Muscle Spasms in Neck: Can anyone relate?

Mhowe

neck pain

I had a radical neck dissection in 1987, at the age of 38 yrs of age. thanks to smoking. I had burning in my back, neck is always tights, and muscle spams. In 2003 they did a radical neck dissection on the other side. due to 6000 rad of radiation. More muscle spams. tight neck, dry mouth, not fun. But I am still on the right side of the dirt.

You need to find a pain dr who will give you shots in the back on the tirgger points, that are causeing the problems. This realy helped me. over the years my shoulders are moving forward and that is a other problem. Then over the years of my body being out of alinement, I how have headacks in eyes, and whiteouts, at times. also what helps is going to a chiropactic

Smiley_Guy

Cramps in Neck / Jaw

I went through H&N C&R about 2 years ago.  I did not have any surgury as the toungue cancer was caught early via a Scan for a previous cancer.  For the first year I experienced the tingling / electric charge running down the spine when I looked down quickly.  It has now gone away.  I still get painful cramps at times when I yawn, on the side that was treated.  So far the Dr.s have said it should get better but I haven't seen much change in the last year.

Smiley_Guy

Mhowe said:

neck pain

I had a radical neck dissection in 1987, at the age of 38 yrs of age. thanks to smoking. I had burning in my back, neck is always tights, and muscle spams. In 2003 they did a radical neck dissection on the other side. due to 6000 rad of radiation. More muscle spams. tight neck, dry mouth, not fun. But I am still on the right side of the dirt.

You need to find a pain dr who will give you shots in the back on the tirgger points, that are causeing the problems. This realy helped me. over the years my shoulders are moving forward and that is a other problem. Then over the years of my body being out of alinement, I how have headacks in eyes, and whiteouts, at times. also what helps is going to a chiropactic

Dry Mouth relief

I can recommend using Xyliments.  These little tabs are Xylol and disolve slowly, helping to produce saliva.  I put one on each side at night (the worst is waking up with my tongue dried out) to keep my mouth moist.  It gets better with time.

jackflash22

Neck dissection

I get several sensations in my neck, they aren't so bad that they bother me...now. At first I was aware all the time that my neck felt wooden, was stiff more in the mornings and a sensation of pins and needles all the time, like the after effects of being stung by a stinging nettle. I must have gotten used to them now. They are there all the time but it's like normal. Same with my mouth it's gets very dry at times where my lip stick to my teeth and my tongue to the roof of my mouth and I have difficulty in talking but again I think it normal and just have a squirt of dry mouth spray or at night dry mouth gel. It's amazing how the body accepts these things as a normal part of your day and you hardly notice them. My hearing got bad so I got hearing aids they're are great but if I forget to put them in my world goes quiet. My thyroid got damaged but taking levy thyroxine my energy levels are normal. So many things happened with the surgery and radiotherapy that over two years all these things have become 'normal' and most of the time don't register. This is the way the body is, it accepts these problems and they become the 'normal' part of you. I don't get any unbearable pains just discomfort. I have been through some painful times with a bowel tumour but once it was removed all my problems are little ones to remind me of what I've been through and come out the other side. It takes time to get to this stage of acceptance but it becomes ' normal' as time passes.

elglide

Thanks for these posts

I had throat radiation 36 visits 4 years ago for HPV and have had daily bouts of neck cramps (front both sides but mianly the left). My primary doctor said it was possibly a blocked Carotid artery, the Ent said I was dehydrated so hearing from you all that it is a side effect is sure a relief. I will try the exercizes. I had bladder cancer at the same time no relationship and did chemo for that, it was a real lowpoint for me but I am doing great now so for those of you who are dealing with this stuff hang in there and prayer definitely works!

tommyodavey

Kimba1505 said:

Thank you all...
I have not been on the boards for a while and popped on to check out another cancer (friend diagnosed) and thought I would see what is shakin' on head and neck. Glad I did. Mark has an appointment with H&N doc soon and I am going to copy this most recent info from Hal61 and Greend. Mark is doing fantastic, but the spasms, dry mouth, and "herky jerky" (involuntary head jerks) are really his only complaints. But he feels the herky jerky is getting worse. Love all of you guys!!! Mike (Luvulacrosse)love the new pic!!
Kim

Same as the Others

I was going to post almost the same question as yours so this is all good feedback.  Mine is not half as bad as Mark's is.  What happens with me is when I turn my head to look at something or just out of the blue my neck muscles will tighten up like a spasm.  It's really embarrasing when talking to someone because I swear they can see the tendons popping out full blast.  I had my surgery back in December of '11 and this is now happening.

