neck disection

hello Chris.

Im not familiar with the things that you said.. because i have esthesioneuroblastoma... so its not concerned with lymph nodes (yet)..

Just wanted to wish you luck with whatever this is, and welcome you here.

I am sure some peeps will comment on your post and give you good advice.

Good luck

Goyca.

Goyca said:

check this

check this post titled "Tightness of upper chest area after lymph gland removal" by vermont54  on May 30, 2014 - 12:04 am

 

 maybe it might help you.

 

 

Goyca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep up with physio. It does help. G.

It is numbing and nerve pain is very irritating!  I recall wearing my husband's v-neck t shirts because they did not touch the area.  The sheets bothered me and the seat belt I put under my armpit.  The nerves will regenerate and heal, but it takes a long time.  Mine seemed better at 3 mos and then at 4 months I had good range of motion.  At 6 months, it was almost back to normal.  I have a bit of numbness under my jaw and a very slight but bearable sensation on my chest nerves.  Once the wound healed, I used calendula cream to keep the scar and neck and chest area moist.  I too saw a PT once and got regular massages which helped immensly.  Take heart, you will get better.

Wishing you a quick healing and best of all your biopsy was negative!

PJ

treblechris,

Welcome to the H&N forum, where many of us had some type of neck surgery.  For me it was a jugular vein dissection to remove a pesky (C) lymph node.  Besides my neck  being numb, I made out well and without too much pain.

I am glad you were clean; I hope you do not have cancer.

Matt

So far my PT guy has recommended stretching exercises but it appears there is no magic bullet for this condition. The nerve pill sounds interesting and worth a try.Most folks have said that time takes care of it or most of it. I'm only a month post surgery but no chnage for me at this point. There has to be an answer.

kenzero said:

Modified RND then RapidArc + chemo

Good to read all of your notes, folks. Joined recently but have not yet posted. In the fall of last year I began having a hard time swallowing, talking, etc. First ENT diagnosed thrush. Second ENT did too but only for a short while. First surgery inside my tongue in late January found T1...but excised with barely clean margin. CT scan a few weeks later suggested more trouble. Second surgery on April 1 (2014) included more tongue excision (T2) and a modified radical neck dissection. Two lymph nodes on the same side were SCC (N2). About two weeks ago I started daily radiation (RapidArc - 30 sessions at 2 Gy per) and weekly cisplatin. The chemo isn't causing me much of a problem yet (no nausea! after 2 infusions) except for insomnia and constipation. But after only 8 of the 30 radiation treatments I can already tell this will not be easy. 

No taste now. Mouth hurts all over. Feels like my throat is constricted. Saliva like glue - what there is of it. Always have a jug of water beside me 24/7. Have a solution of salt + bicarb at the ready (made fresh daily!). Tired but still able to do chores. And I've been going to work a few hours each day. (I'm a 62 year old poverty lawyer having worked at the same legal aid charity for the past 34 years. But as it becomes increasingly hard for me to talk, I'll be cutting back to zero soon, I think.)

It's not good to know there are lots of others just like me going through this (...who'd wish it?) but I do appreciate the connection.

Ken

Ken,

Welcome to the H&N forum, so sorry yourself here.

Water and salt and soda are good, but a nice bottle of Magic Mouth Wash goes along ways toward satisfaction.

To get maximum response to your post, you may want to start a new thread, then many more will greet you.

Matt

purifiner1 said:

Neck Dissection

HI My name is Bob, I need to know there is anyone I can talk to about. I am supposed to have a radical Neck Dissection on July 8th. I have serious doubts if I want to do it as the long term side effects sound pretty bad. I also do not have a lot of faith anymore in the system and do not believe that they will cure the cancer. I need to know more about the ongoing pain and drooping shoulder and loss of a lot of use with the arm,.

Last year they took out my tonsil and a bunch of lymp nodes.  Then I did the 7 weeks of maximum dosage radiation. I flew through it. Took 3 weeks off and back at it.I just finished the radiation at the end of Jan. I thought that was it. I was cured. My Oncologist had made me feel confident that the radiation would work as my cancer was isoalted.  Now they say I have 2 more cancer spots in my neck.

P1,

Welcome to the H&N forum, so sorry you need to be here.  It is a bit _ _ that they found 2 more spots, but they caught them early.

While my jugular vein dissection was not too bad, many here can identify with your issues.  To get maximum response, I suggest you start a new thread.  Many folks won’t see you here.

Good luck,

Matt

Hi TChris,

I had a selective neck dissection with the cancerous nodes removed along with 23 additional. The cancerous nodes were aggressive and had wrapped themselves around muscle, nerves and blood vessels making removal rather tricky and invasive. I had and still have the symptoms you describe. PT helps in keeping things loose and gabopentin is helping with the peripheral neuropathy of chemo and nerve damage. Only time will tell as to how your body heals from this. I have total numbness on the left side of my neck and chronic shoulder and neck pain but I'm NED over a year out Physical therapy and meds are the key... 

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"