Just when I think we've been through everything - here's a new one on us. Ken is 18 months out from treatment (and doing super!). He recently 'pulled' a neck muscle while doing some home remodeling (nothing keeping this guy down!). Anyway -- 3 week later, the muscle/tendon that runs behind his ear and down the side of his neck (not the surgery side) is now having spasms (think charlie horse intense pain). He has reluctantly turned to some muscle relaxers/pain meds -- but nothing is easing the intense pain.

He can not move his neck, raising his right arm causes tremendous pain and no meds seem to give him relief. His next stop will be to a physical therapist.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks!
Carol R.

Hello Carol

I just e-mailed you a thread Gary posted in :Adjunctive Therapy" called "Message Technique Tips. It was posted on 3-27-06 but is very informative and it may give you some "self-help". Good Luck, Petey

PS. If pain persists, he may have torn a muscle or tendon. See a DR if it does.

Thanks PeteyB - Got your e-mail and really appreciate the information. He did return to the doc yesterday and received stronger muscle relaxers & numbing patches. He is staying strong and trying to work through it. Just extra grumpy!

Appreciate ya!
Carol

My DH has a similar neck spasm/pain. He pulled it about 6 weeks ago and gets no relief. He won't go for pain medication, and has been using liquid Tylenol and crushed aspirin and a muscle relaxer through his PEG(he is one of the unfortunate ones who lost swallowing for good and is on PEG permantently, but this is just our new normal). He is now in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer-----no more aspirin for him!! I have been badgering him to go back to PT for massage and stretching. Maybe now he will listen to me.

Ang -
I hate to hear that David has been having the same type of neck spasm/pain. Kenny is still having severe spasm's several times a day. He is definitely using the pain meds and the lidocain(sp?) patches are helping some. He had his first physical therapy treatment this week for the pain -- way too early to have any relief.

I really have sympathy for him -- when a spasm hits, it brings him to his knees, no breathing, no eye movement, etc until it eases a bit. We will see how the next few PT treatments work. Beyond that, I just don't know what his options will be.

Hang in there!
Carol

I have had jaw spasms caused by muscles all messed up from radiation and I find that moist heat on the area several times a day really reduces them (as well, I am doing stretching exercises which have a paradoxical effect of increasing the spasms at first but, if I do the exercises reguarly, eventually eliminating the spasms almost entirely).

They sell neck wraps you can heat in the micorwave--if you haven't tried these, along with some form of physical therapy, I would recommend giving them a try.

Nelie

Thanks Nelie -

We are using moist heat, numbing patches and several meds to help control the pain. These neck 'spasms' have totally incompasitated Ken. Pain is so intense he is not eating, barely drinking and absolutely not sleeping.

Physical Therapy again tomorrow.

Not sure which doc to call next - ENT surgeon, Rad Oncologist or Med Oncologist. Any suggestions?

Carol