A little scolding from my OS re jaw opening plus note to CaroleAnn

November 18, 2004

I'm bummed because today my OS asked me how far I can open my jaw; I

said maybe 25mm, so he measured and then he said " Open wider. " I did

and he repeated himself, and I really opened as far as possible! Then

he took his fingers and opened my jaw wider (ow!)and he said that I

barely measured 23mm! He asked " Have you been doing your exercises? "

Of course I have, but.... not as agressive as he expected because of

the pain, and I told him so. So he said he wants to see me open at 30

mm by Nov24 when I see him again. Yikes, that's a lot for me! He told

me to pry my mouth open with my fingers and really try to go as far

as I can. " Don't worry, " he said, " you won't hurt anything. " He wants

me to do this exercise 3x a day while I have my elastics off for an

hour to eat and brush (also 3x a day).

Wouldn't this kind of " prying " exercise cause lockjaw?

NOTE TO CAROLE ANN: Will you please email me your exercise list from

your physical therapist, too? I will still do my own OS's exercises,

since I it is what he ordered. My email is beagood2me@....

thank you!

November 18, 2004