Hi everyone,
As you can see by my signature, I completed treatment about six years ago. I have been complaining about the same issues over the last few years and am beginning to get tired of hearing myself talk about it. My symptoms are as follows(or I could just cut and paste the post from last year ): left sided earache, tender throat(roof of mouth) sinus pressure and blockage, little pnd, muscles in neck on left side ache-scm muscle and trapezius, as far as I can tell, bone around ear hurts to the touch. These symptoms have become almost constant for me. I went to my ent earlier in the month. he did his exam(no scope) and says everything looks good. We talked about trigger point therapy and acupressure, but he gave me a clean bill of health. I had in my mind that I would go to another ent with my sinus issues if my regular ent dismissed me. The new ent scoped me and said my sinuses looked clear. I asked him if chronic sinusitis was a by-product of h&n radiation(which I read on this site), he said no. He then gave me a script for amoxicillin and a ct of my sinuses if the antibiotics didnt have any effect. I just had blood work drawn by my med onc which was perfect(white count wasnt elevated). I am confused by this. If he saw nothing unusual in my sinuses, why would he give me antibiotics? Can sinusitis be caused by something other than an infection? I am just about done with my script and still feel the same pressure and ear pain, although not as constant. I have my ct scheduled for wednesday. I also worry about unnecessary radiation. I also went to a neuro the other day with same issues as well as my neck and shoulder pain. He scheduled me for mri of c-spine. talked about radiation damage, possible compression, therapy, meds, etc. It was a positive appointment. Just to let you know, I was experiencing the same issues last year this time and had a ct, which was clear. also my problems are on the opposite side of my disection, however on the same side that my cancer originated. I just did a round of nasonex and rinse with saline. Thought it started to work, but then it didnt. Also had a consult with a chiropractor, who said it could be my sinuses. He said he was some swelling around cheekbone. I never really noticed, but in looking in the mirror, he might be right. He talked about sublaxation(?) and thought he could fix the problem in about 5 visits. Lastly, I have a upper molar on same side that has a crown that has been bothering me. No hot or cold tolerated, progressive. Spoke with dentist last year about it and looking at xrays, said didnt think it was the tooth. No xrays this year yet, but because of progressive symptoms said it might be tooth and referred me to endodontist. No appointment yet. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Kelley

Your symptoms are pretty typical and are likely not going to change. Much of this, like the chronic sinus issues, is related to radiation. I have had the same symptoms for years and there is nothing to be done in my mind except learn to live with it.

I do not believe in chiropractic medicine, but I have never heard of one that didn't find something like a subluxation between two joints in everyone that they look at, after all its what they are trained to believe causes everything. I'm sure he thought it was something a multiple ($) visits would resolve.

If you have a tooth bothering you that is covered by a crown, there is no way to tell from an x-ray that there is not recurrent decay under it causing problems. You can't x-ray through a gold or porcelain fused to gold grown. All it takes is a crown with a bad margin to leak over the years and you have a problem. The marginal integrity of that crown cannot be determined through radiographs since the angulation of the tube head will either reveal it or hide it.

Brian thanks for mentioning that sinus problems can be linked to radiation. Ive had sinus problems for months at a time, couldnt figure out if it was a cold or allergies. Never once thought it was related to cancer or treatments.

Ditto here -- never knew about that little post-treatment "gift" from radiation. ;-)

Might this be why I seem to be sneezing so much?

I have the problem too and my RO said it's a part of life now. I will go on smiling and kick this in the butt one day soon. Gotta keep that tuff act going.

Hi Kelley,

I have very similar problems (left tonsil, left radical neck dissection almost 5 years ago) and have been told that's life ("as we know it Jim" - Star Trek ) I get a puffy left cheek (that's why I've called myself 'Elephant woman' on a previous post). Drives me batty, have the occasional antihistamine, pain killer, massage my cheek to no avail. CT's all fine, no sinusitis, except for some mucosal thickening in the maxillary antrum, fatty deposit in the left parotid (slightly enlarged), sore jaw and earache, neck, etc, etc. But, glad to be here and better off than some others! The last CT showed a 4cm hemangioma on my liver so off for an ultrasound sometime soon, whatever the hemangioma means!

Cheers!

Tizz

Kelley,

In regard to the tooth that has the crown, you mention that hot and cold bother it. These are classsical symptoms of a tooth that needs a root canal. A tooth can need endodontic therapy even with nothing showing on an x-ray. Symptoms can begin as much as 6 months before anything might show on an x-ray. You should have had a new x-ray taken and since the symptoms have not gone away, a visit to an endodontist would be a very good idea.

Jerry

Brian, Do the symtoms you refer to having for years include throat pain, ringing in ears, pain in ears and dull headaches sometimes? I would like to believe that all of my symtoms are side effects of Radiation and Cisplatin chemo, but unfortunately I have too many days where I have all I can do to make myself believe its not a bunch of cancer cells attacking my brain and or throat. Thanks for your thoughts.

Steven,

It's best to start your own post but I will say that you and I are pretty close treatment wise and I have never had any of the symptoms post Tx you just described.