Re: Surgeon Wants to Stretch Jaw Muscle

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam,

I've had several jaw surgeries including on my joints so I know

exactly what you mean. My surgeon has had to stretch me many times.

If he has to do another procedure like flushing out my joints or

botox injections, he sedates me. Otherwise he does it with me awake,

like he did two weeks ago. I'm now 5 weeks post-op from bilateral

joint replacements and he wants me to be able to open 30 mm (about 3

finger widths). I couldn't even get two fingers in. At first he

tried to pry my jaw open but it was so painful that I was fighting

him too much. He then numbed up the muscles on the left (the more

painful side) and worked my jaw muscles really hard. He got me to 27

mm but I was in a lot of pain for the rest of the day. Now, even at

physical therapy, I can only open 22 mm so I'm afraid he's going to

do it again at my appointment on Tuesday.

What kind of exercises does your surgeon have you do? Mine has me

using a therabite. I also go to PT three times a week which really

helps a lot. My therapist uses ultrasound, massage and heat packs to

loosen up my muscles. I'm also supposed to take muscle relaxants

three times a day but they make me really drowsy so I don't take

them as often as I should.

I should also add that I haven't really been able to open my mouth

or chew for three years now so my muscles have really shortened and

atrophied. Since you were only banded for a few days, you should be

able to get your muscles and your joints open much quicker and

without as much difficulty. I hope your surgeon is satisfied with

your progress and doesn't have to stretch you.

> Hi all!

> I had lower jaw surgery 17 days ago, and I have a question about

> stretching. My OS had me in rubber bands for 8 days, and then when

he

> cut them off, he said I wasn't opening my mouth nearly wide

enough. He

> gave me PT exercises to do and said he would put me under and

stretch

> my jaw muscle joint if I had not gotten my mouth to open three

fingers

> by Wednesday, Aug. 3. When I went in for the Aug. 3 appointment, I

> asked him for another week to do exercises to see how much I

> progressed because I had gotten my mouth to open two fingers. He

> agreed, but felt sure he would need to stretch me on my next

> appointment - Wednesday, Aug. 10. Has anyone had this done? What's

it

> like? Did your OS also knock you out to do it, or did s/he do it

while

> you were awake?

> I'd appreciate any information.

>

> Thanks!

> Pam