#55427 08-26-2004 08:35 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 3 | how long does it take before the shoulder pain goes away following the lateral neck resection surgery | | |
#55428 08-26-2004 03:29 PM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 | Would love to know the answer to this one too, Micc Vicki | | |
#55429 08-26-2004 04:54 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | From my observation, the more you can work it the shorter time it will take. The shoulder is not supported in the way it used to be. The surrounding muscles need time to develop and take up the slack. The more you can do with the shoulder by way of excercise and or physical therapy, the faster this will get back to normal.
I am able to do almost anything I did before. I no longer have shoulder pain, but I still have muscle pain in my back when I over do it (one sided pain).
Take care
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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#55430 08-27-2004 10:02 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | rmiller5, Welcome to the site. You have posted before, but not a lot, so I wanted to welcome you even if you have already been welcomed. I had my modified radical neck dissection on May 4, 2004. I started physical therapy in early August. Once I started therapy, the pain from the surgery went away and I now have a new pain, from exercising atrophied muscles. This is a good pain, though, so I don't mind it near as much as I did the other pain. I also am off all pain meds, even Tylenol, so that is also a good thing. So, I guess 3 months did it for me as far as getting rid of the surgery pain. Hope you can find a way to reach the same goal. Maybe physical therapy would help you, too.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#55431 08-27-2004 10:13 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | I have had two neck dissections,, one each side, 4 years apart. The first one, I went back to work after 8 days and didn't start PT until 4 weeks after the surgery. I paid for it with severe back pain until they got my shoulder realigned.
The second time, I started PT as soon as I got home and never had any pain. I strongly recommend a good PT.
In the meantime, I suggest supporting your under the elbow with your other hand while walking so it doesn't drag on your shoulder. Also make certain your chair has arms and you have a pillow or something under it whne sitting someplace like the sofa or car. Anything to reduce the drag until you start getting your strength back.
Take care and hope you ar feeling better.
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#55432 08-27-2004 07:11 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | Let me echo Eileen's post about going to a physical therapist. My ENT (who was wonderful in every other way) blew me off on this one and told me I didn't need PT after a radical neck dissection. About 4-5 weeks later I could barely lift my left arm.
I've been going to a PT for about five weeks now, and it has made a world of difference. I'm still not where I want to be, but my pain level is way down... Get thee to a PT!! Plus it feels good when they massage your neck and shoulders...
Eric
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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