Liza

You have done a great service to those OCF posters who are primarily read only by having this thread spelling out that the majority of people who get Neck Dissections do have aftereffects that linger for years and years. Today seems to be my day for ranting about what I consider well meaning but misguided advice that not getting a neck dissection is somehow not treating your cancer "aggressively" or not "throwing everything at it".
Yes, sometimes neck dissections are called for, but for many Base of Tongue tumors, they are not needed at all. It is a very serious surgery and as the answers in this thread attest, one with major life quality issues that last.
I'm two years out from my ND and the skin on my neck is still "petrified" on the side they took the lymph nodes out. My entire neck was that way but gradually the right side has returned to semi normal. I did use the moisturizing creams and I also found both the sauna and steam room very helpful in addressing the muscle tightness.
Short answer: YES, "tincture of time" will fix this.
Keep the faith
Charm