Anyone had a total radical neck dissection?

I’m sorry to hear you are in such bad pain. I had a lot of pain in my upper back after my surgery, which they told me was due to the positioning. I was given Tylenol in the hospital but it did not help…. I couldn’t lay down or lean back because it hurt so much! After being up most of the night after the surgery, they finally gave me something else for the pain so I could get a little sleep….. the pain in my neck didn’t bother me, but the upper back/ shoulder pain was terrible!
(I do not like to take medicine because I often get a lot of negative side effects. ) When I was discharged I was told to take Tylenol for pain… it didn’t work in the hospital and it didn’t work at home! My family suggested taking something for muscle pain and suggested Advil. I finally got relief when I tried Advil and sat with a heating pad on my back…. I was not taking any other medicines so interactions were not a concern. I don’t know if the Advil made me tired but I was finally able to sleep.
If your whole body is sore it might be due to the positioning during surgery causing muscular pain; maybe you can ask your doctor if you can change the Tylenol for something like Advil to relieve the muscle pain? It really helped take away the pain so I could get some rest. …it also has fewer side effects than a prescription! Good luck!

well, i don't know about a 2nd or 3rd, i am having a heck of a time with this and its 8 days post surgery. still having a hard time swallowing, can't hardly talk, the tylenol is making me so sick, i only take one pain pill at bedtime. i know it was no piece of cake for any of you but i just don't believe i could back through more of the same. now, i feel as if i have full blown flu, aches and pains. thanks for letting me vent. wish you all the best

Hi @tcsurvivor4, I'm sure @lilyann and @salish33 will appreciate learning from your surgical experiences.

When did you have your third surgery? How is recovery going? If you had a tip to share, what do you wish you had known before your first surgery?

I have just completed my third radical neck dissection. I have been dealing with thyroid cancer for almost 17 years now. This time it moved into the retropharyngeal area at the base of my throat so they dissected that area as well. I wish you well and hopes for full and complete healing.

salish33, thank you so much for replying back to me. sounds like you held it together being this was all done within the 2 weeks. so glad it was successful being everything was so close together. i have the stiff neck thing going on to where it seems like its getting worst in trying to turn my head. i also like the fact that you have no lingering side effects being they opened you back up 3 times. i can't imagine. i turned 80 in dec. so all of this is a big concern for me. they said they don't look at age. so we will see. thanks again for letting me know about your adventure. sounded awful scary really. wishing you wellness and happiness.

Yes, I just went through this in November. Actually, had to go through it 3 times in less than 2 weeks. Had radical neck dissection surgery to remove a cancer at base of tonsil cavity along with inflamed lymph nodes. Was a success, however a lymphatic leak developed after surgery and they had to re-open my neck a second time to stop the leak. Subsequently, they determined through a biopsy of the thyroid that I also had thyroid cancer (unrelated to the primary). They re-opened my neck a 3rd time and removed thyroid along with some additional lymph nodes.

Like any surgery, not fun, but it was necessary. I got through it and my neck incisions are healing nicely. Initially, the neck scars are a little disconcerting but they will fade over time. I did have some neck muscle weakness that I had to rehab with physical therapy for a few weeks afterwards but otherwise no lingering side effects. FYI, I am 60 and was otherwise in good physical shape prior to the surgeries.