Re: Back again for another round

[Guest guest]

, (Honey -- if you will forgive the term of endearment!) I don't

know how you do it. For that matter, how your husband does, either. I

certainly admire your fortitude in dealing with all this.

I hope this one will be easier for you than that giant 17 mm one. And

nope. I'm not a surgery buddy, but my thoughts sure will be with you.

Holler at me if there's anything I can do, but I don't know what it

would be. You want I should mail you a package of soup? If so, send

me your address!

Confused about one thing: If you have that necrosis going on, how can

the tissue regenerate? Your surgeon can use other healthy bone from

another spot on the jaw to make a condyle? It all sounds gawdawful to

me, and terribly painful, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

I'm focusing in on the 14th with lots of good, positive, healing

thoughts. If I knew a shaman, I'd put him to work on you!

Best to you-all, and take care, and know that we're thinking of you!

Cammie

> Hi all!

> I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of hours

> to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of

you

> post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

> recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

>

> I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long

story

> short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a small

> mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open bite.

> The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my already

> arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

> distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was then

> perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it got

> much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months later,

my

> lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was coming

> back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left joint

> and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months, everything

> went well and then the problems started again. I still have a very

> limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

> liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

>

> My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I have

> an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and the

> right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

> (fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left of

> the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

> joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow the

> condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to place

> distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and

make

> a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband will

> have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will come

> out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles

will

> advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything has

> healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the distractors

> and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

>

> The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

> typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my own

> healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

>

> I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and most

> people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the orthognathic

> surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

>

> Any January 14 surgery buddies?

>

[Guest guest]

, (Honey -- if you will forgive the term of endearment!) I don't

know how you do it. For that matter, how your husband does, either. I

certainly admire your fortitude in dealing with all this.

I hope this one will be easier for you than that giant 17 mm one. And

nope. I'm not a surgery buddy, but my thoughts sure will be with you.

Holler at me if there's anything I can do, but I don't know what it

would be. You want I should mail you a package of soup? If so, send

me your address!

Confused about one thing: If you have that necrosis going on, how can

the tissue regenerate? Your surgeon can use other healthy bone from

another spot on the jaw to make a condyle? It all sounds gawdawful to

me, and terribly painful, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

I'm focusing in on the 14th with lots of good, positive, healing

thoughts. If I knew a shaman, I'd put him to work on you!

Best to you-all, and take care, and know that we're thinking of you!

Cammie

> Hi all!

> I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of hours

> to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of

you

> post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

> recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

>

> I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long

story

> short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a small

> mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open bite.

> The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my already

> arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

> distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was then

> perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it got

> much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months later,

my

> lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was coming

> back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left joint

> and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months, everything

> went well and then the problems started again. I still have a very

> limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

> liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

>

> My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I have

> an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and the

> right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

> (fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left of

> the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

> joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow the

> condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to place

> distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and

make

> a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband will

> have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will come

> out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles

will

> advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything has

> healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the distractors

> and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

>

> The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

> typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my own

> healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

>

> I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and most

> people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the orthognathic

> surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

>

> Any January 14 surgery buddies?

>

[Guest guest]

, (Honey -- if you will forgive the term of endearment!) I don't

know how you do it. For that matter, how your husband does, either. I

certainly admire your fortitude in dealing with all this.

I hope this one will be easier for you than that giant 17 mm one. And

nope. I'm not a surgery buddy, but my thoughts sure will be with you.

Holler at me if there's anything I can do, but I don't know what it

would be. You want I should mail you a package of soup? If so, send

me your address!

Confused about one thing: If you have that necrosis going on, how can

the tissue regenerate? Your surgeon can use other healthy bone from

another spot on the jaw to make a condyle? It all sounds gawdawful to

me, and terribly painful, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

I'm focusing in on the 14th with lots of good, positive, healing

thoughts. If I knew a shaman, I'd put him to work on you!

Best to you-all, and take care, and know that we're thinking of you!

Cammie

> Hi all!

> I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of hours

> to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of

you

> post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

> recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

>

> I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long

story

> short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a small

> mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open bite.

