Hello S.Paull,
My husband had tongue surgery, modified neck dissections both sides. Then a tumor grew in his left neck and they did a radical neck dissection. They took some of the cancerous tumor, but couldn't get it all because being around the jugular and carotid artery. They did take most everything in that shoulder...trapezious muscle, etc...lots of nodes, etc. After healing for 3 1/2 weeks, he quickly went right into chemo/rad for 8 weeks. Very rough go of it. Since he was on so many meds during chemo/rad, the shoulder pain was secondary and not to bothersome. Now he is almost 9 weeks post rad and his shoulder is really hurting. We have just had his first visit for physical therapy and they seem to think it will get him back some real range of motion and will be fine. So, no real bad trouble...just some physical therapy to help with shoulder pain and range of motion.
Hope this helps! My prayers are with you S.
Debbie