Arthritis question

Dav1965
Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
It seems now that i have the honor of maybe having arthritis. I had my first surgery in July 2010 double neck dissection with cancer on the left side. Also they removed 95 % of my jaw. I had a 15 hour surgery for that. Then i had 2 surgerys shaping my tongue so i could eat and talk.My last tongue surgery was in March.

In May i started having severe pain in my ear. I told my oncologist about it and he ordered a ct for my head. He found the bone that holds my jaw in place was deteriated from radiation and that i have a cyst in the bone also thats cancer free. He sent me to a specialist and he sent me to physical therapy. WHile in physical therapy both hands started hurting really bad.

August 10th i went to my oncologist and he said all my pain might be rhumatory arthritis. My hands hurt so bad when i wake up in the mourning i can not open the pain bottles to get my medicine. I have to leave them on the desk for the next day. He also said he ccould have spead up arthritis by cranking my jaw open so far during surgerys. He said there was no other way to operate with out that. I told him at least i was alive. I am in 2 or 3 times as much pain now as when i had cancer. Its crazy. He did raise my pain meds so i feel a little better. But i need my hands. Any body else have this problem?

Comments

  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #2
    Arthritis in hands and neck
    I am 15 years post treatment and have had arthritis (spurs) in my right shoulder and currently in my upper neck. In fact I am scheduled for an MRI on Monday. I also get "cramps" in my hands to the point I can't open them. Hydrocodone and flexiril have been the things that help. I have never associated these with my treatments.

    Denny
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Hi Dav

    I had radiation twice to the head and have a lot of problems but nothing like what you are saying. I do have the pain in the ears and sometimes problems opening up a jar with my hands but no pain in them. Like Denny I take my pain pills in the morning and evening so if something did hurt I would not know it. Hope you get some relief from it my friend.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Greend said:

    Arthritis in hands and neck
    I am 15 years post treatment and have had arthritis (spurs) in my right shoulder and currently in my upper neck. In fact I am scheduled for an MRI on Monday. I also get "cramps" in my hands to the point I can't open them. Hydrocodone and flexiril have been the things that help. I have never associated these with my treatments.

    Denny

    Denny
    Wishing you well with the MRI on Monday
    Hondo

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