First neck massage, what does everyone think
Recently my radiation oncologist mentioned my neck was getting a little thick (my words) and that I should hit the rehabilitation center for a neck massage.
Well, I had my first visit was today, it was very nice almost put me to sleep. It all seemed so simple, massaging the lymphatic passages to get the face, neck and chest to drain better. She was also showing me how to perform the massage myself. Finally, she said if I want, I could get a face mask to wear while sleeping, which would continue to apply pressure all night long (the face mask looks like a big elastic bandage that goes over the head and under the chin with a collar section that goes around the neck).
QUESTIONS: Has anyone else gone through this neck massage procedure? What kind of results did you have? Did you learn to do it your self? Did anyone get the facial mask to wear at night?
Any advice would be nice; it is like a new life of learning to do this or do that. I think I will go again to make sure I have the massage down pat.
Thank You all,
Matt
Comments
-
massages
Matt,
Hey, yes I did start pt massage therapy right after surgery. Still had stitches in. They made me a mask to wear at night also. Did help, until one night I had a problem with circulation. Scary, but continued to use it during the day. Some clinics think it's a positive way to address our issues, others don't. (meaning the mask at night time) Once you learn what to do with the massages it gets to be second hand with how to do yourself ! But yes very relaxing ! Katie
My mask had velcroy on it....probably put it on too tight the one time I had issues....still am living with lymphedema but not so bad of late, good luck and enjoy your massages!0 -
no helpkatenorwood said:massages
Matt,
Hey, yes I did start pt massage therapy right after surgery. Still had stitches in. They made me a mask to wear at night also. Did help, until one night I had a problem with circulation. Scary, but continued to use it during the day. Some clinics think it's a positive way to address our issues, others don't. (meaning the mask at night time) Once you learn what to do with the massages it gets to be second hand with how to do yourself ! But yes very relaxing ! Katie
My mask had velcroy on it....probably put it on too tight the one time I had issues....still am living with lymphedema but not so bad of late, good luck and enjoy your massages!
Sorry Matt, no help here but having a therapist do the massage sounds delightful!0 -
I have had only a little swelling
since rads finished...and it kinda comes and goes....but if I get even a little more, I'm going to join you in the massages....mainly because it sounds wonderful!!
p0 -
Stretching & Neck Massage ~ SuperThread
Here's a link from the SuperThread that gives you some pretty good instructions also...;
SuperThread - Stretching & Massage Instruction"
JG0 -
Yes
At night, I wear a velcro clothed device call a "Face Caddy". Google it. Seems to help with the Lymphodema under my chin...or Turkey Neck.
Larry0 -
Yes : )
Matt,
Yes, I have been through the massage therapy and it really does help. You should see results in a couple of weeks. My therapist said she could tell it was working after I returned to see if I was doing it right. If my memory is correct, I went two times a week for 2 weeks.
She also told me to purchase a foam wedge to use at night when I slept, mainly to have my head and neck areas above my heart level. It helps keep the lymphnode system fluids out of the neck area.
During the day, gravity will work in our favor, but the gentle massage gets the fliuds moving.
She also recommended the face mask thing for me, which I tried, but returned it the next visit, too uncomfortable for me. Once you learn the massage, you can use it when ever you over do some chores and the fliud builds up in the neck and face.
My Best to You and Everyone Here0 -
I think I'm jealous !!! LOLMarineE5 said:Yes : )
Matt,
Yes, I have been through the massage therapy and it really does help. You should see results in a couple of weeks. My therapist said she could tell it was working after I returned to see if I was doing it right. If my memory is correct, I went two times a week for 2 weeks.
She also told me to purchase a foam wedge to use at night when I slept, mainly to have my head and neck areas above my heart level. It helps keep the lymphnode system fluids out of the neck area.
During the day, gravity will work in our favor, but the gentle massage gets the fliuds moving.
She also recommended the face mask thing for me, which I tried, but returned it the next visit, too uncomfortable for me. Once you learn the massage, you can use it when ever you over do some chores and the fliud builds up in the neck and face.
My Best to You and Everyone Here
Hey, I never got referred for any type of neck therapy, tx or nothing!! What's up with that ..nobody even mentioned it to me....??
