Re: Opening Mouth Fully Post-op

January 31, 2005

Hi Nadine,

I had my upper, lower and genio on 11/18/04 so I'm about the same

amount of time post op as you. My OS wanted me at 25mm by 9 weeks

post op and wants me at 35 mm by 12 weeks. He gave me exercises to

stretch the muscles. I use popsicle sticks taped together and put

pressure on them to slowly stretch the muscle . I try to add a new

stick to the stack about every 3-4 days which is amout 2mm. One

stick makes a huge difference and I have to say that my progress has

slowed but I'm still getting a littler more openeing each day. My OS

also suggested that I massage the muscles around the jaw joints to

loosen them up. The muscles are still very tender but it's

tollerable.

My OS said that if I had difficulty opening to 35mm by 12 weeks than

we do have the option of him putting me out for a few minutes and he

could really stretch the opening while I'm asleep. I'd rather work

on it myself so I'm trying to be pretty diligent about doing my

excercises.

Good luck,

>

> I had Upper and Lower on 22nd Nov 2004, which makes me 10 weeks

post-

> op today. I have healed nicely and am doing fine. I saw my

surgeon

> last two weeks ago - he measured my mouth opening, which was 2.3 cm

> wide - measured from tips of top and bottom teeth. He said that

the

> average for people is about 5cm and that he wants me to be opening

> to 3.5 cm by 21st feb (when I see him again). he didn't really

give

> me an idea how I can help this along. i measured it myself

> yesterday and it has not changed at all. Is 2.3cm a generally

> normal opening to have at this stage - am I being silly?

Otherwise,

> how can I get my mouth to open more? i am actaully quite worried

> that I will never be able to open like I used to - is this common?

> Thanks

> Nadine

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