Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 Hi, I had lower jaw moved forward and genio nearly 11 months ago now. I was in braces for 2 months before surgery and 5 months after surgery. (my teeth were straight already!). I am writing this as i know how much it helped me when i was having surgery, to know people got through it. My surgery/recovery was relatively easy. I was not wired or banded or splinted and was eating (not chewing) solid foods about a week after srugery. I just chopped all into small pieces and swallowed whole. I think this helped greatly with my recovery as i was getting lots of nutrients. I also started light walking about 1.5weeks after surgery. I slept on my back about a week, but then when the surgeon put bands on to line up my mid-line i was in alot of pain on one side and so had to sleep on the other side. I was pretty swollen, but no bruising (my surgeon must have been delicate)! I played waterpolo 6 weeks after surgery (which is when bones have healed) and was fine until i got a large punch to the side of my jaw...i was in abit of pain for awhile. My swelling went down quite rapidly (about 2-3 weeks) but still had residual swelling up to 6 weeks later. I was called the 'model patient' as i progressed so fast with my eating, swelling, etc. I think alot of it is a state of mind. Getting out of bed really helps, and walking around to reduce swelling and get some normality back. (do it slowly though!). warm baths and showers also make you feel better. My lower lip and chin are still numb. Not totally numb, as i passed the surgeons 'numbness test' where i have to tell him if he is prodding me with blunt or sharp end of metal thing, but it is just not right! It is like a dulled sense of feeling. Kissing feels different (only on my lower lip as nothing was done to top jaw) - but this can take along time to get back to normal as the nerves are damaged. My surgeon said up to a couple of years before its perfect. He has only had one patient not get all feeling back in one spot on her chin. My jaw also now clicks on one side. Not all of the time, but sometimes when i yawn or chew hard or chewy foods, and when i move my jaw to the side or forward (has made biting my nails difficult!). I also cant open it as wide, and it is cometimes difficult to fit hamburgers or things whole into my mouth. Anway good luck to everyone with their journeys Ask any questions. Jaimi (in Australia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 Hello Jaimi, > My jaw also now clicks on one side. Not all of the time, but > sometimes when i yawn or chew hard or chewy foods, and when i move my > jaw to the side or forward (has made biting my nails difficult!). I > also cant open it as wide, and it is cometimes difficult to fit > hamburgers or things whole into my mouth. I'm just curious, did your surgeon told you if you will be able to open your mouth fully again, or is this " limitation " now became permanent? I'm meeting my surgeon in two weeks, and this is one of the questions that was on my mind. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2004 Report Share Posted May 10, 2004 Hi Jaimi, I am from Melbourne. I do have a couple of questions for you. I am in braces now (started 2 weeks ago) in preparation for exactly the surgery you had in about a year. I am really nervous thinking about it as I don't want long term problems. Do you feel your surgery was worth it? My surgeon says that a lot more surgery is done in Australia so it is pretty successful. He is pretty confident of good results and no problems. Does your jaw hurt if you try to open wider or are you just simply restricted? Would you do the same all over again. Regards Vhurgo > Hi, > > I had lower jaw moved forward and genio nearly 11 months ago now. I > was in braces for 2 months before surgery and 5 months after surgery. > (my teeth were straight already!). > I am writing this as i know how much it helped me when i was having > surgery, to know people got through it. > > My surgery/recovery was relatively easy. I was not wired or banded or > splinted and was eating (not chewing) solid foods about a week after > srugery. I just chopped all into small pieces and swallowed whole. I > think this helped greatly with my recovery as i was getting lots of > nutrients. I also started light walking about 1.5weeks after surgery. > I slept on my back about a week, but then when the surgeon put bands > on to line up my mid-line i was in alot of pain on one side and so > had to sleep on the other side. > I was pretty swollen, but no bruising (my surgeon must have been > delicate)! I played waterpolo 6 weeks after surgery (which is when > bones have healed) and was fine until i got a large punch to the side > of my jaw...i was in abit of pain for awhile. > > My swelling went down quite rapidly (about 2-3 weeks) but still had > residual swelling up to 6 weeks later. I was called the 'model > patient' as i progressed so fast with my eating, swelling, etc. I > think alot of it is a state of mind. Getting out of bed really helps, > and walking around to reduce swelling and get some normality back. > (do it slowly though!). warm baths and showers also make you feel > better. > > My lower lip and chin are still numb. Not totally numb, as i passed > the surgeons 'numbness test' where i have to tell him if he is > prodding me with