Glad for you Matt ...I think I will have to do like you always say and "live through you" on this one ...drat!
Best,
Tim0 -
HoW many lymph nodes did youTim6003 said:I think I'm jealous !!! LOL
Hey, I never got referred for any type of neck therapy, tx or nothing!! What's up with that ..nobody even mentioned it to me....??
Glad for you Matt ...I think I will have to do like you always say and "live through you" on this one ...drat!
Best,
Tim
HoW many lymph nodes did you all have removed?0 -
my necktuffenuff said:HoW many lymph nodes did you
HoW many lymph nodes did you all have removed?
Cindy,
I had a lateral Jugular Vein dissection with one lymph node remove (3 cm = 1 3/16 inches long). It was the clue that gave away the cancer, I felt it while shaving. Had my first doctor appointment in a few days and the rest is history. Of course I interviewed for this website and new all the right things to say. I still don’t know the secret hand shake though.
Thanks for asking,
Matt0 -
It's a Secret for a Reason.....CivilMatt said:my neck
Cindy,
I had a lateral Jugular Vein dissection with one lymph node remove (3 cm = 1 3/16 inches long). It was the clue that gave away the cancer, I felt it while shaving. Had my first doctor appointment in a few days and the rest is history. Of course I interviewed for this website and new all the right things to say. I still don’t know the secret hand shake though.
Thanks for asking,
Matt
Some criteria...
You have to belong to the Abi-Normal Clan
Come to Tampa (or Honduras) for a special demonstration
Be a Sista from a different Mista
Anglers are automatically accepted
Have any type of animal, dog, cat, fish, "goat", horse, bird...etc, actually the more the better
Own a Massey Ferguson tractor, slightly old and beat up, like you are
Have a certain Radiating Glow about you
Have a tongue that's more like beef jerky in the morning than a moist piece of meat
Have had more chemicals injected into you recently, than a high school lab experiment.....
High priority on a sense of humor, that mainly you enjoy more than others do
Do any of those apply...
If so it's kinda like a regular shake up, shake down, locking your thumbs together and flapping your hands upward like a butterfly, then pull them apart, with a snap of the fingers and the index finger pointed at the other person.
Then make a C sign with your left hand, your right hand smashing it like rock, paper, scissors.
JG0 -
I used the instructions on the SuperThreadSkiffin16 said:It's a Secret for a Reason.....
Some criteria...
You have to belong to the Abi-Normal Clan
Come to Tampa (or Honduras) for a special demonstration
Be a Sista from a different Mista
Anglers are automatically accepted
Have any type of animal, dog, cat, fish, "goat", horse, bird...etc, actually the more the better
Own a Massey Ferguson tractor, slightly old and beat up, like you are
Have a certain Radiating Glow about you
Have a tongue that's more like beef jerky in the morning than a moist piece of meat
Have had more chemicals injected into you recently, than a high school lab experiment.....
High priority on a sense of humor, that mainly you enjoy more than others do
Do any of those apply...
If so it's kinda like a regular shake up, shake down, locking your thumbs together and flapping your hands upward like a butterfly, then pull them apart, with a snap of the fingers and the index finger pointed at the other person.
Then make a C sign with your left hand, your right hand smashing it like rock, paper, scissors.
JG
Hi everyone,
I actually used the massage instructions that were posted on the SuperThread, which were originally submitted by Marine5 !! The massages worked great for me, when I did them regularly. It made a huge difference within the first 8 days or so. I had a modified radical neck dissection, with 40 nodes removed.
Once you learn how to do the massages, it becomes second nature. I still do them now, 18 months out, maybe once a day.0 -
neck "massage"Ingrid K said:I used the instructions on the SuperThread
Hi everyone,
I actually used the massage instructions that were posted on the SuperThread, which were originally submitted by Marine5 !! The massages worked great for me, when I did them regularly. It made a huge difference within the first 8 days or so. I had a modified radical neck dissection, with 40 nodes removed.
Once you learn how to do the massages, it becomes second nature. I still do them now, 18 months out, maybe once a day.
