Neck dissection

Hi Miclee. Best wishes for the op. For my stand alone neck dissection I was only in hospital about 2 days and was discharged as soon as the drain was removed from my neck. It was quite an easy op compared to my other ones. I do have altered sensation where the scar is from the bottom of my ear lobe down to my collar bone. For a few weeks I could not raise my arm on that side above my head but that came good by itself. Something to do with the accessory nerve being bruised. My neck was tender for a while and I used to pad my seatbelt with sheepskin to help. Some people have reported having to go to the physio to help with the arm raising issue. 

Lyn

Thank you for replying, I'm pleased you recovered well and you movement has returned. I really don't know what to expect, they have mentioned the arm and maybe mouth movement potential issues. I haven't seen the surgeon or team and won't be until the day of the Op. They did mention on the phone that my radiotherapy will have affected this area and they won't really know until they go in. 

Thanks again. 

Michaela X 

My dad who is almost 80 had a delivery gland tumour taken out plus a full kneck dissection at the same time and he was only in hospital a week and although sore he made a good recovery...at Leeds General hospital too...brilliant treatment and surgeon.

I had a left sided neck dissection at the same time as TORS for tonsil cancer. Nothing painful about it. I had the drain out a few hours after the op. No problems with arm or shoulder movement. A little stiffness in my neck moving my head to the opposite side but nothing major. I was given some neck and shoulder exercises to do for a couple of years as the neck can stiffen up over time. They only take a few minutes to do and I do them daily. Massaging the scar daily also helps. You should get given a leaflet on neck exercises and how to do the scar massage. If you don't get one just Google 'post neck dissection neck exercises and scar massage' and you'll see NHS leaflets on it. I don't have any post surgery problems and the scar healed quickly and is barely visible. 

Thank you from sharing your experience. I saw the surgeon yesterday Mr Prasai, very pleasant guy, he really helped me feel a bit less anxious. Made it sound like a walk in the park. I'm glad you're dad has made a good recovery

Michaela

Thank you for this information, that's very helpful. I will certainly look up the post care. It's encouraging to know how quickly your drain came out,Mr Prasai said when that comes out i can go home

Thank you for replying 

Michaela

Dad' had a drain in too and it was out in less than a week.

Surgeon was MR Jackson ,Leeds General...brilliant...plus all the nurses,and other folks dad was in contact with, even the Costa coffee shop was great because a young lad working there noticed me and my mum was there every day for a week and he enquired every day how Dad was doing.