Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Immediately after surgery (48 hours)
1. Aim for total voice rest for 48 hours following surgery – no speaking or whispering. You also need to avoid coughing, throat clearing, and laughing out loud.
- Tell your family/friends/colleagues in advance, so they are prepared. You may need to take time off work, or away from the family (particularly young children), if possible.
- You can communicate by writing, using pen and paper, or your phone/tablet.
- You may find it useful to have a ‘trial run’ of ‘Total Voice Rest’ before your surgery. This will help prepare you for any challenges you may not have anticipated.
- If the voice rest is broken, do start again immediately. Do not put off until next day.
2. Do not smoke after your operation. Avoid smoky atmospheres.
3. Do regular steam inhalations, several times throughout the day.
4. Drink plenty of fluids, ideally water (aiming for 1.5-2 litres total a day), avoiding caffeinated and alcoholic drinks which can cause dryness.
5. Avoid heavy lifting, pushing and pulling, including gym and aerobic activity (as this can cause strain in the larynx).
Be aware that you may feel lonely, isolated and/or frustrated during the period of total voice rest, and your mood may be adversely affected.
For the next week or two following surgery
1. After completing 48 hours of total voice rest, unless told otherwise, it is important you start using your voice again.
- Gradually increase the amount of talking you do – this will help your vocal cords to start working again, and help with healing.
- Initially, speak no louder than a soft conversational volume (but do not whisper).
- Speak less often than usual, and gradually increase the amount you use each day. To begin with, you could aim for five minutes, five times a day.
- Continue to avoid coughing and clearing your throat.
- As far as possible, do not shout, laugh loudly, whisper, raise your voice or sing.
- Complete any voice exercises that your therapist has advised you to do post-operatively.
2. Build in regular periods of voice rest, particularly if your voice is feeling tired, sore or hoarse.
3. Continue to drink to drink plenty of fluids, and keep steaming once or twice a day.
4. Take time each day to relax.
The vocal cords may take 6-8 weeks to recover following surgery, so it is important during this time to treat your voice with care.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Speech and language therapy service.
About this information
Service:
Speech and language therapy
Reference:
VV/035
Approval date:
27 September 2024
Review date:
1 September 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.