Fran,

Sorry to hear of the ongoing pain issues you are dealng with. I did not have surgery and I have had some neck, shoulder and arm pains almost all the time since radiation. I have not tried Neurontin but I do take Bextra (after Vioxx was pulled) daily and an occasional Loritab when it really bothers me. I also have had surgery on my collarbone to separate the AC joint and remove a piece of the collarbone because of the pain in the joint. I have been through about 3 rounds of PT and no matter what I have tried, I still get some pain on the side that was radiated most (where the cancerous lymph nodes were). I also get some tingling in my chin and my left hand. I have decided it is just one of those things that is here to remind me of the battles won!

I have even had a PET/Ct scan that showed no cancer issues causing the pain. I had a separate bone scan and MRI that only showed arthritis and some bursitis in the shoulder area. When I realized that I was having difficulty in sorting out the pain from all the earlier injuries from the radiation pain from the arthritis and "getting older" stuff, I decided it was just a part of my life now. And a grand life it is!


Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023