Hi.....I had a radical left neck dissection in December 1992 followed by 30 days of radiation (5,780 RADS). Neck pain was controlled by Tegretol, a seizure medication. Tegretol works on the same nerve ending in the neck as in the brain and it calms the pain. I managed to continue working for 17 years after surgery and recently retired. Also, I have worked very hard on maintaining good oral hygine and still have all of my teeth. Hang in there..it gets easier and you learn to just ignore to pain because it becomes your "normal".

Diagnosed 1990 SCC 3cm tumor floor of mouth removed and skin graft replacement of floor of mouth; second 1991 SCC side of tongue; third 1992 left neck lymph node SCC with radical left neck dissection followed by radiation.