HELP NEEDED EAGLE SYNDROME

[scpearl]

After two years of not knowing what I had, I have just been recently diagnosed with The Eagle Syndrome.  It took me two years to have it discovered, I do not want it to take another two years before I can get some help.  I called the Medical University of SC, and no ENT there has ever dealt with someone with the Eagle Syndrome before.  It was the same for Duke Medical University.  If these big Medical Universities have never dealt with the Eagle Syndrome who has?  Can anyone help me find someone knowledgeable enough about it to help?

Thanks,

SCPearl

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I understand your predicament.  I believe that even if the centers you've consulted have no definitive experience with your condition, it does not necessarily mean that they can do nothing about it.  I suggest that you discuss with them regarding holding a multidisciplinary conference (where a lot of doctors convene o discuss a case) and present your case so that the inputs of all the doctors can be heard and hopefully come up with a solution.  Who knows maybe someone in the panel may actually have the experience in dealing with your condition.  As they say, 2 heads are better than 1, more so 40 or 50 heads.  I hope a solution can be found soon.  Regards and God bless.

[Dr_shreekant]

Eagle Syndrome is a disorder caused by irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve by the styloid process (never mind the medical jargon!!). It can be remedied by a neurologist by drugs used to treat other neuralgias. The role of the ENT surgeon is for resistant pain, whereby a surgery called 'styloidectomy' is done. Also, the commonly used medical term for Eagle syndrome is 'Glossopharyngeal neuralgia'. Try approaching the ENT surgeon again with this term.