My husband had a bilateral neck dissection (after being treated w/ chemo & radiation for base of tongue sqaumous cell carcinoma)a couple weeks ago. His major problems now are: a lot of severe tightness in the neck (feels like a "choke collar"), pins and needles feeling in the chest, back of head, ears & pain in these areas along with the shoulders. He has much trouble sleeping in bed, spends half the night sitting up in a chair to releive symptoms. Pain meds help somewhat, but not enough. He will be starting physical therapy in a few days.

Can anyone relate to these symptoms? Any good or bad experiences with physical therapy to help w/ range of motion?

Thanks for any help,

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Hi

Tell your husband I know what he is going thru.
It is quite common to have a stangling feeling around the neck after a neck, pins and needles after a neck dissection, R/T and chemo.

I am 3 months post treatment and it still tight as hell, physical therapy helps, but time seems to be the great healer.

If you check the posting by LisaB, you'll see it is quite common.

All the best to you and your husband.

Regards

Tony

quote:

Reply

I had surgery back in Sept 2006, no radiation this time but radiation the first time I had cancer. I had alot of neck pain, shoulder pain and discomfort sleeping for about 3 months. I had physical therapy 3 times a week and my husband massaged my neck everyday. I know that sounds difficult, but the repeated massage keeps the tissue softer and more pliable. While 10 months later I still have a stiff neck and always feel as if I am wearing a brace around my neck, the pain is tolerable without medication or just some ibuprofen.
Best of Luck and God be with you!

Hi, my Dad had bilateral ND March 13, 2007. So it's been about 4 months now. Apr-June 2006 he had chemo/rad for SCC base of tongue and nodes.

What you describe seems to be common. We found that the doctors didn't tell us much of anything. So all this is very scary. Thru reading here (and after asking.....the dr's tell us) that the stretching excersises and massaging the scar are very important. Get the 'ok' from the surgeon and then start working it!

My Dad's neck is getting tighter; it concerns him and is very uncomfortable. Most people I talk to only had one side done and they get the tight feeling of being choked; so we can only imagine bilateral. My Dad says it feels like someone has a rope around his neck pulling from both sides.

Does he have much swelling? We are having a lymphatic drainage massage done soon. (Make sure you get this done by someone trained to do MLD). This should help the lymph fluid drain better and keep down the swelling.

As for losening the scar; we are massaging in circular motions (the dr showed us that) with some cream or lotion.

My Dad is very concerned because, although his recent scope shows that things are looking better; his neck is getting tighter.

In the first 3 monts post op; he made a few trips to the emerg (he felt choked and like he couldn't breath good). They gave him IV steriod and a 2 week supply of steriod to keep down the swelling and help the breathing. So we keep prednisone (steriods) on hand. I took about 3 months for the swelling to settle; now it's up and down a bit.

He sleeps propted up and gets up often in the night. He coughs a lot when he lays down. His eating is improving. He has good days and not so good ones too. He's out and about and even drivng a bit now (not far).

He can't move his arms up very high; from the side. He can move them forward to about shoulder hight. He had physio come to the house; all she did was show him what to do. So he does them often thru out the day; a few mintutes each time. I sure hope that is how to do them; no one really said.

Yes the dr's keeping telling us it takes time. That gets frustrating for him!

Maybe others who are further along can add something.
Take care,
LisaB

Nothing to do with cancer but: our 17 year old son had an accident in March where he fell onto some glass. It sliced his face in two from his forehead, through his top eyelid, bottom eyelid and through his cheek. He had emergency surgery to try and save his eye (which thankfully was successful). The surgeons admitted that they didn't know where to begin when they first saw him. Anyway they did a fantastic job stitching him up but since then the scars on his eyelids have tightened to such an extent that he could no longer close his eye (even when asleep). I bought some Bio Oil and have been rubbing it into his scars 2-3 times a day and now the scars have loosened so much he can now nearly completely close his eye. He has an appointment in August with the Plastic Surgeon so I will be interested to see what he thinks. It might be worth considering it for your Dad's scar.

Link: Bio-Oil website

from website:

quote:

Bio-Oil® is a specialist skincare product that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Its
advanced formulation, which contains the breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil™, also makes it highly effective for numerous other skin concerns, including aging skin and dehydrated skin. PurCellin Oil™ is a laboratory recreation of the preen gland oil of ducks

Bio-Oil helps improve the appearance of all scar types. Bio-Oil is also highly effective in helping to maintain the elasticity of scar tissue on joints and other high-mobility areas. Younger scars have a greater chance of improvement within a shorter time period, however scars that are older will also benefit from the regular use of Bio-Oil. On new scars, Bio-Oil should be applied only once the wound has healed and should never be used on broken skin.

Link: Bio-Oil availability (click on the map to see where you can get it)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Another poster (SusieR) also told us about Bio Oil. We just ordered some online; they don't sell it here in Canada yet. (Lorraine I hope your son heals well).

Angel18; I also meant to say, my Dad's ears have a burning sensation; so it sounds like this is all normal for this type of procedure. The dr told us that as things heal they get tight and he'll feel little shock sensations.

It's extremely and scary we sure know what you are going through.

Thanks,
LisaB

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LisaB Canada,

Hi guys, I am 6 years down the line and still suffer from numbness and painin my neck specially when the weathers cold or muggy.
I often get the feelingmy meck is being stretched and I am walking roung like a Giraffe
I just read Dr J posting and I am going toget the Bio oil tomorrow my meck looks ike a grid map thats been crumpled up

Paul

Im gonna try it to though my scars are 9 years old but quite tight oround my neck and cheek

Thanks
Dave and Sue

Hi Guys,
Great that everyone is getting into the Bio Oil.
It really has helped me. At the begining of the year I could hardly turn my neck to the right side, now I can nearly get my chim in line with my shoulder. It also does take away the angry, bumpy look from the scar tissue. It doesn't work overnight but anyone who tries it should persivere. It really does work in time.
SusieR