The cervical vertebrae (neck bones) and the muscles posterior to them now support the weight of your head, meaning the neck is burdened with more weight than before the operation. Accordingly, some people suffer from a severe case of stiff shoulders.
When tilting the head forward, you can forecast beforehand what will happen, so this movement does not bother you. When you lean your head back, however, the cervical bones form an arch and yield excess weight to support the head. In particular, if it happens unexpectedly, the movement gives the neck a severe shock.
When you are traveling in a car, for example, you must take extra care not to suffer whiplash injuries at abrupt starts or stops. In order to protect yourself, it may be useful to put your hand on the back of your neck to support the weight of the head.
Q-4 Habit of putting a hand over the tracheostoma during esophageal speech
I was operated on one year ago. I was taught, at first, to put my hand over the tracheostoma for better speech. Continued practice has made it a habit, and I cannot speak unless I do so. What should I do?