> The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my already

> arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

> distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was then

> perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it got

> much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months later,

my

> lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was coming

> back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left joint

> and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months, everything

> went well and then the problems started again. I still have a very

> limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

> liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

>

> My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I have

> an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and the

> right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

> (fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left of

> the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

> joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow the

> condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to place

> distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and

make

> a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband will

> have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will come

> out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles

will

> advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything has

> healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the distractors

> and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

>

> The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

> typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my own

> healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

>

> I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and most

> people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the orthognathic

> surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

>

> Any January 14 surgery buddies?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie,

We just do what we have to do and compared to what I see in the ER

just about every day, what I'm going through is nothing. A lot of

discomfort, yes, but not life threatening. The ER definitely keeps

things in perspective for me.

The necrosis is all in the condyle. The surgeon will be removing all

the bad bone. The bone near the angle of the mandible is still

healthy so that is what will be used. I wish I could describe it

better or draw a picture but the surgeon is going to cut the

condylar bone out down to about a cm above the angle of the

mandible. I'm not sure exactly how he makes the cuts but somehow the

distractors (bidirectional ones using two screws on each side) will

advance the mandible forward as well as jutting the new condyle

upward. Luckily he will be giving me lots of good drugs during the

process. I'm a lightweight when it comes to drugs so it doesn't take

much to knock me out.

My in-laws told me they just opened a Felix's Fish Camp in

Montgomery. I think I'll get them to bring me some of that awesome

soup you treated us to.

Thanks for the good wishes. I hope you're continuing to do well and

happy new year (a little late).

> , (Honey -- if you will forgive the term of endearment!) I

don't

> know how you do it. For that matter, how your husband does,

either. I

> certainly admire your fortitude in dealing with all this.

>

> I hope this one will be easier for you than that giant 17 mm one.

And

> nope. I'm not a surgery buddy, but my thoughts sure will be with

you.

> Holler at me if there's anything I can do, but I don't know what

it

> would be. You want I should mail you a package of soup? If so,

send

> me your address!

>

> Confused about one thing: If you have that necrosis going on, how

can

> the tissue regenerate? Your surgeon can use other healthy bone

from

> another spot on the jaw to make a condyle? It all sounds gawdawful

to

> me, and terribly painful, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

>

> I'm focusing in on the 14th with lots of good, positive, healing

> thoughts. If I knew a shaman, I'd put him to work on you!

>

> Best to you-all, and take care, and know that we're thinking of

you!

>

> Cammie

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie,

We just do what we have to do and compared to what I see in the ER

just about every day, what I'm going through is nothing. A lot of

discomfort, yes, but not life threatening. The ER definitely keeps

things in perspective for me.

The necrosis is all in the condyle. The surgeon will be removing all

the bad bone. The bone near the angle of the mandible is still

healthy so that is what will be used. I wish I could describe it

better or draw a picture but the surgeon is going to cut the

condylar bone out down to about a cm above the angle of the

mandible. I'm not sure exactly how he makes the cuts but somehow the

distractors (bidirectional ones using two screws on each side) will

advance the mandible forward as well as jutting the new condyle

upward. Luckily he will be giving me lots of good drugs during the

process. I'm a lightweight when it comes to drugs so it doesn't take

much to knock me out.

My in-laws told me they just opened a Felix's Fish Camp in

Montgomery. I think I'll get them to bring me some of that awesome

soup you treated us to.

Thanks for the good wishes. I hope you're continuing to do well and

happy new year (a little late).

> , (Honey -- if you will forgive the term of endearment!) I

don't

> know how you do it. For that matter, how your husband does,

either. I

> certainly admire your fortitude in dealing with all this.

>

> I hope this one will be easier for you than that giant 17 mm one.

And

> nope. I'm not a surgery buddy, but my thoughts sure will be with

you.

> Holler at me if there's anything I can do, but I don't know what

it

> would be. You want I should mail you a package of soup? If so,

send

> me your address!

>

> Confused about one thing: If you have that necrosis going on, how

can

> the tissue regenerate? Your surgeon can use other healthy bone

from

> another spot on the jaw to make a condyle? It all sounds gawdawful

to

> me, and terribly painful, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

>

> I'm focusing in on the 14th with lots of good, positive, healing

> thoughts. If I knew a shaman, I'd put him to work on you!

>

> Best to you-all, and take care, and know that we're thinking of

you!

>

> Cammie

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie,

We just do what we have to do and compared to what I see in the ER

just about every day, what I'm going through is nothing. A lot of

discomfort, yes, but not life threatening. The ER definitely keeps

things in perspective for me.

