Nerve damage after neck dissection

Congratulation on your clear report.  That is good to hear.  After my husband had this same surgery he started physio soon after for shoulder stretches and strengthening.  He went twice weekly to the physio clinic and they also had him doing home exercises, which he did faithfully.  The range of motion and strength did come back.  THe numbness in the area never did improve 100% but did get much better with time. I would encourage you to ask and get started soon. 

Congratulation on your clear report.  That is good to hear.  After my husband had this same surgery he started physio soon after for shoulder stretches and strengthening.  He went twice weekly to the physio clinic and they also had him doing home exercises, which he did faithfully.  The range of motion and strength did come back.  THe numbness in the area never did improve 100% but did get much better with time. I would encourage you to ask and get started soon. 

Congratulation on your clear report.  That is good to hear.  After my husband had this same surgery he started physio soon after for shoulder stretches and strengthening.  He went twice weekly to the physio clinic and they also had him doing home exercises, which he did faithfully.  The range of motion and strength did come back.  THe numbness in the area never did improve 100% but did get much better with time. I would encourage you to ask and get started soon. 

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT CLEAR REPORT…FANTASTIC!!! My husband started out Stage IIIC and had the radical neck dissection surgery in 2008. Quite the surgery in itself … surgical oncologist took out 98 (yes 98) lymph nodes with an all clear report as well.  As you know that is from the upper neck down to the collar bone.  He did not do any PT and the facial nerves were intact so no issues there. The nerve regeneration though can be painful. Ask your doc about a supplement for nerve repair. I don't think the shoulder issue with limited range of motion is unusual…ask about PT. They may give you gentle exercises that you can do at home. Something my husband always found interesting but very understandable…you can't sweat from that area due to all the lymphs are gone and so he developed lymphedema. This required some visits to a lymphedema specialist (this one was in Occupational Therapy and not Physical Therapy). She taught me how to do lymphatic massage of the neck, chest, etc. to get the lymphatic system moving. This does help with that issue.

Best wishes for recovery from your surgery and for your continued vigilance against this disease!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT CLEAR REPORT…FANTASTIC!!! My husband started out Stage IIIC and had the radical neck dissection surgery in 2008. Quite the surgery in itself … surgical oncologist took out 98 (yes 98) lymph nodes with an all clear report as well.  As you know that is from the upper neck down to the collar bone.  He did not do any PT and the facial nerves were intact so no issues there. The nerve regeneration though can be painful. Ask your doc about a supplement for nerve repair. I don't think the shoulder issue with limited range of motion is unusual…ask about PT. They may give you gentle exercises that you can do at home. Something my husband always found interesting but very understandable…you can't sweat from that area due to all the lymphs are gone and so he developed lymphedema. This required some visits to a lymphedema specialist (this one was in Occupational Therapy and not Physical Therapy). She taught me how to do lymphatic massage of the neck, chest, etc. to get the lymphatic system moving. This does help with that issue.

Best wishes for recovery from your surgery and for your continued vigilance against this disease!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT CLEAR REPORT…FANTASTIC!!! My husband started out Stage IIIC and had the radical neck dissection surgery in 2008. Quite the surgery in itself … surgical oncologist took out 98 (yes 98) lymph nodes with an all clear report as well.  As you know that is from the upper neck down to the collar bone.  He did not do any PT and the facial nerves were intact so no issues there. The nerve regeneration though can be painful. Ask your doc about a supplement for nerve repair. I don't think the shoulder issue with limited range of motion is unusual…ask about PT. They may give you gentle exercises that you can do at home. Something my husband always found interesting but very understandable…you can't sweat from that area due to all the lymphs are gone and so he developed lymphedema. This required some visits to a lymphedema specialist (this one was in Occupational Therapy and not Physical Therapy). She taught me how to do lymphatic massage of the neck, chest, etc. to get the lymphatic system moving. This does help with that issue.

