@Herd_Mentality_101 - Have you considered seeing Dr. Costantino in White Plains, NY? He has helped a number of our members by doing IJV decompression surgery for them. With the symptoms you’re describing, it may not be the styloid causing your compression symptoms but a nerve, scar tissue from your previous styloidectomy, muscle tissue or C1. Dr. C has operated on several of our members who ended up w/ nerve, muscle, scar tissue &/or C1 causing the compression w/o interaction from the styloid. IJV compression can occur in multiple places along the IJV & have multiple causes. It would be worthwhile getting an opinion from him since you’ve been through so much already.
Awesome, thank you! I will definitely follow up with him. I do also have a prominent C2 facet on that side with the styloid remnant. Here is a recent CTA image post-surgery. I occlude when I nod downward so I am thinking it is mostly the styloid. I have also had compression sown near the base of my neck and clavicles. I have had both 1st ribs removed so there have been postural and probable scar tissue in that area as well
@Herd_Mentality_101 - I see what you mean. The styloid was left rather pointed. I still maintain there could be other causes in addition to styloid & you mentioned some good possibilities.
Your C1 vertebra looks to me like you might have Ponticulus Posticus. Has anyone ever mentioned that to you? Here’s are a couple of posts with research paper links about it. The appearance of your C1 may only be due to the angle of the imaging so please don’t take my comment as diagnostic in any way.
You’ve mentioned some hearing restoration after your styloidectomy. Has your hearing continued to be better in your previously deaf ear?
Recovery update: Some observations 12 days after surgery:
I can breath better
The problem with constant watery eyes has reduced…maybe even gone away. I’m not entirely clear yet on light sensitivity.
I just visited a friend who I’d not seen for weeks on Sat June 15th; he pointed out that I am more “animated” and speaking with my hands now. Meaning that before it was his impression that my physical movements were limited and indeed, “robotic” as he described.
Sleep is restful and when I lay my head on a pillow, I no longer feel like I have sharp thorns pushing up into my skull yet I am sleeping more than 8 hours because of the NORCO (Oxycodone-14 days)
I cannot speak yet to the gag reflex return. Caring Medical back in mid 2023 had documented that I had no gag reflex after Dr. Hauser stuck a wooden instrument down my throat.
My ears remain glued per the surgical team. So I’ve not applied any “creams or balms” to reduce scarring. I have however applied ice packs due to pain and swelling randomly. I like to joke that I now feel like a Vulcan from Star Trek.
Recovery Observations to Date:
It was wise to stay at SECU House until the 11th of June. At $54/night and with some dinner meals provided (M-Thurs then Sunday I think), it was highly affordable.
Some of the pain remains in my jaw, and I can feel spikes sometimes in my right TMJ and continue to have soreness on the left TMJ.
I still experience dizziness, fatigue and balance issues.
Facial swelling remains, but has diminished and I no longer resemble a human chipmunk.
I simply cannot tell of any medical complications at all; This is in contrast to others who I’ve spoken with who have had brutal experiences.
Hearing appears to have improved, but I cannot quantify it. Tinnitus remains and I wonder to what degree hearing loss was impacted by being rear ended on 9/11/23 by that 70 ton 18-wheeler, which compounded other TBIs, specifically being rear ended at high speed by the White House on 4/26/2012.
Thank you for this wonderful & concise report, @HappyBear! It’s really great to hear the significant improvements you’re noticing so soon after surgery. I hope the symptoms that haven’t improved will do so as time passes. Being happier will make a big difference in the rate in which you heal so that is an awesome thing to notice as part of your recovery!
Awe thank You!!!
Yes you’re right…Time must pass. And I’m being extra careful to live an extra boring life lol.
Meaning I’m not doing much for 3 weeks per Dr. Hackmans instructions. That includes no physical therapy
Improvement has continued. I did have a 2nd follow up phone conversation with Dr. Hackman on the 19th. Went very well and he answered each prepared question I had.