The necrosis is all in the condyle. The surgeon will be removing all

the bad bone. The bone near the angle of the mandible is still

healthy so that is what will be used. I wish I could describe it

better or draw a picture but the surgeon is going to cut the

condylar bone out down to about a cm above the angle of the

mandible. I'm not sure exactly how he makes the cuts but somehow the

distractors (bidirectional ones using two screws on each side) will

advance the mandible forward as well as jutting the new condyle

upward. Luckily he will be giving me lots of good drugs during the

process. I'm a lightweight when it comes to drugs so it doesn't take

much to knock me out.

My in-laws told me they just opened a Felix's Fish Camp in

Montgomery. I think I'll get them to bring me some of that awesome

soup you treated us to.

Thanks for the good wishes. I hope you're continuing to do well and

happy new year (a little late).

> , (Honey -- if you will forgive the term of endearment!) I

don't

> know how you do it. For that matter, how your husband does,

either. I

> certainly admire your fortitude in dealing with all this.

>

> I hope this one will be easier for you than that giant 17 mm one.

And

> nope. I'm not a surgery buddy, but my thoughts sure will be with

you.

> Holler at me if there's anything I can do, but I don't know what

it

> would be. You want I should mail you a package of soup? If so,

send

> me your address!

>

> Confused about one thing: If you have that necrosis going on, how

can

> the tissue regenerate? Your surgeon can use other healthy bone

from

> another spot on the jaw to make a condyle? It all sounds gawdawful

to

> me, and terribly painful, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

>

> I'm focusing in on the 14th with lots of good, positive, healing

> thoughts. If I knew a shaman, I'd put him to work on you!

>

> Best to you-all, and take care, and know that we're thinking of

you!

>

> Cammie

[Guest guest]

,

I really hate that you've had to go through and still are going through so much.

It makes my " problems " seem so small. I'm keeping you in my prayers that when

these last procedures are done...they will, indeed, be your last procedures and

you will be very happy with the results...forever.

Smooches

Back again for another round

Hi all!

I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of hours

to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of you

post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long story

short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a small

mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open bite.

The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my already

arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was then

perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it got

much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months later, my

lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was coming

back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left joint

and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months, everything

went well and then the problems started again. I still have a very

limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I have

an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and the

right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

(fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left of

the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow the

condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to place

distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and make

a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband will

have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will come

out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles will

advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything has

healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the distractors

and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my own

healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and most

people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the orthognathic

surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

Any January 14 surgery buddies?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

,

I really hate that you've had to go through and still are going through so much.

It makes my " problems " seem so small. I'm keeping you in my prayers that when

these last procedures are done...they will, indeed, be your last procedures and

you will be very happy with the results...forever.

Smooches

Back again for another round

Hi all!

I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of hours

to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of you

post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long story

short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a small

mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open bite.

The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my already

arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was then

perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it got

much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months later, my

lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was coming

back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left joint

and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months, everything

went well and then the problems started again. I still have a very

limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I have

an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and the

right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

(fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left of

the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow the

condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to place

distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and make

a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband will

have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will come

out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles will

advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything has

healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the distractors

and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my own

healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and most

people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the orthognathic

surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

Any January 14 surgery buddies?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

,

I really hate that you've had to go through and still are going through so much.

It makes my " problems " seem so small. I'm keeping you in my prayers that when

these last procedures are done...they will, indeed, be your last procedures and

you will be very happy with the results...forever.

Smooches

Back again for another round

Hi all!

I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of hours

to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of you

post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long story

short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a small

mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open bite.

The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my already

arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was then

perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it got

much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months later, my

lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was coming

back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left joint

and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months, everything

went well and then the problems started again. I still have a very

limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I have

an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and the

right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

(fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left of

the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow the

condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to place

distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and make

a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband will

have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will come

out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles will

advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything has

healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the distractors

and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my own

healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and most

people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the orthognathic

surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

Any January 14 surgery buddies?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I hope your tmj problems get resolved once and for all. Sounds like

you're maintaining a very positive attitude about this whole

experience and that's great. Of course, we'll back you up if or when

you need some support.

Didn't you have one surgery back in May of 2002? If yes you were my

surgery buddy back then.

take care,

on

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I hope your tmj problems get resolved once and for all. Sounds like

you're maintaining a very positive attitude about this whole

experience and that's great. Of course, we'll back you up if or when

you need some support.

