Partial hardware removal ---

[Guest guest]

A couple weeks ago I posted the message below and wanted to give an

update so that if you are contemplating having your hardware removed

you can read a little bit about it.

Just for a brief history, I had upper (moved up about 5mm), lower

(moved forward 20mm) back in March of this year. I'm still fairly

numb, but no where near the numbness that I was a few months ago.

It is *slowly* returning.

Here is a picture of all the hardware in place:

http://www.pbase.com/bster/image/33064219

The upper far left plate slipped a bit and was sticking out of my

gum. It was causing me a dull ache. and I could feel it! My gum

was still covering it, but I felt the corner up there jetting out.

I talked to my surgeon and he said that since it was bothering me so

much I should have it taken out. We decided to leave the rest of

the hardware intact since it's not bugging me at all.

The procedure itself was done in his office and I had the option of

being awake during the procedure (NO THANKS! PLEASE SEDATE!). I

went with sedation because I really didn't want to hear anything!

It took about 40 minutes and I felt really good afterwards (gotta

love the demerol, valium mix they give!). At day 3 I swelled up and

still look like a chipmunk. I had the hardware removed on Tuesday

9/28.

The doc said I'd only miss a day of work, but I ended up working

from home the rest of the week, half days. The pain is tolerable.

I took the pain meds for the first 4 days and have now switched to

Advil.

The dull ache that the plate was causing is now gone and the only

pain I have now is where the incision sites are. I expect that to

go away in the next week. Doc used dissolvable stitches so I won't

need to have those removed.

Here is a pic of the hardware sitting on my desk (please note that

there are only 7 screws & 8 screw holes - one screw was sucked up by

the suction machine!) http://www.pbase.com/bster/image/34386319

I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding this procedure.

-Britt

> Last week I started getting a dull ache in my upper jaw & teeth.

I

> felt around up there with my finger (still pretty numb!) and felt

> something poking out of my gums.

> I went to see my surgeon and he said a plate had 'slipped' a bit

> during healing and is stickikng out of my gums. EEEK!

> I'm having the plate removed early next week.

>

> Has anyone out there heard of or had this happen? I'm a little

> freaked out!

>

> Thanks,

> Britt

[Guest guest]

A couple weeks ago I posted the message below and wanted to give an

update so that if you are contemplating having your hardware removed

you can read a little bit about it.

Just for a brief history, I had upper (moved up about 5mm), lower

(moved forward 20mm) back in March of this year. I'm still fairly

numb, but no where near the numbness that I was a few months ago.

It is *slowly* returning.

Here is a picture of all the hardware in place:

http://www.pbase.com/bster/image/33064219

The upper far left plate slipped a bit and was sticking out of my

gum. It was causing me a dull ache. and I could feel it! My gum

was still covering it, but I felt the corner up there jetting out.

I talked to my surgeon and he said that since it was bothering me so

much I should have it taken out. We decided to leave the rest of

the hardware intact since it's not bugging me at all.

The procedure itself was done in his office and I had the option of

being awake during the procedure (NO THANKS! PLEASE SEDATE!). I

went with sedation because I really didn't want to hear anything!

It took about 40 minutes and I felt really good afterwards (gotta

love the demerol, valium mix they give!). At day 3 I swelled up and

still look like a chipmunk. I had the hardware removed on Tuesday

9/28.

The doc said I'd only miss a day of work, but I ended up working

from home the rest of the week, half days. The pain is tolerable.

I took the pain meds for the first 4 days and have now switched to

Advil.

The dull ache that the plate was causing is now gone and the only

pain I have now is where the incision sites are. I expect that to

go away in the next week. Doc used dissolvable stitches so I won't

need to have those removed.

Here is a pic of the hardware sitting on my desk (please note that

there are only 7 screws & 8 screw holes - one screw was sucked up by

the suction machine!) http://www.pbase.com/bster/image/34386319

I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding this procedure.

-Britt

> Last week I started getting a dull ache in my upper jaw & teeth.

I

> felt around up there with my finger (still pretty numb!) and felt

> something poking out of my gums.

> I went to see my surgeon and he said a plate had 'slipped' a bit

> during healing and is stickikng out of my gums. EEEK!

> I'm having the plate removed early next week.

>

> Has anyone out there heard of or had this happen? I'm a little

> freaked out!

>

> Thanks,

> Britt

[Guest guest]

Britt, that is so cool! I am glad you included the pictures. My mom

just happened to be sitting close by and asked if that was me, i

said no! But i am sure we all " sort of look alike " in that manner!

> > Last week I started getting a dull ache in my upper jaw &

teeth.

> I

> > felt around up there with my finger (still pretty numb!) and

felt

> > something poking out of my gums.

> > I went to see my surgeon and he said a plate had 'slipped' a bit

> > during healing and is stickikng out of my gums. EEEK!

> > I'm having the plate removed early next week.

> >

> > Has anyone out there heard of or had this happen? I'm a little

> > freaked out!

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Britt

[Guest guest]

Britt, that is so cool! I am glad you included the pictures. My mom

just happened to be sitting close by and asked if that was me, i

said no! But i am sure we all " sort of look alike " in that manner!

> > Last week I started getting a dull ache in my upper jaw &

teeth.

> I

> > felt around up there with my finger (still pretty numb!) and

felt

> > something poking out of my gums.

> > I went to see my surgeon and he said a plate had 'slipped' a bit

> > during healing and is stickikng out of my gums. EEEK!

> > I'm having the plate removed early next week.

> >

> > Has anyone out there heard of or had this happen? I'm a little

> > freaked out!

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Britt