PET Scan

stevenl
stevenl Member Posts: 587
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi to all of my friends!!!

Sorry I haven't posted but it is good to finally get a chance to be here again.
Had a Pet last Friday and now comes the wait. I have something going on in my neck and I can feel it so I am pretty worried. I have terrible problems with the atrophy in my right shoulder, and of course I still think I am 30 and try to do what I could then. I think that I got a little over zealous at work and picked up too much weight one day. Since then it, whatever "IT" is has steadily gotten worse. At first I just thought it was edema, but my neck now is tightening up and it's beginning to feel like I pulled some muscles or something. I can't feel any lumps or anything so I am hoping that it's just a muscle problem. Any one else out there experienced anything like this?

Best to all,
Steve

Comments

  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #2
    Probably-
    was the weight thing, Steve. I get cramping on almost a daily basis, still, and I'm two-years out, now. And my PS/CT just came back clean. Hopes and Prayers the same for you. As always-

    Believe

    kcass
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #3
    Yep
    Right here with ya, Stevo. My ENT swears he didn't cut any nerves when he took out the 3-cm lymph node on the right side, but ten months out, and I am only just beginning to be able to lift that arm up over my head. Both of my shoulders are all thin and scrawny and my upper arms look like sticks. My neck feels tight, and both shoulders and upper arms are pretty uncomfortable. If I try to reach back behind myself at just the right angle, it's a real pain.

    I honestly believe it is just part of the healing process. This is way more range of motion than I had a month or so ago, and I believe that the more I use it, the more it's going to hurt, at least for now. It feels a lot like nerves are regenerating themselves. Hang in there. I truly believe that your PET is going to come back NED. It just really really sucks, recovering from the ravages of treatment.

    Heal on! Lova ya!

    Debhere
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
    D Lewis said:

    Yep
    Right here with ya, Stevo. My ENT swears he didn't cut any nerves when he took out the 3-cm lymph node on the right side, but ten months out, and I am only just beginning to be able to lift that arm up over my head. Both of my shoulders are all thin and scrawny and my upper arms look like sticks. My neck feels tight, and both shoulders and upper arms are pretty uncomfortable. If I try to reach back behind myself at just the right angle, it's a real pain.

    I honestly believe it is just part of the healing process. This is way more range of motion than I had a month or so ago, and I believe that the more I use it, the more it's going to hurt, at least for now. It feels a lot like nerves are regenerating themselves. Hang in there. I truly believe that your PET is going to come back NED. It just really really sucks, recovering from the ravages of treatment.

    Heal on! Lova ya!

    Debhere

    Good to see you, Steve!
    We just had a thread a while back about neck dissection issues and pain and stuff. Seems a bunch of us have issues. My left side still bothers me a lot. No strength. Some numbness, my neck has very limited range of motion. I'm in constant dull pain and then sometimes there are the sharp twinges of stabbing pain a few times a week. My left arm goes numb a couple times a day. It's a pain in the arse. Or neck, I suppose.

    Keep us posted on the scan.

    Be well, Steve,

    Sweets
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Kent Cass said:

    Probably-
    was the weight thing, Steve. I get cramping on almost a daily basis, still, and I'm two-years out, now. And my PS/CT just came back clean. Hopes and Prayers the same for you. As always-

    Believe

    kcass

    Hi Steven
    I always feel stuff going on in my neck but nothing showed up on any of the PET scans. I too always feel to see if any of the glands are enlarged but none ever are. I look at it as another side affect of radiation. You also need to watch it when working, just remember your new normal and you are not as young as you once were. lol

    All the best to you my friend
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    Various Aches and Pains...
    I have various aches and pains that come and go....

    Some from the treatment and after effects. Some just like you, from being older but refusing to give up the things I love to do.

    I just had to have a knee scoped a few weeks ago, torn meniscus...so I am still battling off and on swollen knees, sore shoulders...

    I'm sure it has nothing to do with tossing the anchor 10 - 15 times in a week-ends worth of grouper fishing, LOL...