Didn't you have one surgery back in May of 2002? If yes you were my

surgery buddy back then.

take care,

on

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I hope your tmj problems get resolved once and for all. Sounds like

you're maintaining a very positive attitude about this whole

experience and that's great. Of course, we'll back you up if or when

you need some support.

Didn't you have one surgery back in May of 2002? If yes you were my

surgery buddy back then.

take care,

on

[Guest guest]

Oops, I meant May of 2003 ...

on

> Didn't you have one surgery back in May of 2002? If yes you were my

> surgery buddy back then.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Smooches. I just read about your daughter being diagnosed

with TMJ, too. I know how you feel. Last year when the pediatric

dentist told us our daughter had a serious overbite too (8 mm at age

2) and would more than likely need surgery in the future (when she

stops growing, not anytime soon), I was devastated and felt very

guilty. I hope she doesn't develop the TMJ problems that I had. A

big consolation was that treatments have advanced so much since I

was a child. She probably won't have the complications I did. I hope

your daughter gets some relief from her TMJ problems as well.

> ,

>

> I really hate that you've had to go through and still are going

through so much. It makes my " problems " seem so small. I'm keeping

you in my prayers that when these last procedures are done...they

will, indeed, be your last procedures and you will be very happy

with the results...forever.

>

> Smooches

>

> Back again for another

round

>

>

> Hi all!

> I haven't been here in awhile, been too busy working a lot of

hours

> to make up for the two months I'll be off post-op. I hope all of

you

> post-oppers are doing well and wish lots of luck and smooth

> recoveries to those of you with upcoming surgeries.

>

> I'll be going through surgery #4 on January 14. To make a long

story

> short, I've had TMJ problems almost all my life because of a

small

> mandible. I had surgery to correct a severe overbite and open

bite.

> The surgery was done in two stages to minimize stress on my

already

> arthritic TMJ's. First the lower jaw was advanced 17 mm using

> distraction and then my upper jaw was moved 5 mm. My bite was

then

> perfect but unfortunately instead of making the TMJ better, it

got

> much worse. The joints deteriorated rapidly and six months

later, my

> lower jaw was deviated 7 mm to the left and the overbite was

coming

> back. I then had a temporalis muscle graft placed in the left

joint

> and arthroscopic surgery on the right. For a few months,

everything

> went well and then the problems started again. I still have a

very

> limited opening (about 15 mm) and a lot of pain. I've been on a

> liquid/ mushy diet since my first surgery in Sept 2002.

>

> My lower jaw has noticeably regressed again and once again, I

have

> an open and overbite. The left condyle is pretty much gone and

the

> right condyle has avascular necrosis and the joint is ankylosed

> (fused). This time, the surgeon is going to remove what is left

of

> the condyles and coronoids and put a muscle graft into the right

> joint to replace the missing cartilage. We are going to regrow

the

> condyles using distraction osteogenesis again. He is going to

place

> distractors in the healthy bone in the back of the mandible and

make

> a cut through the bone. Twice daily for 10-15 days my husband

will

> have to turn the screws to lengthen the bone. The screws will

come

> out through my cheeks near my earlobes. Rebuilding the condyles

will

> advance my lower jaw again and close the bite. After everything

has

> healed, I'll have another minor procedure to remove the

distractors

> and have plates put in to reinforce everything.

>

> The only other option was to use prosthetic joints but they

> typically don't last as long. Hopefully since we are using my

own

> healthy native bone, the new condyles should last a lifetime.

>

> I hope I haven't scared anyone. My case was very unusual and

most

> people do have relief from the TMJ symptoms from the

orthognathic

> surgery. good luck to everyone going through surgery soon.

>

> Any January 14 surgery buddies?

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

[Guest guest]

Hey surgery buddy,

I am doing quite well and the new bite is great. The braces should be

coming off sometime soon.

I'll be thinking of you on the 14th. Please keep up us posted on your

recovery. All the best.

on

> Yes, that was me. I had TMJ arthroplasty and arthroscopy then (May

> 2003). How are you doing? Are you happy with your new bite? I hope

> you're doing well.

>

[Guest guest]

Hey surgery buddy,

I am doing quite well and the new bite is great. The braces should be

coming off sometime soon.

I'll be thinking of you on the 14th. Please keep up us posted on your

recovery. All the best.

on

> Yes, that was me. I had TMJ arthroplasty and arthroscopy then (May

> 2003). How are you doing? Are you happy with your new bite? I hope

> you're doing well.

>