He did tell me that it would continue to be difficult to sleep on my side because of all the nerves in our ears that are affected because of the surgery. To that, I was given more oxycodone though I don’t like using it because of the constipation factor (personnel preference) but it’s more effective than tylenol for pain. What’s the pain level? It varies…but it’s NOWHERE near the constant level prior to surgery.
To those on the fence about surgery, again I encourage to have courage seek out the counsel of a solid surgeon like Dr. Hackman. Also, I hold to my strong opinion that not working with Dr. Osborne in Los Angeles was the right choice. Yes, traveling to Chapel Hill NC was a bit of a pain and difficult for me, but everything fell into place for me. Keep in mind that I am a 50 year old man with pre-existing medical disabilities, so no spring chicken here.
-Happy Bear
Thank you for the update, @HappyBear. I’ve been thinking about you & was going to check in today if you hadn’t posted so good timing on your part!
I’m glad your pain level has reduced. I took Rx pain meds for about 6 weeks post op but began spreading them out i.e every 8 hrs instead of every 4 during my second week post op, going forward, I cut them in half & only took as needed which often was just at bedtime. I hope you’re able to do the same. I struggled w/ the constipation issue too & used CALM as my fix for that. It’s magnesium citrate powder which can be used at whatever strength you choose. I’m only offering that info in case you’re dissatisfied w/ whatever you’re using.
That’s interesting on your use of CALM to address the constipation issue (which IS certainly an issue). One comment for everyone: in the hospital I was not offered anything for constipation yet nurses kept asking me “have you had a movement” over the nearly 2 day stay (no movement). I strongly suggest you bring your own supply of either CALM of like I did, a jumbo sized Costco Kirkland generic laxative called “Stool Softner” (Compare to the Active Ingredient in Colace®). Stuff works but needs 10 hours.
Isaiah_40_31 – Did you try probiotics?? I’ve taken ProEM TeraGanix Organic Liquid Probiotic…That also helps.
I wasn’t taking probiotics at the time of my styloidectomies but have been for a number of years now. Not sure if they help keep me “regular” or if it’s my diet + fluid intake or both, but all is well in that dept here at the moment.
Having smooth poo is IMPORTANT! Good to know you’re “regular”.
Forgotten update:
Last night I turned my head around in a 360 circle for the first time since surgery. It was the first time in years that I could, and that my neck didn’t sound like a mechanics ratchet with the “click click click” sounds of bone, followed by a skip of the smooth movement with a jerk followed by my neck getting stuck (briefly). Seriously…that’s what I’d been living with. Surgery fixed that!!!
Yes I am feeling better in regards to my healing from the surgery itself. However other issues of life have intervened. For one, I came to understand that I’d suffered mold exposure stemming from a wall AC mini-split system that had not been cleaned in 3 years. Unknown to me, it turned into a mold factory.
Second, I was struck in the left frontal lobe by a coil mounted steel door, at a rest stop off the 60 fwr in Riverside CA, early Friday morning. My side vision has been impacted from past concussions. So now, possible concussion along with neck issues once more. I’m having a neck adjustment tomorrow…Fortunately got in with a provider before the long 4th weekend.
That aside, some pain remains in the ears and I continue to oxycodone as needed.
I’m sorry you’ve got another injury to deal with & that it has set back your ES healing a bit. If you think you have a concussion, please take it easy for a week or so. Seeing the chiropractor tomorrow should help as long as your neck adjustment is passive not high velocity.
I hope you’re able to take care of the mold situation relatively easily. I know from experience how irritating that stuff is to the lungs & how it can affect health in general.
Thank you Jules. It has been a rough patch. FORTUNATELY I’d already begun hyperbearics 2 weeks before (was already scheduled…two 1.5 hour done this week) as well as being seen by my osteopath who adjusted my head/face/neck and verified they were all crooked. It helps to have a happy relationship with the doctors who are worthy of respect
And Isaiah_40_31, apologies for the delayed response. You bet I’ve taken things easy…had to! But I have been as aggressive as possible with mold killer solutions I already had in my house. The bummer is that LA is in the grips of a heatwave and I’ve no AC. Tomorrow an AC company arrives to install a new mini-split system Should make life a bit more bearable!
