Guest guest Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 , just wanted to say again I think you're very brave and strong. Sending positive thoughts your way! Nathalie > Hi y'all, > > This is my first time back on the computer after surgery (bilateral > TMJ reconstruction). The surgery went pretty well. On my left joint > I had previously had a temporalis muscle graft which had healed > well. The condyle was already gone (from arthritis) all my surgeon > had to do was smooth out the bone, make a 45 degree cut through the > mandible and place the distractor. The right side was more > difficult. Part of the condyle was still there but the bone was very > ratty and there was no cartilage or disc left. The joint was > essentially fused. He removed the remainder of the condyle and did a > temporalis muscle flap to replace the cartilage and then placed the > distractors. > > My recovery has been more difficult this time around. I guess after > 4 jaw surgeries in 16 months, my reserves were down. I ended up with > a kidney infection day #2 so I spent 4 nights in the hospital > instead of two as planned. When I finally left, I was still throwing > up and unable to keep a lot down but I really wanted to go home. > Luckily I have a good friend who is a nurse and came to my house > every day for a week and gave me IV fluids. > > We started the distraction 4 days ago. I have screws hanging out of > my cheeks that have to be turned twice a day. It's torture. Just > when I think the pain is under control, it's time to turn again. > Each turn expands the bone 1/2 mm. We've gotten 5 mm done out of the > 15 that my surgeon estimates I need. This is the second time I've > had to had this done so at least I know what to expect. > > This surgery is different than my orthognathic surgeries in that > early range of motion exercises are very important. I have to do > stretching exercises all day long to improve mobility. I can now > open about 2 finger widths - a huge improvement over pre-op but I > still have a long way to go. I wear bands when I'm not stretching to > keep my bite in place. > > I'm still on a liquid diet. Since the surgeon removed the condyles > and coronoids, the rest of my lower jaw is basically floating. If I > try to bite down on something, I can just feel the bones shift > around. It feels really weird. By using precise turns of the screws > and bands, the surgeon can put my lower jaw into a perfect bite > again (like after surgery #2). I can't wait to see the final results. > > Thank you for all your good wishes pre-op. Good luck to those with > upcoming surgeries. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 , Oh, I really feel for you. This sounds like torture, but I'm praying that the pain eases up for you soon. I really do wish you the best. You've been through so much that I feel that my surgery was just a walk in the park. I wish I could take the pain away from you. And I pray that this will work out perfectly and permanently and be the last surgery you have to go through. Here's wishing you the best. Smooches 11 days post-op Hi y'all, This is my first time back on the computer after surgery (bilateral TMJ reconstruction). The surgery went pretty well. On my left joint I had previously had a temporalis muscle graft which had healed well. The condyle was already gone (from arthritis) all my surgeon had to do was smooth out the bone, make a 45 degree cut through the mandible and place the distractor. The right side was more difficult. Part of the condyle was still there but the bone was very ratty and there was no cartilage or disc left. The joint was essentially fused. He removed the remainder of the condyle and did a temporalis muscle flap to replace the cartilage and then placed the distractors. My recovery has been more difficult this time around. I guess after 4 jaw surgeries in 16 months, my reserves were down. I ended up with a kidney infection day #2 so I spent 4 nights in the hospital instead of two as planned. When I finally left, I was still throwing up and unable to keep a lot down but I really wanted to go home. Luckily I have a good friend who is a nurse and came to my house every day for a week and gave me IV fluids. We started the distraction 4 days ago. I have screws hanging out of my cheeks that have to be turned twice a day. It's torture. Just when I think the pain is under control, it's time to turn again. Each turn expands the bone 1/2 mm. We've gotten 5 mm done out of the 15 that my surgeon estimates I need. This is the second time I've had to had this done so at least I know what to expect. This surgery is different than my orthognathic surgeries in that early range of motion exercises are very important. I have to do stretching exercises all day long to improve mobility. I can now open about 2 finger widths - a huge improvement over pre-op but I still have a long way to go. I wear bands when I'm not stretching to keep my bite in place. I'm still on a liquid diet. Since the surgeon removed the condyles and coronoids, the rest of my lower jaw is basically floating. If I try to bite down on something, I can just feel the bones shift around. It feels really weird. By using precise turns of the screws and bands, the surgeon can put my lower jaw into a perfect bite again (like after surgery #2). I can't wait to see the final results. Thank you for all your good wishes pre-op. Good luck to those with upcoming surgeries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 > Hi y'all, > > This is my first time back on the computer after surgery (bilateral > TMJ reconstruction). The surgery went pretty well. On my left joint > I had previously had a temporalis muscle graft which had healed > well. The condyle was already gone (from arthritis) all my surgeon > had to do was smooth out the bone, make a 45 degree cut through the > mandible and place the distractor. The right side was more > difficult. Part of the condyle was still there but the bone was very > ratty and there was no cartilage or disc left. The joint was > essentially fused. He removed the remainder of the condyle and did a > temporalis muscle flap to replace the cartilage and then placed the > distractors. > > My recovery has been more difficult this time around. I guess after > 4 jaw surgeries in 16 months, my reserves were down. I ended up with > a kidney infection day #2 so I spent 4 nights in the hospital > instead of two as planned. When I finally left, I was still throwing > up and unable to keep a lot down but I really wanted to go home. > Luckily I have a good friend who is a nurse and came to my house > every day for a week and gave me IV fluids. > > We started the distraction 4 days ago. I have screws hanging out of > my cheeks that have to be turned twice a day. It's torture. Just > when I think the pain is under control, it's time to turn again. > Each turn expands the bone 1/2 mm. We've gotten 5 mm done out of the > 15 that my surgeon estimates I need. This is the second time I've > had to had this done so at least I know what to expect. > > This surgery is different than my orthognathic surgeries in that > early range of motion exercises are very important. I have to do > stretching exercises all day long to improve mobility. I can now > open about 2 finger widths - a huge improvement over pre-op but I > still have a long way to go. I wear bands when I'm not stretching to > keep my bite in place. > > I'm still on a liquid diet. Since the surgeon removed the condyles > and coronoids, the rest of my lower jaw is basically floating. If I > try to bite down on something, I can just feel the bones shift > around. It feels really weird. By using precise turns of the screws > and bands, the surgeon can put my lower jaw into a perfect bite > again (like after surgery #2). I can't wait to see the final results. > > Thank you for all your good wishes pre-op. Good luck to those with > upcoming surgeries. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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