Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Random question for those who have gone through surgery ... how long before you could open wide again? Like to bite into a big subway sandwich? Or to sing loud and clear or open wide and say " ahhh " ? Etc.? I imagine it takes some time and effort for the muscles to stretch to accommodate their new position, but how long are we talking? Do you ever fully regain the capacity to really open wide, or is it permanently a bit more limited after the surgery? Would some of the post-ops out there be so kind as to please reply with a) the date of their surgery, what kinds of exercises/therapy they're doing to regain the capacity to open wide, and c) how widely they can open now (eg, one finger width, two fingers, etc.). Thanks so much, and congrats to all who are on " the other side " ! Jen PS. Just found out my surgery won't be this spring after all ... postponed until at least the fall because my ortho needs approximately 6 more months to get my molars in proper alignment. Aaaargh!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 I never had a problem -- but remember, I only had lower jaw surgery, and I was neither wired nor banded. I can open wide, but I still do get tired if I have to hold it. And I hurt if I have to hold it for a long time. I had surgery in June 2002. Of course, I hurt when I had to hold it open before surgery, as well. I was amazed that when I told my surgeon, a couple of weeks post op, that my jaw was hurting on the side where he did the most work, he said, " Let's give it some support, " and put on two fairly heavy duty elastics, up front. The pain stopped almost immediately, while I was still in his chair. C. > Good, I'm glad there was no pain! Now I just get to worry about the > 'not-being-able-to-open-wide' thing. ;-P But it will be so wonderful > to even open a little bit, I think! > > So oonly a few people have weighed in on this. What is the consensus? > Do most people get bak to their pre-surgery openings? Nearly so? > Nowhere near? > > Eileen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 I never had a problem -- but remember, I only had lower jaw surgery, and I was neither wired nor banded. I can open wide, but I still do get tired if I have to hold it. And I hurt if I have to hold it for a long time. I had surgery in June 2002. Of course, I hurt when I had to hold it open before surgery, as well. I was amazed that when I told my surgeon, a couple of weeks post op, that my jaw was hurting on the side where he did the most work, he said, " Let's give it some support, " and put on two fairly heavy duty elastics, up front. The pain stopped almost immediately, while I was still in his chair. C. > Good, I'm glad there was no pain! Now I just get to worry about the > 'not-being-able-to-open-wide' thing. ;-P But it will be so wonderful > to even open a little bit, I think! > > So oonly a few people have weighed in on this. What is the consensus? > Do most people get bak to their pre-surgery openings? Nearly so? > Nowhere near? > > Eileen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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