Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 We just found out from the orthodontist today that my son needs to have orthogrnathic surgery, both upper and lower jaw. I am very concerned and wanted additional information from others who have experienced it. Can someone answer a few questions? 1. How painful is it and how long a recovery period? 2. How long before he will be able to eat or talk? 3. He currently plays the trumpet, will he have to quit? 4. We have been recommended to a doctor in NY. Does anyone have any recommendations on good surgeons in NJ or NY. 5. Did your insurance cover it? His bite is extremely off, so I don't think there is any question,he needs the surgery, but I am pretty worried. Thank you Toni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2004 Report Share Posted June 22, 2004 > 1. How painful is it and how long a recovery period? Not that much because the area where the surgery is taking place will get numb (from moving the nerves), so you don't feel a great deal of pain. And your son will be given plenty of medication to control pain. Really, it's not that much. And the numbness will go away, for the major part. There are small risks of certain areas retaining a certain numbness, but your surgeon will discuss these with you. The worst part is usually the first 3 days. Some have difficult breathing (not my case, on the contrary, I never been better in that area in my whole life!), others have nausea. But both these conditions, there is help (medication for the nausea, oxygen to help breathing, etc.) > > 2. How long before he will be able to eat or talk? It depends on the procedure and how it's performed. Some patients are shut wired for 8 weeks, others are free to talk and eat on Day #1. In my case, I was able to open my mouth minutes after the surgery, but was politely asked not to, because it would put too much stress on my healing jaws. And this was a previous deal with my surgeon : not shutting my mouth with hard wires, in exchange for me not talking too much, and most importantly, not chewing until given permission. The " normal " talking will return within weeks after the surgery, but this is very dependant on the surgery and the patient. Some are more lucky then others. I know that, 21 days after surgery, I can talk, and it's ok, but I wouldn't use the phone, it woudl be too complicated for now. Eating is done in stages. First, the liquid. Then, soft food. Later, more solid stuff. At the end, you return to normal eating habbits. > > 3. He currently plays the trumpet, will he have to quit? > Quit, no. Postpone, for a short while, I think so. If it's any indication, I am unable to go to the gym until the bones have healed sufficiently, which is expected to be at week #8. All surgeries & surgeons being different, your son's case will vary. But generally, consider 2 to 3 months before he can put pressure on his jaws. > 4. We have been recommended to a doctor in NY. Does anyone have > any recommendations on good surgeons in NJ or NY. > > 5. Did your insurance cover it? > Sorry.. I'm a Canadian... can't help for those questions... > His bite is extremely off, so I don't think there is any question,he > needs the surgery, but I am pretty worried. Don't be. Thousands and thousands of people have gone through this before and for the greater part, they're all living happy now. And the younger this surgery is done (to a certain point), the faster the healing will be, and the less chance of complication there is. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2004 Report Share Posted June 23, 2004 -Ray, Thank you so much for the information. We are going on vacation this week and will make an appointment with the surgeon about our return and then take it from there. Toni -- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " Ray " wrote: > > 1. How painful is it and how long a recovery period? > > Not that much because the area where the surgery is taking > place will get numb (from moving the nerves), so you don't > feel a great deal of pain. And your son will be given plenty > of medication to control pain. Really, it's not that much. > > And the numbness will go away, for the major part. There > are small risks of certain areas retaining a certain numbness, > but your surgeon will discuss these with you. > > The worst part is usually the first 3 days. Some have difficult > breathing (not my case, on the contrary, I never been better > in that area in my whole life!), others have nausea. But both > these conditions, there is help (medication for the nausea, > oxygen to help breathing, etc.) > > > > > 2. How long before he will be able to eat or talk? > > It depends on the procedure and how it's performed. Some patients > are shut wired for 8 weeks, others are free to talk and eat on Day #1. > > In my case, I was able to open my mouth minutes after the surgery, > but was politely asked not to, because it would put too much > stress on my healing jaws. And this was a previous deal with my > surgeon : not shutting my mouth with hard wires, in exchange for > me not talking too much, and most importantly, not chewing until > given permission. > > The " normal " talking will return within weeks after the surgery, but > this is very dependant on the surgery and the patient. Some are more > lucky then others. I know that, 21 days after surgery, I can talk, and > it's ok, but I wouldn't use the phone, it woudl be too complicated for > now. > > Eating is done in stages. First, the liquid. Then, soft food. Later, more > solid stuff. At the end, you return to normal eating habbits. > > > > > 3. He currently plays the trumpet, will he have to quit? > > > > Quit, no. Postpone, for a short while, I think so. If it's any indication, > I am unable to go to the gym until the bones have healed sufficiently, > which is expected to be at week #8. All surgeries & surgeons being > different, your son's case will vary. But generally, consider 2 to 3 months > before he can put pressure on his jaws. > > > 4. We have been recommended to a doctor in NY. Does anyone have > > any recommendations on good surgeons in NJ or NY. > > > > 5. Did your insurance cover it? > > > > Sorry.. I'm a Canadian... can't help for those questions... > > > His bite is extremely off, so I don't think there is any question,he > > needs the surgery, but I am pretty worried. > > Don't be. Thousands and thousands of people have gone through > this before and for the greater part, they're all living happy now. > > And the younger this surgery is done (to a certain point), the faster > the healing will be, and the less chance of complication there is. > > Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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