Bilateral Neck Dissection

Google is not the best place to seek advice...not reliable and can be misleading.

I did not have have surgery for head and neck cancer,  I had Chemoradiotherapy nearly 3 years ago which caused under chin lymphoedema... it was managed by massage...still do this every morning. 

Hi Elizabeth. It’s a bit daunting isn’t it. I can’t help with the dissections but there are members here who have and will likely pop on when they have time. I guess it depends on how many levels if nodes you had removed, ie the extent of the surgery. Two weeks is really early. All the effects you mention are common to an extent and things need time to settle and repair. So don’t worry that it will never get better. 

Hi Elizabeth. I have had neck dissections over time to both sides of my neck. I did not get lymphoedema but did get the numbness you describe. This did improve over time although never completely went away. I was able to smile and move my lower lip  although it still continues to have altered sensation. Maybe once the swelling subsides the lip movement will improve. For a short time I did have reduced range of movement in my shoulder due to bruising of the nerve but it did come good by itself. The scars on my neck were very sensitive for quite a while but did improve over time although at times still tend to be a bit sensitive and something I have got used to. It is 13 years since my first neck dissection and 8 years since my second one. 

The massage for the lymphoedema may make quite a difference.

Best wishes

Llyn

Hi Elizabeth, I can reiterate all that Sophie 66 has replied to you.  It took quite a few months to get full action in my arm, too soon at two weeks to start massage on your neck, I was told to leave for six weeks as still too tender. I am left with a very different feeling around my neck, lip and ear area - but not painful. Try not to stress, it really is very early days.  All best wishes.

June

Hi.  Like Lyn and June have said it does take time to recovery from the surgery.  I had 2 dissections both on my RHS.  After about 18 months I suddenly realised that I could do the things I found impossible after the surgery.  Recovery is gradual after the first few weeks.  Try to get some physio from your GP.  I found that really helped.  As to the lymphoedema I did not suffer post surgery but RT did cause it.  In my profile there is a link to some recommended massage techniques you could try, but if your neck is still swollen from the surgery I would be asking for advice first before starting.

Thank you - I think I’ve read that some people get lots of swelling, some lots of numbness, some damage to lip and shoulder . So to get all of these on top of the ongoing problems eating post maxillctomy is a lot, especially as the surgeon said most of them were unlikely…. ️️️ will try to stay hopeful 

Hi Elizabeth

I had neck dissection to  my right side. I also suffered with lymphodema but massage did help but you are still  early days after surgery. I don't think we give ourselves enough credit for what we've actually had done. I had pain after able my ear for about 4 weeks. I still have a numb patch under my chin  but the scar heals very quickly , I used aveeno on mine , you can hardly see it now ( I'm a year post surgery.

You can watch videos on YouTube on how to massage or speak to you cns who will advise you. 

Things do get better. X

Good evening Elizabeth35 , I agree with Sophie66 ( Lyn) as i was very similar in my recovery, as Dani mentioned two weeks is still very early in your recovery, i would say 3 months is the first big period of recovery, where you should start to see a lot of improvement, and then by 6 months, things should have started to settle down. I should think after a year, life should be getting back to some sort of normality, but we all recover at different rates with different side effects. Wishing you all the best in your continued recovery. Take care. 

                                                                                                     Chris x

Hi Elizabeth. I too had a maxillectomy in fact I have had 2 so understand the issues you have around eating. It is a challenge. How long since you had the maxillectomy? Things do improve and I have learned new ways of managing the eating issues. I can only eat puree now but have come up with a range of recipes that work quite well for me. Sadly no more roasts, pizza, sandwiches, bacon and eggs. However I now eat a much healthier diet than I did previously so good things can still come out of a tough situation. 

Lyn 

The first was done about seven weeks ago but they went around removing more bone while they did the bilateral dissection … did you not have to have any neck involvement ? I was really hoping not to ave the neck dissection as I’d read so much about lymph and numbness . Now dreading the radiotherapy if that is what they will advise next ️️️