Re: 4 days post op - to Fiddlesticks

[Guest guest]

Hi , that's interesting about the swelling and heat. I'm

getting conflicting reports about that - I heard that it reduces the

fluids. I've been using the heat for 5 weeks now - maybe that's why

my swelling isn't going down very much! My Dr. tells me to apply

heat and I've also read articles about using heat as well - can you

give more info on it drawing fluids rather than getting rid of

it....or show me where I can look for that? I'm just interested in

knowing what the process it......I'm quitting the heat now anyway as

the heating pad is doing a number on my complexion, so I've chosen

swelling over blotchy skin (ha ha).

Pam

> > >

> > > im four days post op now, I really havent experienced any pain

> > until

> > > now. My right side is throbbing and hurts quite a bit close to

> my

> > > ear. I ran out of pain medicine, I cant get any till tomorrow

> and

> > > that is not good...I dont know why the surgeon didnt give me

any

> > > refils.

> > >

> > > im not sure I can handle this much longer, its only been four

> > days,

> > > i consider myself a tough person but this is rough. I am

banded

> > shut

> > > so tight, I dont know if it should be this tight, I cant open

my

> > > mouth at all. I have to go back to my surgeon tuesday so I

need

> to

> > > survive tonight and tomorrow, hopefully tomorrow wont be to

bad

> as

> > i

> > > will will be able to get some pain medicine.

> > >

> > > tuesday he is going to take everything off and examine my

bite,

> > > which he didnt think looked right, god I hope things are

better,

> I

> > > just want things to be good, I dont wanna have to get operated

> on

> > > again.

> > >

> > > Swelling doesnt seem to be getting better at all, Ive been

using

> > ice

> > > off and on but it doesnt seem to help.

> > >

> > > I feel like clipping these bands off they are way too tight it

> > > seems, hard to handle but I guess I will bear with it.

> > >

> > > I havent been eating much, normally just like 4 ensures a day

> and

> > > some ice cream, just dont have an appetite.

> > >

> > > This was not what I expected, mabye im an exception or not I

> dont

> > > know.

> > >

> > > As long as my bite turns out good it will be worth it but Im

not

> > > even sure about that.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam,

Sorry for the late reply - I didn't see this earlier.

I didn't read any articles that talked about not using heat, but

followed the advice of the resident surgeon at the hospital, my MLD

therapist (also a physiotherapist) and my massage therapist. All

three said definitely no heat.

The blotchy face should tell you something about what's happening -

are fluids draining or being drawn to the area?

I did find this neat article on cold therapy - even though it's for

horses, I think it applies:

http://www.xcodesign.com/aaep/displayArticles.cfm?ID=43

Here's an article on sports injuries that says never use heat, it

increases swelling:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/injuries/a/aa041801a.htm

And here's another article on sports injuries, but also arthritis,

that promotes the use of ice to minimize swelling:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18347

Hope that helps,

>

> Hi , that's interesting about the swelling and heat. I'm

> getting conflicting reports about that - I heard that it reduces

the

> fluids. I've been using the heat for 5 weeks now - maybe that's

why

> my swelling isn't going down very much! My Dr. tells me to apply

> heat and I've also read articles about using heat as well - can

you

> give more info on it drawing fluids rather than getting rid of

> it....or show me where I can look for that? I'm just interested

in

> knowing what the process it......I'm quitting the heat now anyway

as

> the heating pad is doing a number on my complexion, so I've chosen

> swelling over blotchy skin (ha ha).

>

> Pam

[Guest guest]

Hi , thanks for the reply. The third article was interesting,

as it said to never apply heat directly after the injury, to always

use ice - however, it did recomment to use heat at a some point

after the initial injury to help relax muscles. It said to use heat

before any therapy to the injured area, which would help relax the

muscles, and then to apply ice after therapy in case any blood

leaked from the capillaries.

So....I thought that was interesting and may come in useful when I

start exercising my jaw, which I'm going to start next week.

Pam

> >

> > Hi , that's interesting about the swelling and heat. I'm

> > getting conflicting reports about that - I heard that it reduces

> the

> > fluids. I've been using the heat for 5 weeks now - maybe that's

> why

> > my swelling isn't going down very much! My Dr. tells me to

apply

> > heat and I've also read articles about using heat as well - can

> you

> > give more info on it drawing fluids rather than getting rid of

> > it....or show me where I can look for that? I'm just interested

> in

> > knowing what the process it......I'm quitting the heat now

anyway

> as

> > the heating pad is doing a number on my complexion, so I've

chosen

> > swelling over blotchy skin (ha ha).

> >

> > Pam

>