The parathyroid consists of four tiny glands in the neck. They're called parathyroid because of their proximity to the thyroid. The parathyroid controls the amount of calcium in your bones and blood. These glands make a hormone called parathyroid hormone, or PTH, which transfers calcium from the bones to the blood. Sometimes the parathyroid glands develop problems and need to be surgically removed. This causes neck stiffness and pain, so physicians often recommend gentle exercises to help regain range of motion. Consult your physician before beginning these exercises.
Problems with Parathyroids
Parathyroid glands are normally the same size as grains of rice. But if you develop parathyroid disease, or hyperparathyroidism, one or more of the four glands swell up to the size of an olive. This is caused by over-activity of the parathyroid glands. When they manufacture too much PTH, calcium is leeched from the bones, eventually leading to osteoporosis. Other rarer problems with the parathyroids are cancer and hypothyroidism.
Surgery and Recovery
Depending on the surgical technique used, and the extent of your parathyroid problem, the incision across the front of your neck could be several inches long. Your sutures will dissolve, but in the meantime, you'll need to move carefully. Most patients require hospitalization and intravenous fluids. Next comes a liquid diet, then slowly you will switch to solid food. Pain medication might also be necessary.
Stretching the Sides of the Neck
You'll have to treat your neck gently after surgery. It's a vulnerable part of the body, as it's less protected than the spine and must support the weight of the head. For the duration of your surgery, which may take several hours, the neck is bent backward. To minimize pain, begin this neck exercise regimen before your surgery. It's important to move the neck smoothly rather than bouncing. To stretch the sides of the neck, drop the right ear toward the right shoulder. You should feel some stretch in the left side of the neck. You can add your right hand to gently push down on the head for added stretch. Do this ten times on each side.
Stretching the Back of the Neck
To stretch the back of your neck, drop your chin toward your chest. Gently rotate to the right, then center, then left. Do this ten times. Another good stretch is to tuck the chin toward the chest, then stretch it back as far as you comfortably can. Repeat ten times.
Shoulder Stretches
The shoulders are intimately connected to the neck, so stretch those, too. Start with simple shoulder shrugs. Lift them up toward the neck, then let them fall back to their normal position. Do this ten times. Follow by slowly rolling the shoulders backward, then forward, ten times in each direction.
Member Comments