 

Mine was a right neck dissection so mostly it happens on my left.  That's the side with all the tendons, nerves, cartlidge, etc. left intact.  My right side also tightens up but not as bad because I'm missing so much muscle in there.

 

This week I saw my head and neck surgeon and asked him what was going on.  He said it is due to the radiation I had.  There ya go, the gift that keeps on giving.  What is causing your Mark's problem may or may not be the same.  It doesn't hurt to ask.  I was offered nothing to treat it.  No physical therapy, drugs, nothing.  He said it will just come and go once in awhile and I'll just need to deal with it.

 

Sorry I can't offer any decent solutions to his problem.  I was thinking maybe a muscle relaxer would help but didn't ask.  See what your doctor has to say and if he has any suggestions for him.

 

None of us get out of it scott free.

 

Tom

Kent Cass

jackflash22 said:

Neck dissection

I get several sensations in my neck, they aren't so bad that they bother me...now. At first I was aware all the time that my neck felt wooden, was stiff more in the mornings and a sensation of pins and needles all the time, like the after effects of being stung by a stinging nettle. I must have gotten used to them now. They are there all the time but it's like normal. Same with my mouth it's gets very dry at times where my lip stick to my teeth and my tongue to the roof of my mouth and I have difficulty in talking but again I think it normal and just have a squirt of dry mouth spray or at night dry mouth gel. It's amazing how the body accepts these things as a normal part of your day and you hardly notice them. My hearing got bad so I got hearing aids they're are great but if I forget to put them in my world goes quiet. My thyroid got damaged but taking levy thyroxine my energy levels are normal. So many things happened with the surgery and radiotherapy that over two years all these things have become 'normal' and most of the time don't register. This is the way the body is, it accepts these problems and they become the 'normal' part of you. I don't get any unbearable pains just discomfort. I have been through some painful times with a bowel tumour but once it was removed all my problems are little ones to remind me of what I've been through and come out the other side. It takes time to get to this stage of acceptance but it becomes ' normal' as time passes.

 

 

Mickg01

Just went through this thread

It's about 6 years now since I had 34 Radiation treatments for Cancer of the Vocal chords.
Good to relate that all is well since and My ENT doc has cut me loose but every day I do get cramping in the neck. Both sides.

It seems to trigger when I'm looking down, reading or such. The all my friends and colleages think I have gone mad stretching my head up and wildly massaging my neck. It really does feel akin to leg cramps in the middle of the night.

I suspect it's a case of "be glad you're here to experience it and able to talk about it!"

Reading here that I'm not alone is in some way comforting while knowing others are having to go through the same experience is disappointing.

Mick

Deztai

1990 and continuing

Im a bit late for most on this thread, but I saw Mick had posted yesterday. In 1990 I had 4 surgeries for thyroid cancer- 4 total over 1 month. The final surgery was a bilateral radical neck dissection. Approx 8 months after surgeries it was realized that the spasms and pain in my neck were not going to go away so my doc sent me to physical therapy. Sadly, this has been a constant on-going battle since that time. In addition to the bilateral surgery Plus the 3 others for the cancer in that area, I also have a birth defect in my cervical spine 2 vertebra are fused together from birth so combined its a mess in that area. The neck spasms continue to this day, my pain mgmt doc labeled it as a spasmodic torticollis. Like Mick above, looking down aggravates it as well as alot of other things. My muscles are in constant rock hard spasm with knots all through to my shoulders. I am unable to lift my left arm very high and the shoulder on that side has drooped and positioned forward.

