Yuuki Takamura1 , Akira Miyauchi1, Chisato Tomoda1, Takashi Uruno1, Yasuhiro Ito1, Akihiro Miya1, Kaoru Kobayashi1, Fumio Matsuzuka1, Nobuyuki Amino1 and Kanji Kuma1
(1) Kuma Hospital, 8-2-35 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku Kobe, 650-0011, Japan
Published online: 19 May 2005
Abstract Patients who undergo thyroid surgery frequently suffer from unpleasant symptoms such as a stretching, choking, or pressing feeling or discomfort in the neck for a long time. The usefulness of rehabilitation (i.e., a stretching exercise) for reducing these symptoms after surgery has never been studied. In the present study, attempts were made to evaluate the usefulness of the stretching exercise in reducing disagreeable postoperative symptoms in the patients who had undergone thyroid surgery. A total of 409 patients, including 234 thyroid cancer patients, were randomly divided into a stretching group (n = 204) and a control group (n = 205). Patients in the stretching group were instructed that the stretching exercise was to be performed three times a day beginning the morning following surgery. A questionnaire survey was performed before surgery and then 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Total symptom scores obtained from the questionnaire survey from the control group and the stretching group were compared. The use of analgesics was also investigated. Postoperative neck symptoms declined gradually over the course of a year, and the total symptom scores were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the stretching group than in the control group at all points throughout the year (1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year). The mean requirement for the use of analgesics during hospitalization was significantly (p < 0.0001) less in the stretching group (1.6 ± 2.3 tablets, mean ± SD) than in the control group (3.1 ± 3.8 tablets). The stretching exercise had effectively reduced postoperative neck symptoms and also reduced the use of analgesics after thyroid surgery.
(1) Kuma Hospital, 8-2-35 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku Kobe, 650-0011, Japan
Published online: 19 May 2005
Abstract Patients who undergo thyroid surgery frequently suffer from unpleasant symptoms such as a stretching, choking, or pressing feeling or discomfort in the neck for a long time. The usefulness of rehabilitation (i.e., a stretching exercise) for reducing these symptoms after surgery has never been studied. In the present study, attempts were made to evaluate the usefulness of the stretching exercise in reducing disagreeable postoperative symptoms in the patients who had undergone thyroid surgery. A total of 409 patients, including 234 thyroid cancer patients, were randomly divided into a stretching group (n = 204) and a control group (n = 205). Patients in the stretching group were instructed that the stretching exercise was to be performed three times a day beginning the morning following surgery. A questionnaire survey was performed before surgery and then 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Total symptom scores obtained from the questionnaire survey from the control group and the stretching group were compared. The use of analgesics was also investigated. Postoperative neck symptoms declined gradually over the course of a year, and the total symptom scores were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the stretching group than in the control group at all points throughout the year (1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year). The mean requirement for the use of analgesics during hospitalization was significantly (p < 0.0001) less in the stretching group (1.6 ± 2.3 tablets, mean ± SD) than in the control group (3.1 ± 3.8 tablets). The stretching exercise had effectively reduced postoperative neck symptoms and also reduced the use of analgesics after thyroid surgery.
I had a thyroidectomy 3 years ago and am experiencing the tightness as well. Mine is not skin tighness, it is more like the feeling of beeing choked, and it is making swallowing harder. I just had an Ultra sound, waiting on results. Im nervous its another nodule growing, pressing on my esophagus? I hope not. I don't think these problems should happen so far after surgery?????
I am also experiencing this tightness directly above the incision site. It feels like someone is pushing on my trachea and it feels difficult to breathe, which makes it hard to sleep. This feeling has been gradually getting worse since the surgery and it almost feels hard like a new tumor is there- although I know it isn't since it was a TT. Swallowing larger pieces of food is also uncomfortable. My husband is a vet and says that it's part of the healing process as everything fills in, but I sure not very happy about it.
I had a total thyroidectomy on Feb 29 , 2008 . Now 2 months later I'm still experiencing tightness in the area of the incision . My chiropractor [ the only one to give me any hope of relief ] said that they cut through several layers to remove the thyroid and when this area is healing , the layers adhere together . He said to try stretching and massaging area will help loosen these layers apart . It sounds like it could take several months to heal . I've got thr "run around from everyone from my family dr. to ent's to GIs . I don't think any of them are truly listening or understanding my symptoms .
I lost the bookmark when my hard disk crashed, but a friend gave me a site with facial exercises - to prevent double-chins, wrinkles, etc. - when I tried them it really helped with the neck stiffness, even though it wasn't meant for that. But they made me feel a LOT better (and hey, maybe it'll help prevent wrinkles, too ;-)
I'll see if I can find it again. And I'm betting chiropractic would help, too.
I'll see if I can find it again. And I'm betting chiropractic would help, too.
I can't find the exercises page, but I did find a summary page of some - these are the ones where I've noticed I definitely FELT something happening, and it's been loosening up my neck some. I kind of doubt it will prevent wrinkles, but it might help loosen up your stiff neck, too:
Tilt your head backwards while lifting your chin up to the ceiling. Hold this position while making chewing motions with the mouth. The first time I did this one - whoa! I could really feel how tight my whole throat area was, but it did eventually start to loosen up.
Slowly and gently roll your head around on your neck, as if trying to touch your shoulders with your ears - I do this one about five times each side if I can.
I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the Internet, but maybe it'll help? If it hurts way too much (not just stiffness hurt), obviously don't do it!
