Update a month after a neck dissection

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Sunshine and showers this week.  Showers in that I tested positive for covid and had to miss my follow up appointment with the surgeon - particularly irritating as I now have to wait until 25 March to see him.  Also difficult spending so much time in my own company - too much time to think.  Sunshine because my husband hasn't caught it and I am asymptomatic - I wouldn't know I had covid if it wasn't for the pesky line by the T. 

I'm still getting shooting pains from my shoulder up through my neck into my head - have other people experienced this?  Not pleasant but the pain killers keep it fairly much under control.  Another sunshine thing is that I am now walking four miles a day (well out of the way of other people!) which is making me feel a lot better - especially as the weather has been pretty good.  I'm less tired and am managing with only a couple of rests a day.  I'm definitely moving in the right direction.

  • Been a beautifully sunny but cold day here in mid west Wales 

    Have you any physio exercises for your neck and shoulder?

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

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  • Yes I'm doing them three times a day - the movement is really good but the pain is random and excruciating when it comes. I was given the exercises when I was in hospital - my first appointment with a physio in person is at the beginning of April.

    The occasional sunny day makes the world of difference doesn't it

    Maddy

  • The occasional sunny day makes the world of difference doesn't it

    It sure does. Xx

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • Sorry to say, but it really is early days and things are still knitting back together.  I do get "cramps" in my neck where they did the dissection.  Never had them before and they can be quite painful, but relatively fleeting.  They are not going to go away.

    Glad you're getting out and about I think that will greatly help. 

    In the end I incorporated my physio exercises into my daily routing.  I just made sure that as I did things I did them in the way the physio would tell me to do them.  That way the exercises did not become a bind and my physio was delighted.  And I think it helped.

    Sounds like you are making good progress overall Smiley

    Peter
    See my profile for more details of my convoluted journey
  • Thanks, Peter.  I've done regular exercises for years so adding a few more in has been no problem - I just hope I'm doing them correctly - it's always good to have some reassurance on that score so I'm pleased to have an appointment ahead with an actual person!  Did you have a very tight, almost rigid, 'cord' in your neck after the dissection?  I have one from behind my ear down to my collar bone.  I have no idea whether this is normal or not - really wanted to ask the surgeon last week but will now have to wait until 25th.

    Maddy

  • Maddy I don't remember anything like that but I know that if I tighten the muscles in my neck then I get a much more pronounced shape to my neck on the side of the dissection.  It is also a much more defined feeling on that side.  Not really into anatomy so it is difficult to describe it accurately, but I would say I have the same if I try to make it so, but in normal circumstances I don't notice it.  Maybe it is just because it's 2 years since my last dissection...

    Peter
    See my profile for more details of my convoluted journey
  • Thanks, Peter.  I'm sure it will gradually sort itself out one way or another.

    Maddy