Hi My husband is 2 weeks post op for mod rad neck dissection and is having more pain daily.The MDs say it is nerve healing.He has been talking one Vicodin but would like to use something else.Has anyone dealt with this before?Thank you

Hi - I also had a modified radical neck dissection and partial glossectomy on May 12, 2006. As the nerves began to "wake up" from my ND, it definitely became more painful. Good news is that the pain gradually subsided and at this point, I am relatively pain free and exercising and riding my bike a lot!
- You didn't say why he wanted to use something else - is it because he doesn't think the Vicodin is working, or he wants to use a non- narcotic? If it's the latter, I tried to stick to Advil during the day (I found that helped the best) and only took Vicodin at night, so I could sleep well, gradually reducing to 1/2 and then none. Is he doing his PT exercises? That's also important in getting full recovery.

OK That sounds good the PT , His surgeon seemed to think he didn't need PT but I am pushing him to get it. Thanks for your reply and God Bless You Laurie

Lauriern,
I guess I was lucky as the Physical Therapist came to see me while I was still in the hospital and gave me 3 pages of exercises to do, and walked me through them all. Once I was home, my sister, who is a PT, nagged me about doing them regularly and helped me make sure I was doing them correctly. Since I am also a nurse, I knew she was right, and I still do some of them.... and have graduated to other things like light weights, etc. Is your husband going back anytime soon? Not sure where he was treated but I was treated at MD Anderson and each time I return they ask me if I would like to see a physical or speech therapist. (among other disciplines) But he could ask the doc for a referral to a PT who is familar with this type of exercise, would probably only need to go 1 - 3 times in order to make sure he's doing them correctly, and then do them on his own....