Tilt your head backwards while lifting your chin up to the ceiling. Hold this position while making chewing motions with the mouth. The first time I did this one - whoa! I could really feel how tight my whole throat area was, but it did eventually start to loosen up.
Slowly and gently roll your head around on your neck, as if trying to touch your shoulders with your ears - I do this one about five times each side if I can.
I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the Internet, but maybe it'll help? If it hurts way too much (not just stiffness hurt), obviously don't do it!
I had my left thyroid removed 1 month ago. Some days I'm ok and others, like right now, I also have that feeling of tightness in my neck. I went to the END and he told me to give it 2-3 more weeks for total healing. My scar is also sensitive to shirts with neck touching it. I tried to wear a scarf, mostly to keep the sun off, and it's very uncomfortable. Trying to get someone who hasn't had this done to understand the feeling in the neck is almost impossible. I'm almost regretting have the procedure done. I had a nodule and it wasn't even cancerous.
Any advice or inspiration would be most helpful.
Any advice or inspiration would be most helpful.
I still have neck tightness which causes swallowing and breathing problems almost 5 months after thyroidectomy . I' m not so sure I needed my thyroid out either . Had some smaller modules and in flammation . Switched primary dr and am scheduled to see GI at the end of the month . THEY all say acid reflux or anxiety . Many don't try to look much farther for answers . Chiropractor didn't help much
I had my TT on July 4th and experienced tightness , I found that while in hospital, the Tylenol 3s with codeine helped immensely. I am not taking the T3s anymore but when it gets tight extra strength tylenol works too. I have been gently massaging and stretching my neck since the surgery and it it not too bad. I have also found that using those microwavable heat pads help too.I hope all of you get some relief soon.
I am a physician. I had a total thyroidectomy four weeks ago and my surgeon, an ENT, is considered brilliant and one of the best. The pain is scary. I feel like a necklace is being pulled tightly around my neck and is strangling me. I also have a very deep pain in my right neck where my my right lobe was growing around my trachea and had to be scraped away. It feels like someone stabbed me deeply in my right neck with a huge butcher knife. On top of all that, I have referred pain that travels up to my right ear and feels like a screwdriver is being driven into the ear. I am terrified that this pain will never go away.
I had a plastic surgeon close the incision and he told me I HAVE to massage the incision a few times a day or the pain will persist and the scar will feel like a rope and adhere to the tissues underneath. It hurts so bad to massage it, but I will continue to do so. He told me the massages are far more important than putting Vitamin E on the incision. He also said to keep the incision covered with sunscreen for at least six months.
I am praying this pain eventually disappears.
I had a plastic surgeon close the incision and he told me I HAVE to massage the incision a few times a day or the pain will persist and the scar will feel like a rope and adhere to the tissues underneath. It hurts so bad to massage it, but I will continue to do so. He told me the massages are far more important than putting Vitamin E on the incision. He also said to keep the incision covered with sunscreen for at least six months.
I am praying this pain eventually disappears.
I'm sorry to hear how others are having issues after their procedure. I had mine done about 7 years ago and I've never had a problem. As a matter of fact it healed quickly and the years went by smoothly. My question is: What is the probability of the other part of my thyroid holding up? Because I'm beginning to believe it may be acting up again. I just had blood work done and I'm afraid of what results may come back.
I had a TT done only a month ago nov08 It is very slow to heal I have a solid lump under the scar area which is sensitive to touch It feels like something is stuck in my throat and this makes me feel nauseous especially after a meal or a drink. My surgeon thinks it is healing naturally but it is very inconvenient I was pressured into having it removed because of calcification of the nodules and that it was retrosternal.
My view is that unless it is life threatening don't have the op the after effects are in my view worse than the condition
My view is that unless it is life threatening don't have the op the after effects are in my view worse than the condition
I had a TT five months ago and still experience tightness in my neck 24 hours daily and especially when swallowing I feel a pulling sensation in my neck. I called my surgeon and I will see him in one week. He says I shoud not be experiencing problems anymore.....but I AM!!! I wonder what he will tell me to do. I do four neck stretching exercises, use heat with a microwave neck thing, and am using Mederma scar cream three times daily. My favorite hobby was singing in my church choir and I don't feel that I can sing.....it has definitely been a life changing event! Does anyone have any suggetions? My patience is wearing very thin. Thank you!!!
I had 1/2 of my thryoid removed 18 months ago. large nodule non cancerous. I still feel pressure and swallowing is not a completely involuntary action anylonger. I pretty much just live with it. I love to sing also and have just begun challenging my vocal chords. i refuse to give up that i can hit same range as before. my throat becomes tight and it is weak to talk after trying to sing , but i don't care. I was told when we remove something God has put there , there is going to be side effects without it , so I accept that. I had my blood checked last summer once, my kidneys and liver were functioning normally. all she told me. so unless there is unbearable pain, i really don't want to know. my weights o.k. also menopausal at 46. maybe was because of thyroid. haven't had period in two yrs. so hope you feel better. I try and reinforce to myself, that hypochondria definitely sets in the more we read about stuff. Good luck.
I was glad that I found a site that described my feelings following my thyroid surgery in January 2009 for cancer. I am a 55 year old female who has never had a problem with acid reflux or any stomach problem. I have been experiencing a lot of pressure in the neck and upper chest and thought I was having a heart attack a couple of weeks ago. My heart is good. Hopefully, this feeling will disappear. I am going to have an endoscopy this year just to be sure I haven't developed a hiatal hernia. I wake up at 4-5 am and take my synthroid and go back to bed. I was wondering if it was bad to lie down after taking it. Does anyone know?