Spinal Accessory nerve damage?? Post Modified Radical Neck surgery

Nnk
Nnk Member Posts: 7
edited May 2018 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Can anyone help point me in the right direction for some help with shoulder, trapazoid, and range of motion issues caused by damage to my spinal accessory nerve during a modified radical neck surgery?

 

I was diagnosed with squamous cell (HPV 16) stage 4 cancer in November.      In December my left tonsil amoung other things were removed via TORS surgery and then 23 lymph nodes were removed from my left side via modified radical neck surgery.  I also had a peg tube put in place.    Starting in Feb I began 7 weeks of radiation along with 2 cisplatin doses.   As an aside, I skipped last planned cisplatin due to side effects and seemingly low benefits from data.   In January my diagnosis was reclassified to stage 2 because of new guidelines and then stage 1 after the tumor board at my hospital were able to look at pathology from surgery  

 

Today I am almost 6 weeks out from my last rad March 28th, progressing well with eating, off oxy pain meds, had peg removed last week and energy increasing (I tried to stay active during treatment and I this helped me).   

 

Back to the question.   My surgeon gave me several options of physical therapist to visit for damage done during surgery to spinal accessory nerve but I am finding that none of them have dealt with the problem or can confidently give me a program that will get me on track to heal.  My range of motion is limited to about 50%. I am 49 years old and was very active prior to surgery and will do what I need to do in order to heal. 

 

Thank you

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • bebo12249
    bebo12249 Member Posts: 181 Member
    #2
    I experienced this issue post

    I experienced this issue post surgery, well lose of range of motion, i couldn’t raise my elbow higher than my shoulder..  Nerve conduction study showed no nerve issue. Weeks of PT didnt help. But due to presurgey weakness in my left shoulder i finally had a “cleanup” surgery of my shoulder.. surgeon found and corrected a number of issues inc partially torn rotator cuff, frayed ligaments, arthritis, etc. shoulder returned much stronger and to everyone’s surprise, the range of motioned corrected itself also. No, the limited range of motion was not present prior to surgery, ie neck dissection. Good luck. Bill

  • Nnk
    Nnk Member Posts: 7
    #3
    bebo12249 said:

    I experienced this issue post

    I experienced this issue post surgery, well lose of range of motion, i couldn’t raise my elbow higher than my shoulder..  Nerve conduction study showed no nerve issue. Weeks of PT didnt help. But due to presurgey weakness in my left shoulder i finally had a “cleanup” surgery of my shoulder.. surgeon found and corrected a number of issues inc partially torn rotator cuff, frayed ligaments, arthritis, etc. shoulder returned much stronger and to everyone’s surprise, the range of motioned corrected itself also. No, the limited range of motion was not present prior to surgery, ie neck dissection. Good luck. Bill

    Thank you Bill

    Thank you.   I was able to visit with my surgeon last week who thought the recovery could take up to two years.   Some days and due to the PT the shoulder recovery is harder than the recovery from chemo/radiation in my throat.   Anyway thank you again and I am determined to keep trying.  

  • johnsonbl
    johnsonbl Member Posts: 266 Member
    #4
    PT worked for me...

    I couldn't raise my left arm up past horizontal (so not up over my head).  Imagine coaching a baseball team and not being able to catch a ball above your shoulder.  Not fun.

    I'm back to about 95% today, about a year post.  Stick with it.  Really any PT with shoulder experience should be able to help you.

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