Robbin/1yr or Long Term Post Op/Plate removal

[Guest guest]

Hi Robbin,

Caycee here...people who have been around here forever will remember me (Hi,

Cammie and !!) I am 2 1/2 years post op. I had upper and lower. You

aren't alone in the problems you are having. I have had problems for the whole

two + years since my surgery. My problems have been a little different....but

I sure understand your frustration.

I had/have a lot of problems with tingling and nerve pain (I also have

numbness in my upper gums and upper lip...but compared to the pain and intense

tingling...I am thankful for numbness). I have been back and forth with my

surgeon

trying to get him to address my problems. I had no luck for the longest

time. Last month I went to see him armed with Internet printouts regarding

skull

base surgery to fix trigeminal nerve pain. I had already been through the MRI

that the skull base surgeon prescribed but hadn't gone for an initial

consultation. My orthognathic surgeon must have thought " Gee, she must be

serious

that she is in pain...she's threatening brain surgery! " Finally, he (well

actually it was his partner) told me that some of my pain might be from my upper

plate. I had it removed on Monday, August 2, 2004. I'm still recovering from

the plate removal so I don't know the long term results. I can tell you that

in my case, there was soft tissue that had grown into my sinus as a result of

my original jaw surgery. My surgeon thinks that was the source of some of my

pain. Sinus involvement might explain your nasal discharge. My surgeon

thinks that the plate removal (plus he removed the soft tissue that wasn't

supposed

to be near my sinus) combined with antibiotics will heal the opening in the

sinus with no additional surgery.

I am still pretty unsatisfied with the results of my surgery when I factor in

the pain, tingling and disturbing sensation changes I have. (plus, I didn't

get any cosmetic benefits from my surgery...actually I came out looking worse

than when I went in) I started joking with my family that I am going to start

referring to my original jaw surgery as " the accident "

Disclaimer for those who are reading this. My results are not the typical.

Don't let me scare you out of surgery. First, I am older than most patients

(50 yrs old when I had the surgery). I had the surgery to correct a breathing

problem that caused sleep apnea. I also had an earlier lower jaw surgery 35

years ago to correct an underbite. The vast majority of orthognathic surgery

patients do not have long term distressing results. I'm just one of the very

unlucky few who did.

In a message dated 8/5/2004 8:25:14 PM Pacific Standard Time,

no_reply writes:

> Subj: Year Post Op..Problems

> Date: 8/5/2004 8:25:14 PM Pacific Standard Time

> From: no_reply

> Reply-to: orthognathicsurgerysupport

> To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

> Sent from the Internet

>

>

>

> I really need to talk with someone about my situation and I know

> someone here can help me. You all were so helpfull pre-op, so I'm

> back I had U/L jaw surgery 1 yr ago. I have four plates and 15

> screws holding everything. Before my surgery I had no TMJ or sinus

> problems. I had the surgery due to an anterior open bite that was so

> large that when my teeth were together I could stick my ring finger

> through the space. Couldn't bite anything apart like lettuce,

> chicken, etc. My bite was off and they said I will have crowns on

> all my molars here soon due to the pressure I was putting on only

> those teeth. Now that I've had the surgery I'm having problems and

> questioning everything. My left jaw pops all the time and gets very

> sore. I can hear the bones rubbing at times. I'm still completly

> numb on the upper gums, nose and part of Upper lip. (No numbness on

> lower) and my nose constantly is running clear (ecspecially when I

> eat). I went to my surgeon last week and he wants to remover the

> plates and screws for whatever reason. Also my left condile (bone in

> jaw) is flat on top from the popping and rubbing. I was in such shock

> cause I thought I was done with the whole surgery thing. Has anyone

> else had problems similiar to mine? The doctor is just not a real

> people person and didn't go into every detail, so I want to know if

> this stuff is normal. Their office has already called wanting to

> schedule the removale of everything surgery. I told them I had to

> wait and take all this is and would get back to them. I'm thinking

> of seeing another surgeon for a second opinion. Let me know what you

> think and I hope someone has news to ease my stress on this.

> Thanks,

> Robbin