Fran,

I'm glad you found this site - as you've already discovered, it's a great source of information and support. Did you just finish radiation? The rule of thumb seems to be that it usually takes about one month of recovery for each week of radiation treatment, although obviously there can be some differences from one case to the next. It does take quite awhile for the pain to diminish, and the dental/saliva problems can be an ongoing fact of life -- but there's a great deal of helpful information on this site about ways to deal with those chronic issues.

Where was your tumor located, and what was the stage? If you can provide us with a little background about your situation, you're likely to hear from people who have had similar cases and can describe their recovery experiences.

Cathy

Hi Cathy; My primary was the base of the tongue and there were mets to several nodes in the neck. I finished radiation in mid August and have suffered all the usual low immune system problems that are part of the process. I do however continue to lose weight, but as I taste more the appetite will return.
I am dry as a bone with all saliva glands blasted to smithereens with the bilateral rads.
Your words about one month of recovery for every week of rads is such a helpful piece of info. That "perspective" thing can sometimes be so elusive. My major problem is the radiating neck pain, and the hopeful message about neurontin kicking in eventually has been received with joyful expectation.
Thank so much for all your input, I hope to be a good contributor to the encouragement that is found at this site.
Bless you all.

Fran,

Welcome to the neighborhood. If you hit the search button towards the top you will find a few neck excercises that may help the pain a bit. I found that if I did them every day or even twice a day, the pain subsides. Somewhere between the excercises for the neck, the excercises for the hip, the excercises for the back and the excercises for the shoulder, I don't get them all done. I guess my pain is truly my pain at this point . I have completely weaned myself from all medication, though, and I think that is a good thing.

I am hoping for a speedy recovery for you and some pain-free days around the corner.

Ed

Ed,

I tried searching for those exercises and struck out. I am especially interested in the hip exercises, because mine's been bothering me for a while now.

Ken

Ken,

OOPS, my bad! The excercises were for swallowing and for the neck pain. I learned the others from a PT. Interesting to hear your hip has been bothering you. I woke up one day last March and could not cross my right leg over my left. It never stopped hurting until I had the physical therapy. The therapist stretched the joint a bit, several different ways and had me do some excercises.

One, is the clamshell. You lay on your side with a pillow under your neck, bad hip up, knees bent. Without rotating your hip, lift your leg up for a 2 count and let back down. Do this until you can do 20 with a 1 min rest between 3 sets.

Two, on your side with a pillow under your neck, legs straight, back side against a wall, lift your leg with your calf and your heel against the wall. Keep your knee straight, hold for a 2 count. Work up to 3 sets of 20, 1 min rest between sets.

Three, flat on your back, squeeze your buttocks together and lift your pelvis as high up as you can. Hold for a 2 count and work up to 3 sets of 20 with 30 sec between sets. After you do this for a few weeks, work towards doing the same on one leg only, with your good leg crossed over the bad hip leg.

I hope this helps.

Ed

Ed -- Many thanks. I'll give these a try.

Ken

Fran, welcome to the site. Sorry you had to find us. Hopefully, we can help each other and new people as they come on site. Will pray for relief of your pain and that you will defeat this disease entirely.