I am one year out (July 2012) after having a radical neck disection and a partial glausectomy. All of a sudden I have developed severe neck muscle spasms on the side where the disection took place. The PET Scan showed scar tissue, but cancer free!

The cramping is so bad, it can put you to your knees. I have been putting on heat and massaging the area following my neck muscle from my chin to the base of the neck.

I am scheduled for PT. Any idea of how long this goes on and any other suggestions?

Several on the forums, myself included have had this issue. I still do intermittently although not as bad as it was right after surgery. It's nerve damage and PT will help as will time.

Bill, welcome to OCF! Yes, scar tissue can be painful. Im sorry to hear about your muscle spasms. Ive encountered them before but in my face. They hurt so bad like someone stuck me with a knife. I would be walking or talking and stop dead in my tracks. Its a terrible pain! It will improve and become less and less in time, I rarely get anything like that now several years post surgery. Next doctors visit make sure to mention this to them and ask how long you will deal with this issue.

Bill

Yeah, those neck muscle spasms are quite painful as I also know all too well. Yoga and stretching in a steam room helped me.
Mine were exacerbated by having another round of radiation after the neck dissection which caused even more scarring and fibrosis. It's been three years and the pain has subsided to just an ache with only occasional flashbacks to the sharp old pain. Tincture of Time is the only thing that has really worked for me. Eventually it gets better.
Charm

Hi I am 7 years post surgery, radiation and chemo and continue to get neck and shoulder pain and on occasions severe cramping. I have tried all sorts of remedies from medications to acupuncture. I have come to the conclusion that regular stretching , PT and massage although short lived is the only real relief from these conditions. If you have the accessory nerve severed you will have atrophy of the tranpezius muscle and this will also lead to some discomfort and needs to be worked on through PT and the gym if possible. It seems that everybody is different and different things work for different people depending on their exact procedures

Hi I am 7 years post surgery, radiation and chemo and continue to get neck and shoulder pain and on occasions severe cramping. I have tried all sorts of remedies from medications to acupuncture. I have come to the conclusion that regular stretching , PT and massage although short lived is the only real relief from these conditions. If you have the accessory nerve severed you will have atrophy of the tranpezius muscle and this will also lead to some discomfort and needs to be worked on through PT and the gym if possible. It seems that everybody is different and different things work for different people depending on their exact procedures