Guest guest Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Wow that sounds like a nifty little contraption! I've never heard of it but I sure do wish I had one. I have forgotten..how wide can you open it on your own? I hope it helps you out a lot! -Ash > When I went to my OS today at 8 weeks postop, he gave me something > called a thera-bite to help my with my jaw opening. I can still only > open 1 finger width, and he said in this point in time my opening > should be much closer to normal. He says if this does not work he > will send me to physical therapy. The device has a bite piece in 2 > sections. You put your mouth over, squeeze the trigger, and it > stretches your mouth open. At the same time it measures the opening > by millimeters so you can track your progress. I am supposed to use > it 5 minutes, 5 to 6 times a day. I was very excited when he gave it > to me because I have been trying to use my fingers to stretch my > opening and have not had much success. My question is, has anyone > else used one of these? I haven't noticed anyone else mention them. > Maybe they're not very common? > > Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I can open a whopping 8mm. The OS said the splint is still restricting my opening, but only a small amount. The poor nurse who was helping him out today asked if I could open any wider (she was a bit frustrated working in such a small smace). I wonder, do they think when they say to open wide that I'm just being lazy and not opening all the way? If you go online under www.atosmedical.com and then search for therabite, they actually have pictures of them. I did some research to find out if my doc is the only one using it and stumbled across that site. I'll let you know if it works. Connie > > When I went to my OS today at 8 weeks postop, he gave me something > > called a thera-bite to help my with my jaw opening. I can still only > > open 1 finger width, and he said in this point in time my opening > > should be much closer to normal. He says if this does not work he > > will send me to physical therapy. The device has a bite piece in 2 > > sections. You put your mouth over, squeeze the trigger, and it > > stretches your mouth open. At the same time it measures the opening > > by millimeters so you can track your progress. I am supposed to use > > it 5 minutes, 5 to 6 times a day. I was very excited when he gave it > > to me because I have been trying to use my fingers to stretch my > > opening and have not had much success. My question is, has anyone > > else used one of these? I haven't noticed anyone else mention them. > > Maybe they're not very common? > > > > Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Hi Connie, I've been using a thera-bite for years. They're used quite commonly by patients who have had TMJ surgery to regain their range of motion. I've also been to physical therapy off and on for the last two years. My surgeon wants me to get to a 30 mm opening which he says is the minimum needed for normal function. I'm almost three months post-op and I'm up to 23 mm which is pretty good for me. Do you have pain when you try to open wider or does it just stop? Muscles do shrink and tighten up when they're not used so I hope all you need is just more stretching. Good luck with your therapy. > > > When I went to my OS today at 8 weeks postop, he gave me > something > > > called a thera-bite to help my with my jaw opening. I can still > only > > > open 1 finger width, and he said in this point in time my > opening > > > should be much closer to normal. He says if this does not work > he > > > will send me to physical therapy. The device has a bite piece > in 2 > > > sections. You put your mouth over, squeeze the trigger, and it > > > stretches your mouth open. At the same time it measures the > opening > > > by millimeters so you can track your progress. I am supposed to > use > > > it 5 minutes, 5 to 6 times a day. I was very excited when he > gave it > > > to me because I have been trying to use my fingers to stretch my > > > opening and have not had much success. My question is, has > anyone > > > else used one of these? I haven't noticed anyone else mention > them. > > > Maybe they're not very common? > > > > > > Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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