Guest guest Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 T, sounds like you are on track. I am 12 weeks and am up to 30mm and was about 20mm at 6 weeks (3 weeks post-wires), it seems like forever, and a Subway sandwich may seem like it will never happen again, but it will. Hang in there. Jerry > I am 7 and a half weeks post op and can only open my mouth about two > fingers. Is this normal. I am also in elastics from my ortho to > correct my midline; it shifted a lot after surgery. I am doing the > stretching exercises and I dont see any improvement greater than > 20mm. I am afraid of this being permanent and I cant deal with > that. My ortho said I would have to be at 40mm before the braces > come off. What should I do I am really stressing about this? > > T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Hey, I'm 7 and a half weeks out as well. And my opening is only two fingers, too. However, at 6 weeks, it was one finger. My os said that gradually it will improve more with the stretching, it just takes time. I try to read out loud a lot to my daughter and really work my mouth around..looks kind of weird, but hey, she's 4. I'm also in phsyical therapy and that has helped immensely. So I'd say you're doing great with two fingers! Alix > I am 7 and a half weeks post op and can only open my mouth about two > fingers. Is this normal. I am also in elastics from my ortho to > correct my midline; it shifted a lot after surgery. I am doing the > stretching exercises and I dont see any improvement greater than > 20mm. I am afraid of this being permanent and I cant deal with > that. My ortho said I would have to be at 40mm before the braces > come off. What should I do I am really stressing about this? > > T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Hey, I'm 7 and a half weeks out as well. And my opening is only two fingers, too. However, at 6 weeks, it was one finger. My os said that gradually it will improve more with the stretching, it just takes time. I try to read out loud a lot to my daughter and really work my mouth around..looks kind of weird, but hey, she's 4. I'm also in phsyical therapy and that has helped immensely. So I'd say you're doing great with two fingers! Alix > I am 7 and a half weeks post op and can only open my mouth about two > fingers. Is this normal. I am also in elastics from my ortho to > correct my midline; it shifted a lot after surgery. I am doing the > stretching exercises and I dont see any improvement greater than > 20mm. I am afraid of this being permanent and I cant deal with > that. My ortho said I would have to be at 40mm before the braces > come off. What should I do I am really stressing about this? > > T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Hey, I'm 7 and a half weeks out as well. And my opening is only two fingers, too. However, at 6 weeks, it was one finger. My os said that gradually it will improve more with the stretching, it just takes time. I try to read out loud a lot to my daughter and really work my mouth around..looks kind of weird, but hey, she's 4. I'm also in phsyical therapy and that has helped immensely. So I'd say you're doing great with two fingers! Alix > I am 7 and a half weeks post op and can only open my mouth about two > fingers. Is this normal. I am also in elastics from my ortho to > correct my midline; it shifted a lot after surgery. I am doing the > stretching exercises and I dont see any improvement greater than > 20mm. I am afraid of this being permanent and I cant deal with > that. My ortho said I would have to be at 40mm before the braces > come off. What should I do I am really stressing about this? > > T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Don't worry about it! You'll do just fine. When I reached approximately 8 weeks post op, my surgeon gave me exercises to do with and without the sticks. However long it may seem right now, solid foods are on the way. It also depends on how diligent you are in doing the exercises. My surgeon told me to try to do them hourly. I did them frequently during the day and night and by 12 weeks I was opening at 43mm.... Talk to your surgeon about the exercises you should be doing. take care Carin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Don't worry about it! You'll do just fine. When I reached approximately 8 weeks post op, my surgeon gave me exercises to do with and without the sticks. However long it may seem right now, solid foods are on the way. It also depends on how diligent you are in doing the exercises. My surgeon told me to try to do them hourly. I did them frequently during the day and night and by 12 weeks I was opening at 43mm.... Talk to your surgeon about the exercises you should be doing. take care Carin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Don't worry about it! You'll do just fine. When I reached approximately 8 weeks post op, my surgeon gave me exercises to do with and without the sticks. However long it may seem right now, solid foods are on the way. It also depends on how diligent you are in doing the exercises. My surgeon told me to try to do them hourly. I did them frequently during the day and night and by 12 weeks I was opening at 43mm.... Talk to your surgeon about the exercises you should be doing. take care Carin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Two fingers is all I am able to do 2 years later. Post op that's great. Things are really tight post surgery. The muscles will loosen or atleast they should. Mine did not. So I am going for uppers (I only had lowers done so the cross bite was fixed and turns out my bite is open but ...I digress) keep doing your stretches - tongue depressors. Shiloh > I am 7 and a half weeks post op and can only open my mouth about two > fingers. Is this normal. I am also in elastics from my ortho to > correct my midline; it shifted a lot after surgery. I am doing the > stretching exercises and I dont see any improvement greater than > 20mm. I am afraid of this being permanent and I cant deal with > that. My ortho said I would have to be at 40mm before the braces > come off. What should I do I am really stressing about this? > > T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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