To Cammie - Re: fun with Resorbable plates and screws!

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie,

Thanks for replying! Sorry for my rather delayed response..... I

really don't know with what kind of frequency/infrequency the plates

and screws are used.... With 30 years experience in OMS, my surgeon

isn't new to the field with some kind of new-fangled technique! I

don't know... he works in conjuction at a teaching hospital/med

school highly focussed on research, so maybe that has something to do

with it. I consulted with him in 2003 and he mentioned that same use

of resorbable plates and screws... so at least he's been using them 2

years by the time I actually had my surgery!

I know my pain was a little unusual... he said most people don't

react to the hardware at all, but some might react to one of the

pieces and of course I was one of them. Anyway, the pain is basically

gone... just a little swelling/internal inflammation remain. After I

posted, I called back and asked about how long it takes for them to

completely resorb... something like a year to year and a half for the

upper jaw's plates and screws to dissolve and be filled with bone,

and then 1 1/2 to 2 years for the lower jaw's screws to go and be

replaced with bone.

That is very fortunate that you've had no problems with your plates

and screws since your surgery.... I've read some of the posts here

about the horrendous time some people have had with them. Overall, I

get the impression though that they aren't a problem. Thank goodness!

I'm going to make a note next time I see my OS to ask of frequently

these resorbables are used and what he knows about it.

I used to work at a vet hospital and we'd have all kinds of pets with

problems with screws needing removal after the surgery spot being

chewed by the dog and then the screw getting dislodged. So, of course

after finding out that MY hardware was resorbable, the vets were

wondering why orthopedic surgeons in vet medicine didn't use the

resorbables for animals too. It would make sense that they should! Oh

well, who knows?!?

Katja

> > Hi everyone,

> > I saw my OS today for my 6 month post-op check up. Everything is

> > looking good according to my surgeon- my teeth and bite and the

> > position of everything. I have diminished/altered sensation in my

> > chin, lower lip, the left side of my tongue, and some random

places

> > in my mouth.... My surgeon is confident that all my feeling

should

> be

> > restored ultimately, but that it could take up to a year or more.

> It

> > does give me hope that I am at least not dead numb in those

places

> > and some feeling is slowly returning. Phew!!

> >

> > And, I thought this might be interesting just because I'm not

> really

> > aware of anyone else around here who has posted about these or

has

> > them or has had them. I guess they are unusual! So, I will be the

> > guinea pig for the group..... I have resorbable plates and

screws.

> > They are my surgeon's preference. Anyway, last Friday, I noticed

> that

> > the left side of my face has been a little swollen (externally

and

> > internally) and tender in places. I've had some throbs here and

> > there, pain and aching at other times, and general discomfort....

I

> > guessed it was due to the plates starting to do " their thing " . My

> OS

> > confirmed that right around 6 months they will start to resorb...

> > they first soften and turn into something like a jelly, and my

body

> > takes over and finishes them off.... he said usually it's just

one

> of

> > the plates, if any, that can cause some minor swelling and

> discomfort

> > if my body really goes to town on it! Apparently I am one of the

> > lucky ones (ha ha) and have a bothersome plate, but fortunately

my

> > swelling isn't noticeable to anyone that doesn't know me well. I

> > guess some people experience a lot of swelling due to this. He

said

> > it should only last a week or two. So, I guess all my plates

and

> > screws will be gone soon. I think that is so crazy and weird and

> > cool! Ultimately, the bone fills in everything and years from

now,

> > when all that is left of me is a skull and 2 femurs, forensic

> > scientists won't be able to tell I had this surgery. Wild, huh? I

> > guess that also happens with those who end up having their

hardware

> > removed. From what I understand, the resorbable plates and screws

> are

> > made of a certain compound where one element breaks down first,

and

> > then others go. I have instructions to not poke around in my

mouth

> so

> > that the material is left alone and undisturbed as it is so soft

> now.

> > In the meantime, my OS recommened that I take some aleve or advil

> to

> > help with the inflammation (just like after surgery). I've been

> > occaisionally icing my jaw too. Glad I still have my jaw wrap!

> >

> > My upper jaw was very slow to heal, but is solid now thank

> goodness.

> > I have been cleared to resume life as normal.... no restrictions.

> > That includes getting my teeth cleaned finally!! They were black

> from

> > incessant drinking of very black tea in Russia for a month!

They're

> > better now, but I'm anxious to get rid of the few remaining

> stains!!

> > I think I'll wait until everything is resorbed before I go

> though....

> > this is going to require me to get up the courage too. I hate

when

> > they aren't gentle enough. And is anyone else's lower lip as

crazy

> as

> > mine is about some sensations or different things touching

it??...

> > ooooh can you imagine the horrible spinning head on the polisher

> > hitting against the lip accidentally?! Yikes! I hate it when I'm

in

> > bed a the sheet touches my lip. For some reason I can't stand

> certain

> > sensations.... Now that I have full clearance, I'm hoping to

start

> > swimming again... I wonder if that will be weird with my

sinuses...

> I

> > am much more aware of them now. (I am sure I could have gone

> swimming

> > much earlier on in my recovery, but I never asked or wanted to

> until

> > recently. My sinuses have been interesting since my sx).

> >

> > I've also been having some minor pain and discomfort sometimes

when

> > eating and talking in my left joint. I asked my OS about it

today,

> he

> > said that due to all the ortho work moving my teeth over and the

> > pressure the bands are putting on the muscles in the area, the

> joints

> > are very sensitive and probably have some adema (your standard

> > swelling and inflammation). I kind of guessed it was that, so I

> feel

> > relieved that my guess was right and this is only a temporary

> > problem. I was sort of feeling concerned.

> >

> > As a side note, on my exact 6 month anniversary, I celebrated by

> > having my first postop steak dinner! It was a very tasty filet

> and

> > I very much enjoyed it! AND I was able to eat it just fine!! I

> think

> > I would be able to eat pretty much anything at this point if I

> wasn't

> > still having ortho adjustments that make my teeth sore and

tender.

> I

> > can't wait until I'm done with ortho and my teeth are perfect

along

> > with my new perfect jaws.... (perfect for me, probably not

> > objectively perfect or amazing or anything!)

> >

> > My OS wants to see me at 1 year post op, and when my braces are

> taken

> > off. But, I highly doubt they will be off before my 1 year date.

I

> am

> > hoping for around that time though, so we'll see!

> >

> > Oh, and ortho has been doing a good job slowly but surely getting

> my

> > canted bite corrected. It was minor to begin with, but noticeable

> to

> > me and my family & boyfriend.

> >

> > Well, that's my official update. Hope it wasn't too boring,

> > especially the stuff about the resorbables! I'm off to take

two

> > aleve.... thanks for reading! Oh, and one last thing, I love my

> > surgeon!!!

> > Katja