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#56163 03-06-2005 11:21 AM
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ChuckF Offline OP
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Not sure if this is a side effect, or a side effect of my side effects, but over the last couple of weeks I've experienced a significant number of muscle spasms or cramps in my neck muscles at the base of my skull. They don't usually last very long, but are very painful.
It also seems to coincide with some other aches and pains which I believe are related to the failure of my thyroid gland. I've been on Synthroid for about 4 weeks, and the other symptoms have abated, but the muscle spasms have seemed to increase in frequency lately.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon.
I've a regularly scheduled appointment with my Rad/Onc Doc this week, so I'll talk it over with him, but I thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else had experienced this one.

Good Health,
Chuck


SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."
#56164 03-07-2005 02:36 AM
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Hi Chuck; I'm no armchair physician, but I do know that we OC folk seem to get a puzzling array of side effects from muscle spasms to scalp pain...not to mention the chaos that goes on in our mouths. It's meant to try a saint, and I think sometimes there must be a huge crown waiting for me somewhere!
It is good news that you will be seeing your Rad-Onc this week...but if you are concerned, and you have every right to be...call today, don't feel you have to wait.
I used to be a lot more longsuffering before I joined this forum, turns out the Onc team responds pretty well to my somewhat frequent input.
I think we are all happier when we know what is going on in our bodies...all the best to you as you sort out the cause of this pain you are enduring.
Let us know how it goes,
Fran


SCC Base of tongue diag. April 04 Stage IV, mets to rt. neck multiple nodes 35 rads+8 boosts First recurrence Jan05. Rt.rad neck dissection Feb02/05. Recurred with bone mets in neck July 05.
Committed to survival with dignity.
#56165 03-08-2005 01:37 PM
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If you taking pain meds, that can cause muscle spasms as well.


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#56166 03-25-2005 02:44 PM
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after having bad neck/head/shoulder pain, the doc gave me valium. It's worked wonders. I only have to take a 1/2 one every couple days to keep the bad pains away. i don't know how that'd mix with anything else you're taking, but thought I'd offer the suggestion.

Sabrina

#56167 03-26-2005 11:10 AM
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ChuckF Offline OP
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Saw the Rad/Onc guy last week and he wasn't much help. Suggested that it was the out of control thyroid, and recommended I wait until we get the thyroid meds dialed in. The spasms seem to be less frequent lately, so maybe he's right.
The latest blood tests show the Thyroid levels returning to near normal range, so a couple more weeks and maybe a tweak on the meds and this will be a memory.
Thanks for the input.

Chuck


SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."
#56168 03-27-2005 05:28 PM
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Chuck, I have to agree with Sabrina: on bad days its a valium and an asprin. On really bad days two Valium and two asprin.

Fortunatly I don't need to do this all the time. Valium is quite safe and a fairly effective muscle relaxer.

I think your doctor is right on track about this being connected to the thyroid levels. My neck is definately worse when I am in need of synthroid adjustment.


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.
#56169 05-04-2005 07:22 AM
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I'm curious about the solutions to this pain. My brother has continued to have debilitating pain 2 months post surgery - although it is on the opposite side from the cancer. The docs said the opposite jaw bone is acting like a meat hook and trying to support the rest of the face (the right lower and part of the right upper jaw have been removed as well as 90% of the tongue, the floor of his mouth and part of his throat). Anyway, he was receiving injections at the local emergency room - don't know what it was but the doctor there said it was what they give women in labor. The pain team has since put him on a low dose of morphine, but that is not helping much, either. They seem to be leaning toward an injection to block the nerve when he returns to MD Anderson at the end of this month. Do you think the valium would work better than the morphine? He maybe having two seperate pain issues, one where his jaw hurts and he holds it most of the time and the other issue is terrible headaches where all he can do is lay down and hold his head in his hands. I know his wife rubs his shoulders and neck alot and after reading your posts I bet the headaches are connected to that.
Chuck, I hope you have gotten your pain under control by now.
Best wishes,
Tonya


Sister of 32 year-old oral cancer victim. Our battle is over but the war rages on. My brother passed July 26, 2005. He was a smokeless tobacco user.
#56170 05-16-2005 02:02 PM
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Chuck,
I too have been having muscle spasms mainly in the right side of my neck and moderate to severe pain in my neck, shoulders and upper back. My drs.@ MD.Anderson said it is a result of radiation. They tried botox injections but not much relief. I am currently taking a muscle relaxer Zanaflex and physical therapy 3 x week.I use a TENS unit at home and so far all of this has helped tremendously. Hope you get relief soon!


Darla Townsend


dx 2002 SCC epiglottis/stage 2/ IMRT 7 weeks /cancer free 2 yrs 9 mos
#56171 05-17-2005 09:56 AM
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Just curious -- do folks ever have kind of a "deep muscle" soreness in areas of your neck that have been radiated?

I've had off and on soreness in a couple of areas the past few months. I saw my doctor about a month ago, and he poked and prodded me, and said everything felt normal. But the past few days, the soreness has returned to this one area (opposite side of my surgery). I don't feel lumps or anything but a few times something feels like it has "moved" or shifted in there when I press on it (tissue? muscles? arteries?)

I think my pain may have something to do with a tooth-ache that has popped up recently (the pain kind of shoots all over, from my tooth, down into my neck and even in my ear)...

I guess I'm paranoid. I feel like I want the doc to take another look at me, even though he just did ...


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.
#56172 05-19-2005 10:37 AM
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Hi YOu'all make me feel better about myself. I too
have muscle pain. Mine is near the scar it self.
Where is Apex North Carolina? Hope everyone has a
good day?
Cathy


Cathy

SCCA Stage IV diagnosed 01/90
base of tongue with 1/2 removed.
With neck resection, radiation and chemo
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