The surgeon who did my neck dissection gave me a prescription for PT. I am wondering if anyone knows if there is a specific type of PT person that helped them or anything I should look for?

I had a issue last year with my hip and I went to one PT and the condition worsened. I went to another and I was helped greatly so there can be a big difference.

Any other advice for recovery and what helped others would be greatly appreciated.

From what I understand the accessory nerve in the shoulder area is bruised or irritated or damaged by the surgery and it can be hard to lift the arm. Crawling your arm up a wall is a great exercise for this. Just go a little bit further each day. I don't think you can go wrong with the surgeon's exercises because he/she will know which structures have been interfered with!

Mostly the problem will be range of motion of the arm on the side of the surgery. Alpaca's advise is spot on, and the PT therapist should be able to suggest more exercises.

Hello, Queen Kong.

I am an orthopaedic physical therapist.

My advice to you would be to seek out a PT with lots of experience treating the spine and shoulder. A McKenzie credentialed PT would be good, but a PT that has an eclectic approach for treatment, IMO, is best.

Every treatment plan is unique in some ways and the same in others. In my opinion as both a PT and a patient, you will need manual therapy for your neck and shoulder joints, gentle, but progressive muscle/nerve stretching, and progressive resistance exercises, postural training, self-treatment techniques, and a home exercise program. Patient education is a huge part of PT.

Just as a precaution, NEVER let anyone MANIPULATE ("crack") your cervical spine (neck)! It is done by the majority of chiropractors and very few PTs. It has the potential to be deadly or to cause a stroke, among other things. The reason specifically for the neck is that there are small, delicate arteries (vertebral arteries) that pass through part of your cervical vertebrae and feed the base of your brain. A forceful manipulation can rupture, tear, or damage these blood vessels and the injury can be catastrophic. There is actually legislation in the works to make cervical manipulation illegal in many states.

Please realize that manipulation is not the same as joint mobilization, which is much more controlled and gentle and will not result in damage to the vertebral arteries. Communication with your physical therapist is very important. A good PT will be appreciative of your immediate and post-treatment feedback. Your plan of care should be suited to meet realistic goals within a certain timeframe. They should be designed to carry over into improving your function and reducing your pain. As a patient, it is important for you to convey your goals and expectations. Your PT will do her/his best to stay on the same page with you.

If you are not comfortable with your PT, ask to see another one. We really don't mind...or shouldn't. A second set of eyes, ears, and hands can be a good thing. In the end, when you find a PT that is a good fit for you, it's best to stay in her/his schedule instead of bouncing around from one PT or PTA (PT Assistant)...some clinics operate this way and it drives me nuts! Continuity of care is important for both the patient and the PT.

Remember that PTs are providing a service, so don't be afraid to shop around and ask questions before you decide to book your appointment. Word of mouth is a great way to find a good therapist. Also, there are PTs that work directly in cancer centers and there are those that are trained in lymphedema and specifically cancers of the head and neck. So, do some research.

Please let me know if I can be of any more help.

I wish you the best in your recovery!

Kerri

Major cancer centers have their own PM&R group. There is also a program called ACE, after care experience, for younger survivors. Lastly, the new STAR (Survivorship Training and Rehab) certification is the minimum acceptable level of knowledge for oncology rehabilitation.

PT will only get you past your current condition if you don't do the work set out in your rehab plan. Even with diligence, I have had well over a dozen PT cycles. The only shortcoming, to me, is they start out gradual but rarely advance to the point of sustainability. Just my opinion.

Hi all. I also had PT for drainage of the lymph glands post surgery (as well as speech therapy and retraining in swallowing). I have heard that there are nurses in the US who specialise in this. It is well worth following up, swelling and discomfort of the face and neck is unpleasant and makes clothes difficult, apart from being unattractive. My neck was as wide as my head.

If you can, keep maintaining the PT well after the initial treatment, as sort of maintenance, even if only a session a month, and later quarterly. Radiotherapy continues to act on the body for years, ligaments continue to harden, and nerves heal very slowly. I still have shoulder and neck pain 6 years on - it's only background pain generally, but PT really helps.