I was trying to research if any type of surgery could be done to put muscles in from elsewhere and came across this thread. My problem at this time is between the missing muscles from surgery and the birth defect my cervical spine is collapsing. The surgeons tell me I need to have a 4 level cervical fusion which is never done. So I have to wait until I am almost paralyzed from the spinal stenosis & nerve compressions before they will attempt it.... with missing muscles, the ones left spasming so badly and the birth defect its all a domino affect causing the spine to crumble.

One thing that does help somewhat is an electrical nerve stimulator- tens unit. For anyone going through this I would suggest asking doctor to prescribe one. It has 4 pads you place and adjust the current to your comfort and it does give some temporary relief. As posted above, when muscles are removed it leaves the remaining ones to do the extra work. All muscles have a partner muscle-1 expands and 1 contracts. removal in the disecction removed a partner muscle in some areas so the remaining one works to hard. prayers to all that you may find relief....

Constant_Pain96

Mhowe said:

neck pain

I had a radical neck dissection in 1987, at the age of 38 yrs of age. thanks to smoking. I had burning in my back, neck is always tights, and muscle spams. In 2003 they did a radical neck dissection on the other side. due to 6000 rad of radiation. More muscle spams. tight neck, dry mouth, not fun. But I am still on the right side of the dirt.

You need to find a pain dr who will give you shots in the back on the tirgger points, that are causeing the problems. This realy helped me. over the years my shoulders are moving forward and that is a other problem. Then over the years of my body being out of alinement, I how have headacks in eyes, and whiteouts, at times. also what helps is going to a chiropactic

Shoulders drooping

Yes, on top of constant pain, my affected shoulder dropped an inch, then another. I have to alter all my clothes.  Despite yoga, massage and everything else, my upper back is deformed (doc's words) & is affecting muscles in my lower back ribs too.

So my pain is from trapezius to rhomboids, with multiple trigger points in upper back

Constant_Pain96

Deztai said:

1990 and continuing

Im a bit late for most on this thread, but I saw Mick had posted yesterday. In 1990 I had 4 surgeries for thyroid cancer- 4 total over 1 month. The final surgery was a bilateral radical neck dissection. Approx 8 months after surgeries it was realized that the spasms and pain in my neck were not going to go away so my doc sent me to physical therapy. Sadly, this has been a constant on-going battle since that time. In addition to the bilateral surgery Plus the 3 others for the cancer in that area, I also have a birth defect in my cervical spine 2 vertebra are fused together from birth so combined its a mess in that area. The neck spasms continue to this day, my pain mgmt doc labeled it as a spasmodic torticollis. Like Mick above, looking down aggravates it as well as alot of other things. My muscles are in constant rock hard spasm with knots all through to my shoulders. I am unable to lift my left arm very high and the shoulder on that side has drooped and positioned forward.

I was trying to research if any type of surgery could be done to put muscles in from elsewhere and came across this thread. My problem at this time is between the missing muscles from surgery and the birth defect my cervical spine is collapsing. The surgeons tell me I need to have a 4 level cervical fusion which is never done. So I have to wait until I am almost paralyzed from the spinal stenosis & nerve compressions before they will attempt it.... with missing muscles, the ones left spasming so badly and the birth defect its all a domino affect causing the spine to crumble.

One thing that does help somewhat is an electrical nerve stimulator- tens unit. For anyone going through this I would suggest asking doctor to prescribe one. It has 4 pads you place and adjust the current to your comfort and it does give some temporary relief. As posted above, when muscles are removed it leaves the remaining ones to do the extra work. All muscles have a partner muscle-1 expands and 1 contracts. removal in the disecction removed a partner muscle in some areas so the remaining one works to hard. prayers to all that you may find relief....

Scapula surgery

After suffering constant pain for a decade, I happened upon a 'winged' scapula surgery called Eden Lange Procedure.

I found a surgeon able to do it, but sadly my post-radiation skin is in too poor shape, it's impossible.

However, it might help others, so I mention it here.