Hi, this is a long shot since this post was 6 years ago, but my wife has long suffered with face and throat pain for years and has had a difficult time finding a doctor in Canada that will do the surgery.We live in Victoria, BC. also. Can you give me the name of the Victoria ENT you saw that did the surgery.
Definitely locate a doctor who will do surgery. It completely gave me my life back! My doctor went in from the tonsil point. I have read about surgery from they outside, but mine went inside. It was absolutely amazing. If you check out a site called livingwitheagle.org, they have been creating a list of doctors who have helped them. Find one and go!!!! It will save your life.
I just had the surgery June 2nd. I have elongated styloids on both sides. He did a partial removal on the longest one. I cant understand yet what has happened but all symptoms have gotten worse. Dizzyness, tinnitus and a migraine that has lasted 7 days now. Something is definitely wrong and I called the surgeon and he said he is baffled.
I had styloidectomy surgery in 1994 on the left side, and another in 1998 for the right side. Both were elongated, and the symptoms presented were different in each case. The elongation on the right side was not present at the time of the 1994 surgery; it apparently grew in the following years until facial pain brought me to surgery. Both doctors were in Santa Monica, CA. I am not sure about the first surgeon's availability, and I would not recommend the 2nd surgeon due to bedside manner. However, surgery in both cases relieved the symptoms immediately for at least a decade.
I am looking for yet another in Southern California if you know of one, as I am experiencing pain on the left once again. Anyone have any recommendations? I will also share my experience. Each surgery was not a complete removal but a 'reach in as far as the instrument would go and snap off the end' type of surgery, through the mouth, so at least half of the elongated styloid hyoid complex was remaining after each surgery. there is much we need to share with each other. I am disheartened to hear from this chat room that the medical community knows very little more than they did in the 1990's.
I also get clicking in throat and very frustrated lkke yourself, have you found an answer yet please?
Could you give me the name of the doctor who performed your procedure at UPMC. I am from Pittsburgh and in the process of locating a doctor who is familiar with the condition.