stabbing, and made me feel dizzy.
However, months later I still had pain and intense globus sensation (it felt like a pencil was poking the back of my throat). I actually could physically use my finger to reach back feel a hard, pointy bone deep in my throat near the base of my tongue. This bone poking would radiate pain throughout my face, my jaw, sometimes I would have ringing in my ears.
It seems like hyoid syndrome was actually my main source of pain, but that the styloid also contributed to “deeper” pain. My CT didn’t show anything for my hyoid, but diagnosis was confirmed after I got an anesthetic + steroid injection in the hyoid area which finally gave me relief for the first time in years. Although, the pain only subsided for a couple of days.
My surgeon cut off the greater horn of my hyoid bone and “released” the ligaments that were attached to it. I was brave enough to feel back near my tongue and (yay!!!) no bone poking!!
Still a long road of recovery, but feeling very optimistic.
Lots of ice for sure. The other minor complication is that my marginal mandible nerve has been injured. When my surgeon came out to talk with my husband, the first thing he said was that he had to move my facial nerve out of the way to get full visibility and that I would possibly have some lip and tongue nerve issues for awhile.
We do not yet know to what degree, but my left lower lip / chin is paralyzed. I have quite a funny asymmetric smile at the moment. My surgeon thinks that this will resolve over time. I am anxious to see what he thinks with my one week follow up!!
I am giving it time for the inflammation to go down and not freaking out yet, but it is quite unnerving (pun intended) that half my mouth is unable to move how it is supposed to. I’m trying to remain positive and remember that my pain will probably be gone, and this silly smile is most likely temporary!!
@emmy - We’ve had many members who’ve ended up w/ a post op lip droop, & for almost all of them, it went away completely but can take up to 6 months & sometimes more. Nerve healing takes patience for sure!
My glossopharyngeal nerve had to be moved during one of my ES surgeries & half my tongue was paralyzed & took nearly 9 months to “wake up” again, but at least it did!! I’ve added Dr. Gillespie to our Doctors List.
I’m so glad your surgery went well & you’re feeling better.
Do you know of any treatment or medicines like steroids that can help with the inflammation and nerve healing?
I’m already having a lot of difficulty eating normally and brushing my teeth. This is not a risk or complication that I was briefed about. I’m trying to stay positive. Hopefully it will wake back up soon.
@emmy - 9 mos is on the more extreme end but it may take several months for you to begin seeing significant improvement. I don’t know if steroids help an injured nerve heal, but getting a 10-14 day course of steroids would certainly help reduce your post op swelling & could reduce other symptoms you have. It’s definitely worth contacting your surgeon to request that. I recommend dexamethasone as opposed to prednisone because dex has less side effects but is just as effective as an anti-inflammatory.
B group vitamins are supposed to help with nerve healing, best to check if they’re okay with any other meds you’re on…as @Isaiah_40_31 says, paralysis of the facial nerve is quite common after surgery , if you search for droopy lip it’ll probably come up with quite a few mentions…some members suggest (once your incision has healed) doing massage gently, & using a feather for example to wake up the nerve, @Isaiah_40_31 also posted this link for exercises to do once healed: Day 11 Post-op Left sided stylohyoid ligament surgery - Photos - General - Living with Eagle
Eating normally & difficulty brushing teeth is common too after surgery, often because you can’t open your mouth wide, mine was like that post surgery for about 10 days.
Take care
17 day post op update: I am still experiencing a lot of pain and popping when I swallow. I also am feeling pain in my right side for the first time. My lymph nodes and neck are still incredibly swollen. My lip palsy has not improved at all and it’s driving me insane. Overall I am feeling very depressed because my pain is still here and now I have a disfigured face. Any advice or words of encouragement would be so appreciated, as no one in my life understands the pain.
@emmy - I’m sorry you’re struggling. Have you asked your surgeon for a prescription for a tapering dose of a steroid such as dexamethasone or prednisone? That could be a game changer for you. Usually the tapering dose is given for 10-14 days. You’d start with a high dose & gradually wean to a low dose then be done. Dexamethasone has far less side effects than prednisone but both work equally as well. Steroids are powerful anti-inflammatories.
Continuing to ice your neck several times during the day & sleeping with extreme head elevation (30°) should also help.
You’re very truly still in extremely early recovery from ES surgery. It will be 6-8 weeks before you will notice substantial improvement. & more months beyond that for your nerves to recover completely. Recovery from ES surgery is by baby steps.
My heart is sad to know your family isn’t being supportive. This is a time when they need to be doing things for you & taking care of you so you can recover & not be stressed. You’re recovering from major surgery. Maybe you could get them to read some of the posts on this forum so they can see what you’re going through is what others deal with too.
I will pray for you to have better support at home & for your pain to settle & healing to be more obvious.
I’m sorry too that you’re having a rough time recovering; as you’re still swollen as @Isaiah_40_31 says keep icing, sleeping propped up & maybe try asking for steroids…some members have done massage for lymphatic drainage when swelling’s a problem, so maybe have a look at this: Scar /wound healing tips please - General - Living with Eagle How to do Lymphatic Self-Massage on Your Face, Head and Neck
The lip palsy does take time to recover, I’m sure it’s really frustrating but hang in there…my aunt had surgery for her Trigeminal Nerve Neuralgia, so the nerves in her face were damaged, she struggled to eat & had an eye affected too, it was a big shock as she hadn’t been expecting it & was very down after her surgery but it all healed within a few months- very difficult time but keep strong
