Our ENT herself has trismus from XBT radiation a number of years ago for an olfactory bulb blastoma. She recommends using the Therabte, massage and also, getting a series of exercises designed for you from a speech/swallowing therapist. It would be best to have someone who has experience in head/neck cancer patients, if possible. Our two local hospitals have swallowing therapists, so maybe try at a hospital. Ask your oncology team for referral.

My husband had a number of exercises given to him which improved swallowing and muscle flexibility in the jaw area. He also used a Therabite. Try doing stretching exercises in the shower under hot water -- I do these for a chronic neck stiffness due to a riding injury as a child.

I might also suggest you try to get someone to see if this is due to overall stiffening (fibrosis) of the muscles or tendons or whether there may be some scar tissue buildup from the surgery that could be addressed by some minimally invasive procedure.

Gail