Hey Denise, Hope your situation has improved and you're feeling better.
When I had my partial glossectomy/neck dissection my surgeon stressed the importance of stretching my neck so that I would have more mobility. I would just move my head as much as I could left to right and up and down and hold it there for several seconds. I probably did that for several months to prevent me from just wanting to look straight forward. That really helped.
My speech therapist also gave me exercises to do with my tongue to prevent the scar tissue from limiting the movement of my tongue. One exercise was "tongue push ups", where I would have to push my tongue against a tongue depressor several times a day. Also, I would stretch my tongue side to side and up and down and hold it in that position for several seconds.
The numbness takes time to go away and is different for everyone. It took about 8 months for my smile to look normal again because of the nerve damage. The feeling on the left side of my face is starting to finally feel the same as the right side and its a year later. Ive also learned to get use to it and it doesn't bother me as much.
My partial glossectomy was in April 2014 and I was able to return back to work September 2014. I had to have radiation during that time so it took longer to heal, otherwise I would have probably been able to return sooner.
How are you doing now? Were you able to return to work within 3-4 weeks after your surgery?
Sending positive energy your way, Erica
Tongue Cancer 2004- biopsy irritated skin, 2014 biopsy precancerous, February,2014 partial glossectomy- diagnosed with microscopic cancer- April 2014- partial glossectomy- microscopic cancer /cancer in nerve, June 2014- external radiation July, 2014, brachytherapy, July 2015 biopsy- cancer (about 2 cm)/also in nerve moved more toward front of tongue, August 2015 Hemiglossectomy reconstructed with arm flap 2/3 tongue removed
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