My hubby had neck massages for two months. He said they started out feeling really great - the first professional massage he'd ever had. Then the therapist began to "break down the scar tissue" so his neck wouldn't feel as "woody." He said that made tears come to his eyes, it hurt so bad, but it did really help with the lymphedema. He wears a daytime mask out of lycra material - kind of makes him look like an elf, because it has holes for his ears to stick out and it sucks in the rest of his head and his eyes kind of bug. My sons and I tease him. The nighttime "garment" they made for him is like a big thick quilted material that he says makes him so hot he freaks out, feels like he's choking and burning up. He gave up on wearing that one. He's been done with the therapy for about three months, and he's still not getting new swelling, has better range of motion, less neck pain, etc., so I guess I'd say it was good.
Good luck to you on your "adventure." Maybe we could get a group of you guys together with your masks and make a new movie about the head and neck cancer elves, hobbits, whatever you want to be called0 -
Matt,olybee said:neck "massage"
My hubby had neck massages for two months. He said they started out feeling really great - the first professional massage he'd ever had. Then the therapist began to "break down the scar tissue" so his neck wouldn't feel as "woody." He said that made tears come to his eyes, it hurt so bad, but it did really help with the lymphedema. He wears a daytime mask out of lycra material - kind of makes him look like an elf, because it has holes for his ears to stick out and it sucks in the rest of his head and his eyes kind of bug. My sons and I tease him. The nighttime "garment" they made for him is like a big thick quilted material that he says makes him so hot he freaks out, feels like he's choking and burning up. He gave up on wearing that one. He's been done with the therapy for about three months, and he's still not getting new swelling, has better range of motion, less neck pain, etc., so I guess I'd say it was good.
Good luck to you on your "adventure." Maybe we could get a group of you guys together with your masks and make a new movie about the head and neck cancer elves, hobbits, whatever you want to be called
I am also getting
Matt,
I am also getting massages twice a week as I just finished radiation and Erbitux July 10. It seems to feel better and my neck is becoming less stiff. I will continue as I swelled up around my neck. She is getting a mask for me also, but will have to somehow work around my trachea opening.
Randy0 -
Digging the Secret ShakeSkiffin16 said:It's a Secret for a Reason.....
Some criteria...
You have to belong to the Abi-Normal Clan
Come to Tampa (or Honduras) for a special demonstration
Be a Sista from a different Mista
Anglers are automatically accepted
Have any type of animal, dog, cat, fish, "goat", horse, bird...etc, actually the more the better
Own a Massey Ferguson tractor, slightly old and beat up, like you are
Have a certain Radiating Glow about you
Have a tongue that's more like beef jerky in the morning than a moist piece of meat
Have had more chemicals injected into you recently, than a high school lab experiment.....
High priority on a sense of humor, that mainly you enjoy more than others do
Do any of those apply...
If so it's kinda like a regular shake up, shake down, locking your thumbs together and flapping your hands upward like a butterfly, then pull them apart, with a snap of the fingers and the index finger pointed at the other person.
Then make a C sign with your left hand, your right hand smashing it like rock, paper, scissors.
JG
Thanks0 -
MaskPam M said:Digging the Secret Shake
Thanks
I started lymphedema therapy last November. I had mandible reconstruction surgery in June of last year. To make a very long story short, surgery failed and for months, I was left with lips that were WAY too big for my face. Went to the lymphedema center at the hospital and started massage therapy. Made a huge difference. I also got a compression mask that, right now, is being redone by the manufacturer because it was tearing around the eyes. I will be getting it back in a couple weeks. At that time, I will post a picture so that others may see what you are talking about.0 -
twice a week
I go in for physical therapy twice weekly, half hour of exercise/machines and a half-hour of massage. I find the massage helps, the side of my neck I had the surgery on is pretty fibrotic (hard) compared to the other side, and the massage can help break it up.
I have the "jaw bra" as well, it helped more when I used to have a lot of lymphedema swelling, but I don't have that more. I've stopped using the sleeve regularly, but I think I may try to remember to use it overnight again more regularly to see if it helps any with the fibrosis. It definitely helped with the lymphedema.
Be well!0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.8K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 397 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 792 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 237 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 61 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 539 Sarcoma
- 730 Skin Cancer
- 653 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards