Hi,
Martin went to see the physio for the first time. She gave him some neck stretching exercises where he needs to tilt his head to the side the look down, 10 minutes day. He also needs to do exercises on his back where he has to put his arms up and try to stretch them up over his head until they are flat. He also has arm lifting ones. My job will be to give him circular scar massage. he has to go once a week now.
She did explain that the tingling woosh that he gets in his legs is normal and is due to radiation. She did say the name of it but Martin can't remember (and I wasn't there as I had an emergency work meeting although I am on leave!). He say it sounds a bit like compilation. She said it might go away in time but there is no garanty, as always.
I told to ask if he could come to Pilates with me, and she said yes excellent idea but not until he has a bit more movement in his neck. she says the exercises will help with the cramping in the long term.
It has taken 8 months before she thought he would be comfortable with the exercises, though. So it takes time.
On the positive, she seemed impressed by the amount of movement he already has.
I hope these exercises loosen his neck a bit, the muscles are so tense it feels like he has a metal armour under his skin.
Have you been prescribed exercises, do they hurt more before they help, and do they help?

The tingling feeling he gets from the radiation is L'Hermitte's Syndrome, and I had it for quite awhile, but it disappeared on its own. More disconcerting than anything, and I almost didn't notice when it went away.

I also have considerable stiffness in the neck and shoulders, and I just recently was prescribed an exercise regiment to help. I need to get better about actually doing them, but they seem to be helping a bit.

Hope all goes well. Just one step at a time!

Hello Bruce and everyone.

I am new to the OCF forums and am seeking guidance. I do not have personal experience with OC except in a peripheral way with a friend.

My work as a Stott Pilates professional(Instructor Trainer) brings me many clients who are recovering from injuries, joint replacements, etc. and some who live with disease processes (MS, Parkinson's, etc.) I can attest to Pilates helping with the vast majority of these folks, and with helping them continue to function and in some cases, thrive.

I've been asked to work with a man who is a month post-treatment for OC. This is a first for me, and I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to share your post-surgery experience with physical therapy and any other physical exercise. I've noticed in some of your posts mention of both the neck spasms/shocks and, in a few, saw mention of biking, Pilates and yoga... I'd be grateful to know what has helped you in and through the recovery process. Has anything helped with the neck cramps?

I've advised to give it several more weeks and am doing research in the meantime, as well as talking with several PT's and a PM&R doc. You are the experts (though I know you would never have aspired to being an expert in OC id you'd had a choice.)

Anything you'd be willing to share about your experience is valuable to my learning and understanding IF there is anything I can offer, and if so, WHAT I can do.

Thanks,
Debra

P.S.-- I am also new to forums, so if I posted this incorrectly or should have done something different please educate me! I did not know how to start a "new" post.

Debra,

Once you choose a Forum that matches your question's topic, open it and at the top right select New Topic and write your post.

Since you have already asked your question here...Unless this person is extraordinary I would imagine one month post Tx is too soon to begin any exercise program (other than say walking) as we are very weak from the trauma to our body and most of us lost a substantial amount of weight. I personally didn't feel comfortable getting back on my bike for the first 4 months.

David,

Thank you for your kind response walking me through how to do a new post. Some days I feel like a Luddite!

It is helpful also to have your perspective as an athletic guy on how to approach the question of "how soon". There is very little to no information available through traditional sources. In my work with breast cancer survivors the "when" varies greatly and our focus is always on mobilization and gentle stretching, and we keep a really close eye on the fatigue factor.

Again, thank you.
Debra

With this cancer I estimate that 20% have a fairly east time; 20% have a horrible horrible horrible time and 80% have just a horrible time. Since each of us can start out differently physically as well as mentally and each of us can be Staged from a I to a IV and each of us can have surgery, chemo and or radiation and any combination of the 3, and each of us can be treated by the worst to the best doctors out there, you can imagine that each of us can emerge differently from our treatment.

This is why one answer can't fit all but I would advise anyone just a month post Tx to take it slow and let the body heal itself. Most of the time our recovery can take up to every bit of 2 YEARS before we recovery as much as we will.

Another key deterrent to exercise is how much damage is done to our saliva glands with most of us dealing with severe dry mouth months and months post Tx. I couldn't walk from one room to the next without taking a sip of water for a good 3 months post Tx so much so that I kept a bottle of water in every room of the house just in case.

I agree 120%, David.

Should I be concerned that a CPA comes up with these percentages????

:-)

David...nice math! :-)

I'm with Jeff...I agree 120%.

I thought my computer had Math Check.

I started physical therapy 3 weeks after my neck dissection and continued all through radiation and the period following. Treatments were twice a week and started with 20 minutes of wonderful moist heat on my neck and back, followed by the therapist doing stretching of the neck and arm, massaging the scar and working on the lymph build up under the chin. I then moved onto the equipment to further strengthen my arms and mobility. End of session was a 5 minute massage of my back and neck. If I start stiffening up, I go back for a tune up usually every couple of years. So while a patient might not be up to physical exercise, PT can help avoid the side effects from the neck dissection.

Take care,
Eileen