I have just been diagnosed with carotidynia. Thank goodness I have a very through GP who did tests and found nothing so he sent me to the best ear, nose and throat doctor in our area. He felt my neck and diagnosed me right away. I am to start Advil 3x a day for 3 weeks then come off to see if the pain has gone away. Then if it hasnt I am to go back to him and he will put me on sterioids. I have been on them on and off all my life due to asthma so they are nothing new to me. My doctor tells me I will have flair ups all my life and when I start the feel the pain I need to go on Advil immediately. He is telling me it is auto-immune and there is no known cause for it. I am just trying to get feedback and see if all he is telling me sounds right to you all. I am going to get on and do more research. Thanks for allowing me to post.