Chronic, neck, ear and shoulder pain.

 

Hi, when I had my vegas nerve removed, about a year ago an infected seroma developed that impacted on the scar tissue from my operation. The neck area was very delicate anyway from previous radiotherapy. I've been experiencing excrutiating painful spasms at night. It starts with a pain in my shoulder ( that's very out of shape because of tendons that are stretched and pulling ) that spreads into my inner ear and neck with acid reflux on top of everything. The pain is so bad, I think I'm dying. The episodes last from 1-2 hrs. I can go three or four nights with nothing to three or four with pain. No real pattern. I've spoken to my doctors at the hospital, and the suggest stretching excercises, and  refer me to my GP. My GP basically says there is nothing he can see going on in my ear. I have a feeling it's the inner ear behind the ear drum. Another doctor said we have cured the cancer ( very, very grateful ) but the rest is something you'll have to live with and manage. I live alone now since I parted with my wife and it's so, so scary at night. I've tried all sorts of sleep positions and pillow variations, but to no avail. I was prescribed morphine for pain with my first round of tratment with radiotherapy, but I was hallucinating and very odd and didn't relly like taking it. I'm so grateful I'm cancer free, but boy, the price you pay !!

My basic question is ... does anybody out there have any identification with my symptoms, or experienced anything similar ? 

Thank you,

 

Gary1968

  • Hello Gary1968

    I'm really sorry to hear that you're struggling with some ongoing episodes of pain since your surgery. Living with chronic pain can be very debilitating and it's understandable that you want to try to do everything you can to improve your quality of life. 

    It sounds like another conversation with your GP is needed. It may be that you need some input from a physiotherapist to help with the tendons and try to start making some adjustments to your posture that eventually may help with the pain levels. It may be that you need to see a different specialist who can help with options to manage the spasms and pain levels. Certainly, your GP should be able to help you better manage the reflux that you're experiencing. 

    If you'd like to chat things through with one of our nurses for some advice and support you're most welcome to give them a call on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. 

    I hope that you're able to talk with your GP soon and they can set you on the path to improving things. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator