Neck Dissection

Tammy009

Hi all, this is Tammy, wife to Dale. I posted awhile back but lost my user name so I had to just now make up a new one. Not sure if you all rememer me...him? Dale had stage 4 throat cancer and is now 4 years cancer free. Along with chemotherapy and radiation he also had a radical neck dissection. The usual stiff and tight neck has always been his norm, however yesterday he slipped on the ice at work. He landed on his back and his head whiplashed backwards. This, he said stretched his neck way further than it has been in years. Lots of tingling and aching right away. Doesn't have much strength in his neck today or mobility. He had a spasm in the dissection side today....kind of scared him. Do you think this is normal and will be fine in time? Have any of you ever experienced anything like this before? Dale sends all his best to all of you.

Thanks!
Tammy

wmc

Wow, whiplash can be painful.........

Hi Tammy, and welcome to the group, again. I have had a mild whiplash many years ago and it can be very painful. I also had a neck dissection on both sides and my neck is always tight and hurts. I have to take muscle relaxers just to be able to get close to full range of motion. It always feels like the skin is being streached. I cringed when I read he fell and had whiplash. The pain and spasms would be awfull. My guess is having a spasm would likely happen, and be painful. I would talk to his GP and let them know. He might need to have muscle relaxer to calm down the muscel and stop the spasm. It might take several days to even a couple of weeks. He pulled the muscle that is very tight from the dissection and needs it to relax so the spasm can stop. I'm sorry Dale is going through this and I hope it gets better very soon.

Bill

phrannie51

This exact thing happened to me

twice, just this last week.  I slipped but didn't go down, and my body jerked to compensate....neck was very stiff on the on the right side, the next morning.  Two days later, I slipped and this time I did go down, my neck whip lashing, and hitting the ice....my whole neck was stiff and painful (much more so than I would have expected).....and of course it's worrysome.  Today I got up and all seems to be well.  Took 4 days to get here.

p 

PJ47

Boy does this could familiar

I slipped and fell last Jan. when we had 2 ice storms in NC which is rare.  It was only 3 weeks after I finished radiation (3 months after head and neck surgery) and I landed on my wrists, left elbow, back and then my neck snapped back and I hit my head.  Did not know which place to ice down and it all hurt.  After having my wrist checked to make sure it was not broken I went to my chiropractor who does cranio-sacral work and he did a great job on my head and neck area an shoulder which had been jarred as well.  Best of luck to you and hope you can find someone who will help you.  I healed in a couple of weeks but my left elbow still hurts a year later.  Probably chipped it.

PJ

PJ47

phrannie51 said:

This exact thing happened to me

twice, just this last week.  I slipped but didn't go down, and my body jerked to compensate....neck was very stiff on the on the right side, the next morning.  Two days later, I slipped and this time I did go down, my neck whip lashing, and hitting the ice....my whole neck was stiff and painful (much more so than I would have expected).....and of course it's worrysome.  Today I got up and all seems to be well.  Took 4 days to get here.

p 

Phrannie get some of those spike things

Hi Phrannie,

I got those spiky things to pull over my shoes and boots when I went out to Montana after my fall the time when I met you.   They work and boy was I ever careful.  It does really hurt.  Why do we think we can walk on ice?  I did used to ice skate perhaps that is why I was over confident.

PJ

KTeacher

phrannie51 said:

This exact thing happened to me

twice, just this last week.  I slipped but didn't go down, and my body jerked to compensate....neck was very stiff on the on the right side, the next morning.  Two days later, I slipped and this time I did go down, my neck whip lashing, and hitting the ice....my whole neck was stiff and painful (much more so than I would have expected).....and of course it's worrysome.  Today I got up and all seems to be well.  Took 4 days to get here.

p 

Stay off the ice!

Would you guys please stay off of the ice, or get some of those spikey things PJ mentioned.  Hopefully with ice packs or heat you will be feeling better soon.

donfoo

global warming

Good thing for global warming. In a few years y'all won't have to deal with slipping on ice. Just flip flops and sunny days ahead. 

debbiejeanne

hi Tammy and congrats to Dale

hi Tammy and congrats to Dale for 4 yrs!!  I'm sorry to hear about the fall.  I agree with Bill, i'd mention it to the doc just to make sure all is fine.  I don't know about whiplash but the extra weakness in neck would worry me.  I wish you / him the very best.  please let us know how he does.!  i refuse to go out when it is like that.  I am NOT going to fall.....lol.  I'd never be able to get back up.

and to you ladies, perhaps you should be grounded to the house on icy days

God bless you,

dj

jackflash22

PJ47 said:

Phrannie get some of those spike things

Hi Phrannie,

I got those spiky things to pull over my shoes and boots when I went out to Montana after my fall the time when I met you.   They work and boy was I ever careful.  It does really hurt.  Why do we think we can walk on ice?  I did used to ice skate perhaps that is why I was over confident.

PJ

Slipping and sliding

if you cut the tops off your old socks and pull them over your shoes/boots it stops you slipping. You may think it looks silly but it works