Best wishes for recovery from your surgery and for your continued vigilance against this disease!!

Hello,

Sorry about all the strange things but I think you surgeon should have warned you that you may need physical therapy to get your range of motion back.

My husband had a lesion down by the collar bone and when they took it out they had to take part of the nerve that affects the shoulder and arm movement as the lymph nodes wrap around it like a candy cane stripe is the way it was explained to us.  He has a drooping left shoulder and he didn't get his range of motion back entirely.  He has to bring his hand in toward the body and go up that way and sometimes even has to help lift it.  We were told that he probably would have the droop and he may lose some range of motion before the surgery.

The one activity he had to do was stand out from a wall and walk you fingers up the wall as far as they would go, do this several times a day and you will find it goes higher with time.  It may not be perfect but it does get better.

Hope this might help a little.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED for over 3.5 years)

Hello,

Sorry about all the strange things but I think you surgeon should have warned you that you may need physical therapy to get your range of motion back.

My husband had a lesion down by the collar bone and when they took it out they had to take part of the nerve that affects the shoulder and arm movement as the lymph nodes wrap around it like a candy cane stripe is the way it was explained to us.  He has a drooping left shoulder and he didn't get his range of motion back entirely.  He has to bring his hand in toward the body and go up that way and sometimes even has to help lift it.  We were told that he probably would have the droop and he may lose some range of motion before the surgery.

The one activity he had to do was stand out from a wall and walk you fingers up the wall as far as they would go, do this several times a day and you will find it goes higher with time.  It may not be perfect but it does get better.

Hope this might help a little.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED for over 3.5 years)

Hello,

Sorry about all the strange things but I think you surgeon should have warned you that you may need physical therapy to get your range of motion back.

My husband had a lesion down by the collar bone and when they took it out they had to take part of the nerve that affects the shoulder and arm movement as the lymph nodes wrap around it like a candy cane stripe is the way it was explained to us.  He has a drooping left shoulder and he didn't get his range of motion back entirely.  He has to bring his hand in toward the body and go up that way and sometimes even has to help lift it.  We were told that he probably would have the droop and he may lose some range of motion before the surgery.

The one activity he had to do was stand out from a wall and walk you fingers up the wall as far as they would go, do this several times a day and you will find it goes higher with time.  It may not be perfect but it does get better.

Hope this might help a little.

Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED for over 3.5 years)

My daughter had node dissection in her right neck 3 years ago (1 of 26 was positive for melanoma).  They had to remove part of her parotid gland as well.  Apparently there is one branch of the facial nerve that doesn't like to be touched.  She ended up with weakness of the right lower lip.  Doesn't show during normal talking but affects her smile and grimace.  Has gotten better over time but is still noticeable if you knew her before the surgery and is more pronounced when she is tired.  Most people, though, aren't aware of it.  

My daughter had node dissection in her right neck 3 years ago (1 of 26 was positive for melanoma).  They had to remove part of her parotid gland as well.  Apparently there is one branch of the facial nerve that doesn't like to be touched.  She ended up with weakness of the right lower lip.  Doesn't show during normal talking but affects her smile and grimace.  Has gotten better over time but is still noticeable if you knew her before the surgery and is more pronounced when she is tired.  Most people, though, aren't aware of it.  

My daughter had node dissection in her right neck 3 years ago (1 of 26 was positive for melanoma).  They had to remove part of her parotid gland as well.  Apparently there is one branch of the facial nerve that doesn't like to be touched.  She ended up with weakness of the right lower lip.  Doesn't show during normal talking but affects her smile and grimace.  Has gotten better over time but is still noticeable if you knew her before the surgery and is more pronounced when she is tired.  Most people, though, aren't aware of it.  

I had a left neck dissection May 17th of this year and am still recovering.  They removed 60 nodes and unfortunately I had a total of 4 positive. 