blunt or sharp end of metal thing, but it is just > not right! It is like a dulled sense of feeling. Kissing feels > different (only on my lower lip as nothing was done to top jaw) - but > this can take along time to get back to normal as the nerves are > damaged. My surgeon said up to a couple of years before its perfect. > He has only had one patient not get all feeling back in one spot on > her chin. > > My jaw also now clicks on one side. Not all of the time, but > sometimes when i yawn or chew hard or chewy foods, and when i move my > jaw to the side or forward (has made biting my nails difficult!). I > also cant open it as wide, and it is cometimes difficult to fit > hamburgers or things whole into my mouth. > > Anway good luck to everyone with their journeys > > Ask any questions. > > Jaimi > (in Australia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 I didnt ask my surgeon. It would be a good idea to check though. jaimi orthognathicsurgerysupport , " Ray " wrote: > Hello Jaimi, > > > My jaw also now clicks on one side. Not all of the time, but > > sometimes when i yawn or chew hard or chewy foods, and when i move my > > jaw to the side or forward (has made biting my nails difficult!). I > > also cant open it as wide, and it is cometimes difficult to fit > > hamburgers or things whole into my mouth. > > > I'm just curious, did your surgeon told you if you will be able to open your > mouth fully again, or is this " limitation " now became permanent? I'm meeting > my surgeon in two weeks, and this is one of the questions that was on > my mind. > > Thanks, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Hi, I would do it again, and i even said that 3 days after surgery when i was in pain and had the nutty professor face! There is no pain opening my mouth wide, i just cant do it. It really isnt that bad, just can't stuff my face! (which is probably a good thing!) I had a fantastic surgeon, and as i mention had no bruising and recovered fast. I definantly think its done more (and possibly better) here than in the states, and so some of the posts on here can freak you out abit more than you should be. I had to have the surgery as my bottom teeth were hitting my top inner gum/roof of mouth, and my teeth would have fallen out if i didnt get it done. The other option was teeth pulled and braces for a long time; i didnt want this as i didnt want that pulled back look, plus my teeth were already perfectly straight, and im 24 and didnt want braces for 2 years (i had them for about 7 months). Good luck and make sure you ask your surgeon about past patients and their recovery time etc, and any permanent numbing or other problems. Ask me any questions you like. Jaimi > > Hi, > > > > I had lower jaw moved forward and genio nearly 11 months ago now. I > > was in braces for 2 months before surgery and 5 months after > surgery. > > (my teeth were straight already!). > > I am writing this as i know how much it helped me when i was having > > surgery, to know people got through it. > > > > My surgery/recovery was relatively easy. I was not wired or banded > or > > splinted and was eating (not chewing) solid foods about a week > after > > srugery. I just chopped all into small pieces and swallowed whole. > I > > think this helped greatly with my recovery as i was getting lots of > > nutrients. I also started light walking about 1.5weeks after > surgery. > > I slept on my back about a week, but then when the surgeon put > bands > > on to line up my mid-line i was in alot of pain on one side and so > > had to sleep on the other side. > > I was pretty swollen, but no bruising (my surgeon must have been > > delicate)! I played waterpolo 6 weeks after surgery (which is when > > bones have healed) and was fine until i got a large punch to the > side > > of my jaw...i was in abit of pain for awhile. > > > > My swelling went down quite rapidly (about 2-3 weeks) but still had > > residual swelling up to 6 weeks later. I was called the 'model > > patient' as i progressed so fast with my eating, swelling, etc. I > > think alot of it is a state of mind. Getting out of bed really > helps, > > and walking around to reduce swelling and get some normality back. > > (do it slowly though!). warm baths and showers also make you feel > > better. > > > > My lower lip and chin are still numb. Not totally numb, as i passed > > the surgeons 'numbness test' where i have to tell him if he is > > prodding me with blunt or sharp end of metal thing, but it is just > > not right! It is like a dulled sense of feeling. Kissing feels > > different (only on my lower lip as nothing was done to top jaw) - > but > > this can take along time to get back to normal as the nerves are > > damaged. My surgeon said up to a couple of years before its > perfect. > > He has only had one patient not get all feeling back in one spot on > > her chin. > > > > My jaw also now clicks on one side. Not all of the time, but > > sometimes when i yawn or chew hard or chewy foods, and when i move > my > > jaw to the side or forward (has made biting my nails difficult!). I > > also cant open it as wide, and it is cometimes difficult to fit > > hamburgers or things whole into my mouth. > > > > Anway good luck to everyone with their journeys > > > > Ask any questions. > > > > Jaimi > > (in Australia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.