Laurie
I was at the Doctors office today asking about post-Tx swelling. I'm 5 months out from a left mandible removal/reconstruction, and 9 weeks post radiation (30 IMRT treatments).

Although I have had swelling to one degree or another since surgery, the past week has seen the swelling get significantly worse.

The Doctors tell me that lymphedema is nearly unavoidable in a neck dissection.Removing the drainage system leaves no place for the excess fluids to go. It can affect only surface tissue, or it can go much deeper, depending on a lo of different factors; how many nodes they removed, where they removed them from, etc.

I asked about applying heat, or cold. They say it wouldn't help appreciably. Ibuprophen will help a bit (it's a good anti-inflamitory), but not a lot.

They did suggest gentle massage was probably the best means of reducing the swelling. The Doctor showed me a couple of techniques to employ, so we'll see.

Swallowing has taken a bit of effort, but it's been not too bad for me the past week or two. It did take a few painful days though.

I hope your husband starts to find the swelling is improving. It seemed to take forever, and now I'm in one of those cycles where the progress has reversed a bit, but I know it'll get better
Wayne