Nerve Damage from Neck Surgery

LeoS2323
LeoS2323 Member Posts: 160
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I had surgery to remove a tumor from my neck about 6 weeks ago now (which at the time was thought to be a branchial cyst).

Over the last few weeks my shoulder and arm as well as my leg all on that side seem to have a slight weakness to them, and a bit of an ache. The shoulder area is a little tender. Its nothing major, almost imperceptible at times but I am guessing that this is some sort of effect from the surgery.

I have just had an MRI of H&N which was clear but can they show nerve damage?

Did anyone else have anything similar? I am scheduled for more surgery on the same side (selective dissection) next Monday so will mention to the doctor in my pre operative assessment tomorrow. It has actually developed after playing golf a few times lately - I have a bit of a wild swing, I wonder whether I might have banged up something in there which was a bit sensitive after the operation!

Perhaps a case of me overdoing it, but golf is a great way for me to take my mind off the C word..,

All the best

Leo

Comments

  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #2
    Nerves
    Most of us have nerve damage that's permanent, but mine are from the rads. Not sure about from just an Op, but could be something was cut into a little, or a nerve(s) is getting settled into a new environment around what was removed.

    As for golf- Taylor Made Burner, Cobra CXIs, Rescue, 3 and 5, and Odyssey- number of us, lead by Jimbo, are or were golf fanatics. And it would be great therapy, so long as you give a run at breaking 90.

    kcass
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Hi Leo

    Ask as see if your doctor will prescribe Lyrica for you it is a big help for me in dealing with everyday Nerve pain.

    Hondo
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
    Hondo said:

    Hi Leo

    Ask as see if your doctor will prescribe Lyrica for you it is a big help for me in dealing with everyday Nerve pain.

    Hondo

    Get a copy of the operative report
    It will list a step by step accounting of the surgery as the surgeon passes internal landmarks such as major nerves. I was just sitting here rubbing my chest, just above my pectorals, because it elicits a rather pleasant feeling along the right side of my neck near the neck dissection incision. I can rub the top of my head and feel sensations in my neck. Once you get past my freakish behavior you should start to get the point, Things just don't connect back up the way they were and never will. There will always be some residual effect from the surgery. You must find what best manages it for you. My personal medicine has been a regular yoga routine. You might try Tai Chi or perhaps swimming. I think your surgery is still too recent to determine what will be permanent.
  • LeoS2323
    LeoS2323 Member Posts: 160
    #5
    Kent Cass said:

    Nerves
    Most of us have nerve damage that's permanent, but mine are from the rads. Not sure about from just an Op, but could be something was cut into a little, or a nerve(s) is getting settled into a new environment around what was removed.

    As for golf- Taylor Made Burner, Cobra CXIs, Rescue, 3 and 5, and Odyssey- number of us, lead by Jimbo, are or were golf fanatics. And it would be great therapy, so long as you give a run at breaking 90.

    kcass

    Golf
    Hey Kent

    Add me to the list! I play off a 7 handicap so it's a bad day for me when I don't break 90, but that's not to say it won't happen...:-)

    I was off 8 by the time I was 16 but 18 years later have only brought it down one shot! Just haven't ever played enough to get it down. I hit the ball 300+ off the tee consistently but my short game doesn't match the long game and costs me shots.

    Would love to get out for a CSN society day, if I'm ever Stateside!

    All the best

    Leo
  • stayingpositive
    stayingpositive Member Posts: 89
    #6
    nerve muscle dmg
    Well,
    Hope your doctor can clear you up. I had a lymphnode cut out of the left side of my neck behind my ear and the surgeons decided to extract 48 other (non cancerous) lymphnodes down my neck and scrape muscles and nerves too! Ended up with a 12" scar down the left side of my head/neck with numbness, wild nerve sensations and some non-movement muscle issues. My left pectoral actually feels like I have a really bad sunburn, so bad it hurts if my shirt presses against it. My doctor gave me gabapetin, its an epilepsy drug ment to deaden nerve endings I believe, didn't read much past the "side effects" section of the 3 page print-out the pharmacy gave me. Worked on the pectoral a little, but didn't do anything about the numb shoulder/neck/face/ear/head/partial upper left arm parts.

    About golf, well I can say the first time I went I didn't see any problem with it, I actually scored a 72! So how hard could it really be? or so I thought untill I found out that you were actually supposed to get a 74 on the whole course not just the front nine.

    Keep us posted and stay positive

    Bill
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #7
    stayingpositive said:

    nerve muscle dmg
    Well,
    Hope your doctor can clear you up. I had a lymphnode cut out of the left side of my neck behind my ear and the surgeons decided to extract 48 other (non cancerous) lymphnodes down my neck and scrape muscles and nerves too! Ended up with a 12" scar down the left side of my head/neck with numbness, wild nerve sensations and some non-movement muscle issues. My left pectoral actually feels like I have a really bad sunburn, so bad it hurts if my shirt presses against it. My doctor gave me gabapetin, its an epilepsy drug ment to deaden nerve endings I believe, didn't read much past the "side effects" section of the 3 page print-out the pharmacy gave me. Worked on the pectoral a little, but didn't do anything about the numb shoulder/neck/face/ear/head/partial upper left arm parts.

    About golf, well I can say the first time I went I didn't see any problem with it, I actually scored a 72! So how hard could it really be? or so I thought untill I found out that you were actually supposed to get a 74 on the whole course not just the front nine.

    Keep us posted and stay positive

    Bill

    nerve meds
    I tried the gebapetin first but did not help much. Switched to Lyrica and it seems much better for the nerve damage. A neck dissection is MAJOR surgery and like stated above, things get moved around to get to the areas they are trying to cut out (or recreate) and the nerves never go back exactly as they were. But don't be discouraged--I'm about 14 months post surgery, and I would never have believed I could be doing this good based on where I came from--painwise and function wise. (Hi Hondo and Ratface--hope you are both well)

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