The recovery is much harder than I had been expecting.  My left ear,  neck, top of shoulder and collar bone area are completely numb and I was told not to expect that to change much.  I also have drooping of my left bottom lip but otherwise can move my face well.

My big issue has been my shoulder.  My doctor transected a branch of the spinal accessory nerve as it was entrapped in scar tissue from my initial lymph node biopsy.  She did suture the nerve back up but it is very impaired at this point. Even with no know injury to that nerve, it is my understanding that it is vulnerable to being affected by removal of the lymph nodes during a neck dissection.  This nerve heps us to lift our shouler (shrug), lift the arm out to the side and to the front, and keeps the scapula (shoulder blade) against the chest wall.  Currently I can't move my arm farther than 90 degress to the side and about 110 degrees to the front, despite PT 3X week, and also have frequent burning pain in my shoulder blade.   I am a nurse and have not been able to return to work yet.

Definately get PT! Your doctor should give you a referral.  Keep the joint moblle with exercises so you don't lose range of motion.  Frozen shoulder is possible if you do not.

Good luck!  It is a bear of a surgery.  It will get better.

I had a left neck dissection May 17th of this year and am still recovering.  They removed 60 nodes and unfortunately I had a total of 4 positive. 

The recovery is much harder than I had been expecting.  My left ear,  neck, top of shoulder and collar bone area are completely numb and I was told not to expect that to change much.  I also have drooping of my left bottom lip but otherwise can move my face well.

My big issue has been my shoulder.  My doctor transected a branch of the spinal accessory nerve as it was entrapped in scar tissue from my initial lymph node biopsy.  She did suture the nerve back up but it is very impaired at this point. Even with no know injury to that nerve, it is my understanding that it is vulnerable to being affected by removal of the lymph nodes during a neck dissection.  This nerve heps us to lift our shouler (shrug), lift the arm out to the side and to the front, and keeps the scapula (shoulder blade) against the chest wall.  Currently I can't move my arm farther than 90 degress to the side and about 110 degrees to the front, despite PT 3X week, and also have frequent burning pain in my shoulder blade.   I am a nurse and have not been able to return to work yet.

Definately get PT! Your doctor should give you a referral.  Keep the joint moblle with exercises so you don't lose range of motion.  Frozen shoulder is possible if you do not.

Good luck!  It is a bear of a surgery.  It will get better.

I had a left neck dissection May 17th of this year and am still recovering.  They removed 60 nodes and unfortunately I had a total of 4 positive. 

The recovery is much harder than I had been expecting.  My left ear,  neck, top of shoulder and collar bone area are completely numb and I was told not to expect that to change much.  I also have drooping of my left bottom lip but otherwise can move my face well.

My big issue has been my shoulder.  My doctor transected a branch of the spinal accessory nerve as it was entrapped in scar tissue from my initial lymph node biopsy.  She did suture the nerve back up but it is very impaired at this point. Even with no know injury to that nerve, it is my understanding that it is vulnerable to being affected by removal of the lymph nodes during a neck dissection.  This nerve heps us to lift our shouler (shrug), lift the arm out to the side and to the front, and keeps the scapula (shoulder blade) against the chest wall.  Currently I can't move my arm farther than 90 degress to the side and about 110 degrees to the front, despite PT 3X week, and also have frequent burning pain in my shoulder blade.   I am a nurse and have not been able to return to work yet.

Definately get PT! Your doctor should give you a referral.  Keep the joint moblle with exercises so you don't lose range of motion.  Frozen shoulder is possible if you do not.

Good luck!  It is a bear of a surgery.  It will get better.

Hi I had a selective neck dissection Dec 15 2017 61 nodes removed all clear but the 3.2 cm one. However totally ecased with no matasizing. Scar left side from ear to centre lower throat , horrible operation.

Very lucky the san , jugular , and scm all perserved so range of motion excellent. Just the numbness and stiffness driving me crazy. Upper shoulder to ear tip and half of neck numb. Doing PT but will this numbness go away ??