Hello MM folks, long time listner, first time caller... well I've posted a few times.  Anyway, just had my MM surgeries with Dr. Steinberg January 12th and 19th.  Came home to Lancaster PA the end of the month.  Surgeries were a success, but not with out some minor issues.  Lost all speech/understanding/reading/writing after my first (left side surgery), but came back quickly and will be doing some speech therapy here at home.  Dealt with some left side TIA's; numbness anywhere from just a hand to head to toe.  This has passed quickly as well.  So all in all, doing pretty good. 

BUT... Stanford says this will work itself out, but I have trouble opening my mouth.  I can open it about a fourth of normal.  It's been a month and it almost seems like it's getting worse.  My left side is worse.  It is painfull when I really try to open in up.  My understanding is they have to split a muscle attached to the jaw to do the surgery and it will take time to heal.  I wouldn't be so skeptical if it seemed to be getting better.

Anybody experience anything similar? Any words of wisdom?

Thanks!

- Jason
Lancaster PA

jason

I also had this issue with my left jaw the pain and difficult on opening it lasted several months it gets better with time and my mouth also got real tired with chewing but mine got better keep the positve attitude although at times its gets tough my surgery was may 13 2009 take care

Darci
;D

Jason,

Hang in there, it does get better over time.  I am glad to hear that you are recovering from your surgeries.  It took me several months before I could eat without pain in my jaw and I will never chew gum again.  My jaw just gets too tired and then starts to hurt.  I also went through a period of time when it seemed like is was getting worse rather than better.  I had both my surgeries at Stanford in April 09. I am not sure when I was finaly able to eat without some discomfort, but I am pain free now and can open my mouth as wide as I did before surgery.  Good Luck, I will keep you in my prayers.

Tracie

Jason -

Hang in there!  I also couldn't open my mouth wider than to eat a flat cracker!  And yes, it hurt!  It definitely will get better.  The swelling needs to go down and the muscle needs to build again.  There's exercises you can do too...(keep the tip of your tongue on the roof of you mouth (to guide) and move you jaw up and down - slowly stretching your jaw muscle as you can tolerate.)  Hang in there!  This, too, shall pass!

-Shari

its because when they do the sugery they cut through the jaw muscles !! ;D  i still cant even bite a banana correctly because it dosent fit

Try exercising and gently stretching your jaw muscles by chewing gum. It seemed to help me.
Kim

Hello All!!! Sorry so long since my last post.... How rude of me.... the jaw is just about back to normal... everything else is going pretty good... About to book my six months back at Stanford...  Hope everyone is doing well!!!

Nice to hear from you Jason!  Congrats on getting the jaw back to normal! 

-Shari