hi, is it possible to get some of these physical therapy exercises inboxed to me? my father was not told about any exercises and i think they would be beneficial to him.. thank you!

Email me (my email is on my profile) - I'll see if I can find mine and scan them for you.

Thanks all for the PT suggestions. I had my neck dissection on Friday and made sure to ask the surgeon to refer me to a physical therapist. She came to see me in the hospital and gave me exercises that have been helping a lot. I wound up having a selective on the left and a radical on the right. The left side is already feeling really good, but the right side is weak and sore. It feels a hundred times better each time I do my stretches.

Nicki74 - I'd be happy to send you my exercises if you haven't received any yet. Just let me know.

Hi All

Can you please share some of the PT exercises with me. My husband needs help. Our oncologist adviced us to go for the physio therapy. But did not give us any kind of a script. We did contact one clinic but they gave us a form to be filled out by our oncologist. We have dropped it off to our doc. We have to wait till it gets done.
In the time I would like to have some thing to help him with. He has constant choking feeling in throat after his ND in mid april. I was adviced by one of the wonderful forum member to do yawning exercise as it will help loosen up the tightness inside.

Your opinions and advice make a big difference.

Thanks

Roma

Okay I didn't scan them but I typed them out - this is what my PT gave me to do - I typed it to another member so I'm putting it here too.

1, sitting upright in a chair and staring straight ahead tilt your head forward (towards your chest) as far as it can go. Do this 10 times twice daily.
Then in the same starting position tilt you head back as far as it can go. 10 times twice daily.

2. Same starting position - turn yor head to the left as far as it can go - do this 10 tomes twice daily. Then do the same on the opposite side.

3. Same starting position. Reach hand up rest it on the top of your head then gentlly lower your ear towards your shoulder (the weight of the hand helps the stretch) then hold for 15 second. Do this 3 times. Then change sides.

This should also be done twice a day.

Finally to help with swallowing take your tongue press the tip up int the roof of your mouth then swallow - 5 times - do this often throughout the day.

This is all they gave me for the neck for now. I do have some arm and shoulder exercises - ive been given if you need them.

Mine are very similar to the ones that Cheryl listed and I was given additional ones for my shoulders. I don't have a choking feeling and wasn't given any exercises specifically for that. Hopefully doing some of these will help loosen the surrounding muscles and maybe ease his discomfort. I'm sure someone else has mentioned it, but a speech therapist might be able to help since it sounds like a swallowing issue. I hope he gets some relief very soon.

1. With thumbs pointing up raise arms to shoulder level and gently flap them for 5 secs. 10x, twice a day.

2. Alternate raising one arm up and back while the other goes down and back (kind of like swimming). 10x, twice a day.

3. Stand in front of a wall and "walk" fingers up the wall as far as they can go, then lean in for a stretch. Repeat 10x. This one feels really good to me and loosens up everything from my neck down through my shoulders.

Thanks Cheryl and Tracy.

I will print it out and start to work on it. One question though how did you guys choose the PT. Did your doc arranged one for you. We have been told to find one ourselves. We have been to a couple of places but none of the PT's have experience with patients who have undergone radiation and chemo.

I would greatly appreciate if you have some information on how to chose a PT who is good or what questions to ask.

Thanks

Roma

My PT was on staff at the hospital. She came to see me on the second day after my surgery. I think my doctor sent her. Your doctor's don't sound very helpful! Maybe you could call the hospital where your husband had his treatments. Their staff PT should be used to seeing patients who've undergone cancer treatments.

Agreed. Your hospital can probably recommend one. However a PT is a PT... They don't necessarily need to have experience with a rads/chemo patient - tell them about the surgery, where the problem is - they will tell you what to do to work on the stiffness and range of motion. I found my own physio therapist. Someone local. I could have gone through the hospital but it's a ci mute and really physio is physio.

Good luck.