Neck and shoulder problems? UPDATE post 5

[Pembo]

My surgery was 4 years ago and I'm still dealing with neck and shoulder problems on the OPPOSITE side of my AN. I remember the PT saying in the days after surgery my neck was stiff due to my 20 hours in surgery. But why am I still dealing with this 4 years later?

Just wondered if anyone else had the same problem? I've been to the dr...he just wants me to take muscle relaxers which I can't take due to side effects. I've tried PT but with only a 10 visit limit, nothing gets accomplished. My only relief is a great massage therapist.

[Omaschwannoma]

To the massage you can add neck and shoulder stretches.  Once your pain subsides to a manageable level try strength training for the neck and shoulders. 

[Pembo]

I do stretches and forget the strength training. Everytime I try to do anything, it causes days of pain afterwards.......

[Captain Deb]

It helps to pay attention to your posture, like when you are driving, try to relax your shoulders and relax your head back against the headrest. Also go  to a drugstore that sells orthopedic supplies and buy a good soft collar neck support and wear it around the house and while you are on the computer or even at work if you have to. While you are there, get a Thermaphore heating pad--it has been a lifesaver for me.  It gives you a moist heat treatment.

I bought this little battery-powered neck massager and keep it on the coffee table and give myself a buzz every hour or so when I'm watching the tube in the evening. Also Icy Hot patches help. (Can you tell I have the same problem?) There is a product called Bio-freeze that is good. too.

I try to stay stretched troughout the day so my neck doesn't "lock up" by doing head rolls and shoulder rolls every 1/2 hour or so and even bending over and doing a toe touch or 2 and then a sky touch.  If you do a job like working at a computer all day, that's the worst for neck and shoulder pain.

Capt Deb

[Pembo]

I have the battery powered massager and I'm a regular heating pad fan! Haven't tried the patches yet thought. I do try to pay attention to posture, I definitely notice a difference. Have to check out the Thermaphore, moist heat sounds heavenly.

[Pembo]

I had an MRI and I have cervical spinal stenosis. That means that there is a narrowing in the nerve sheaths of the neck....caused by trauma. I guess 20 hours in the park position would be trauma. At least I have a name for my pain.

[yardtick]

Yesterday I was at the specialist and told him about my neck and shoulder bothering me.  He claims that for me it is a natural progression of the tumour.  I have a facial neuroma, so maybe, just maybe it is a natural progression of AN if the facial nerve has been damaged.  Just a thought!

Anne Marie

[Dog Lover]

Have you ever tried going to a chiropractor? I have a really great one that has a massage therapist massage the sore areas for 10-15 min, then I go to the chiropractors room and he does untrasound (for me, on my neck) then does the adjustment. I've been doing this for over a year now and it's been incredibly helpful.

I had my AN surgery 5 weeks ago and am finally going to my chirpractor tomorrow. Neck and shoulders haven't been in this much pain in a long time. I'm guessing its a combination of the surgery, the stress and the exercises. ??

Cathy