Why does my thyroid scar hurt?

Why does my thyroid scar hurt?

Scar tissue may cause pain in several ways. Sometimes, the pain is due to skin tightness, which may make it more difficult to move freely. In other cases, scar tissue pain occurs due to nerve damage resulting from the original injury.

How long does it take for the incision to heal after thyroid surgery?

Incision Scar You may feel a firm ridge directly over the incision. This is normal and will soften and go away when healing is complete usually in 3-6 months. All incisions are sensitive to sunlight. The ultraviolet light of the sun and tanning booths will darken the scar area in the first year.

How long does thyroidectomy scar take to heal?

Your scar will be most visible for the first 1-2 months after surgery, improve significantly over 2-3 months, and gradually fade over the next 6-9 months.

How do you know if you have an infection after thyroid surgery?

Postthyroidectomy infection may manifest as superficial cellulitis or as an abscess. Patients with cellulitis typically present with erythema, warmth, and tenderness of neck skin around the incision. A superficial abscess may be diagnosed on the basis of fluctuance and tenderness.

How long will my incision hurt?

What to Expect: Pain and swelling: Incision pain and swelling are often worst on day 2 and 3 after surgery. The pain should slowly get better during the next 1 to 2 weeks. Redness: Mild redness along the incision is common.

Can you feel internal scar tissue?

Symptoms of scar tissue pain Sometimes scar tissue can be painless. When it comes to scar tissue on your skin, you may notice it has a thicker texture compared to the rest of your body and that’s it.

Is it normal to feel like something is stuck in your throat after thyroid surgery?

Many patients will feel that there is something stuck in their throat or that they need to frequently clear their throat after surgery. All of these are normal, expected symptoms following surgery. Ice chips, cool drinks, throat lozenges (Cepacol) or throat spray (Chloraseptic) can be beneficial for sore throat.

How do I treat my incision after thyroid surgery?

Apply a light coating of Vaseline or antibiotic ointment over the incision multiple times throughout the day (can stop this after two to three weeks). Keep incision out of the sunlight, or if expecting exposure to sunlight, apply sunscreen (45 SPF or greater) to incision.

How do I clean my incision after thyroidectomy?

You can shower the day after surgery, or after any gauze dressing is removed, if present. While the surgical area can get wet, you should avoid getting excess water or moisture on the incision or vigorously scrubbing the area. Make sure to pat the area dry if it does get wet.

Do incisions hurt as they heal?

It is normal to feel pain at the incision site. The pain decreases as the wound heals. Most of the pain and soreness where the skin was cut should go away by the time the stitches or staples are removed. Soreness and pain from deeper tissues may last another week or two.

How do I know if my incision is infected?

Symptoms of Infection

1. Hot incision: An infected incision may feel warm or hot to the touch.
2. Swelling/hardening of the incision: An infected incision may harden.
3. Redness: Some redness at the incision site is normal.
4. Drainage from the incision: An infected incision may produce foul-smelling drainage or pus.

Can scar tissue get inflamed?

When it comes to scar tissue on your skin, you may notice it has a thicker texture compared to the rest of your body and that’s it. On the other hand, exterior scar tissue can be painful. Some of the symptoms of scar tissue pain include: inflammation (swelling)

What happens after thyroid surgery?

Immediately following surgery, you may have a small drain tube exiting the skin of the neck near the thyroid incision site; it will help keep fluid from building up in your neck, fluid that could lead to infection and additional pain.

How do I take care of an incision after thyroid surgery?

To take care of an incision after your thyroid surgery, clean it the day after surgery by taking a shower and allowing water and mild soap to run over the wound. Make sure to avoid scrubbing the area or putting any pressure on it, as this could reopen the site.

What are the possible complications of thyroidectomy?

Complications 1 Hematoma. Bleeding into the tissues surrounding the neck (a neck hematoma) is uncommon, but is potentially life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated promptly. 2 Permanent Hypoparathyroidism. 3 Laryngeal Nerve Injury. 4 Infection. 5 Seroma. 6 Thyroid Storm. 7 Anesthesia Risks.

How long does it take for a thyroid incision to heal?

The 3- to 4-inch incision resulting from thyroid surgery should heal within a couple of weeks. After your surgery, you will need to know how to take care of an incision.