    Best,
    John
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #7
    Yes, daily
    Hey Steve,
    I get all kinds of aches and pulls and strain feeling things now everywhere I got radiated (neck, back, tailbone, chest). Some go away some don't. Massage and accupuncture have helped but yoga has been the real champ. A nice session at the end of the day right before bed keeps it all from settling overnight. Still; every time something doesn't feel right I go right to worst case scenario. I guess we all do huh? Waiting with you to hear those good PET results.

    Bob
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #8
    adventurebob said:

    Yes, daily
    Hey Steve,
    I get all kinds of aches and pulls and strain feeling things now everywhere I got radiated (neck, back, tailbone, chest). Some go away some don't. Massage and accupuncture have helped but yoga has been the real champ. A nice session at the end of the day right before bed keeps it all from settling overnight. Still; every time something doesn't feel right I go right to worst case scenario. I guess we all do huh? Waiting with you to hear those good PET results.

    Bob

    Thanks
    I just wanted to thank you all for responding. Sat on my behind all day yesterday, and things feel a little better this morning. I think if it was the c returning things would feel worse or at least the same. It's great to hear from and talk to all of you again.

    My best to all,
    Steve
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    #9
    stevenl said:

    Thanks
    I just wanted to thank you all for responding. Sat on my behind all day yesterday, and things feel a little better this morning. I think if it was the c returning things would feel worse or at least the same. It's great to hear from and talk to all of you again.

    My best to all,
    Steve

    Mark too.
    Steve,
    I posted a thread not too long ago about muscle spasms in Mark's neck. He has been dealing with "discomfort" pretty regularly throughout the winter, most often describing it as "tightness". Then one day he explained to me it was like getting charlie horse...then I could understand. He sees his ENT surgeon on Wednesday, where I hope he will talk about it. But it sounds to me, from responses here, and on my thread, this is part of the "new normal". We did find a trip to Miami and some good warm weather helped. We live in PA.
    Best to you as you await the PET results.
    Kim
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #10
    Kimba1505 said:

    Mark too.
    Steve,
    I posted a thread not too long ago about muscle spasms in Mark's neck. He has been dealing with "discomfort" pretty regularly throughout the winter, most often describing it as "tightness". Then one day he explained to me it was like getting charlie horse...then I could understand. He sees his ENT surgeon on Wednesday, where I hope he will talk about it. But it sounds to me, from responses here, and on my thread, this is part of the "new normal". We did find a trip to Miami and some good warm weather helped. We live in PA.
    Best to you as you await the PET results.
    Kim

    Hey Steve
    Steve,

    Nice to see you bud! Will be sending positive thoughts your way for an all-clear. As usual we're right in the same time zone. I am exactly 1 year post-treatment today. Had my 1 year PET this morning and I'm nervous as hell about it. Will get results this Thursday. Here's to an all clear for all of us 1 year-ers and everyone else getting tests in April(I know there's a bunch out there).

    Greg
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #11
    Greg53 said:

    Hey Steve
    Steve,

    Nice to see you bud! Will be sending positive thoughts your way for an all-clear. As usual we're right in the same time zone. I am exactly 1 year post-treatment today. Had my 1 year PET this morning and I'm nervous as hell about it. Will get results this Thursday. Here's to an all clear for all of us 1 year-ers and everyone else getting tests in April(I know there's a bunch out there).

    Greg

    Hi Steve

    You know the drill, just keep positive my friend

    Hondo
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #12
    Greg53 said:

    Hey Steve
    Steve,

    Nice to see you bud! Will be sending positive thoughts your way for an all-clear. As usual we're right in the same time zone. I am exactly 1 year post-treatment today. Had my 1 year PET this morning and I'm nervous as hell about it. Will get results this Thursday. Here's to an all clear for all of us 1 year-ers and everyone else getting tests in April(I know there's a bunch out there).

    Greg

    Bob is right on. The neck pains are chronic but can be managed with exercise and second the motion by BOB that yoga really helps. There are different styles of yoga but try and find a practice that has restoritive poses. Spine twisting really helps. This type of yoga spends a lot of time on the head and neck area and just makes the pain tolerable as long as you keep the yoga up several times a week.

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