Hello,

My Dad is wondering if there is any type of procedure to loosen the tight neck you get from Neck Dissection. His neck is getting hard as a rock. He does some massaging and stretches. Is there any type of surgery for relief?

Thanks!
LisaB

The post operative tightness lasts for anything up to 6 months to a year ,so i dont think they would do any surgery just yet.
If there is a real problem they can,and i think if you check the boards someone here had it done very recently.Keep oiling the scar and doing the yawning exersises and see how it goes

Just found the thread General chat board Topic -TO ANNE W started by Chelle

Hi Lisa,
My neck too is very tight after neck dissection and following operations. I don't know if it would help your dad but of all the things I've tried, Bio Oil seems to be the best, I rub in a tiny drop morning and night and it does really help flexibility. It claims to reduce scaring too. I think it has done this a little bit for me. Try a couple of pharmacies, if you have a problem sourcing it, I will gladly post a bottle for your dad and he can see if it helps.
SusieR

What can I say,
It's 2 years 8 months since my neck dissection. There is always some tightness and discomfort - always! The severity is much reduced compared to the first year post surgery.
I have been doing exercises in the gym(upper body)which have helped the overall flexibility and strength of the arm/neck. I tend to forget about it much of the time in my normal day to day routine.
I use to get painful spasms in the shoulder when attempting to do activities like badminton - but these have all but gone with the gym work.

The "wooden neck" feeling is with me for life I think. It's small fry in the general scheme of things. The neck dissection was RHS and I am right handed so that arm/shoulder was always going to get a lot of action.
I suppose the recovery may be different for those people whose neck dissection was on the side of the less dominant arm.

cheers Tony K