Pain from headgear? Normal?

[LongJourney]

Greetings everyone!

So yesterday was my second month adjustment. Got my braces on October. So they changed my wires, got me some new colors. They asked me if I wore my rubber bands 24/7 but sadly I didn't and told them the truth. I promised that I would wear them 24/7 from now on. Then I got headgear. I knew it was coming because they told me earlier but I didn't expect it to come so soon. I wear it when I'm home, suppose to wear it at night but they told me to wear it when I'm home too. So last night I couldn't SLEEP. no matter what, sleep didn't come with this thing because it was so painful. I sleep on my stomach so I had to find a way to make it work. Finally at 4AM, I got it out and threw across the room because I just couldn't take it. Rubber bands plus that hurts. It feels like its pulling my molars and whenever I turn to the side, there's a sharp pain. I got the face bow.
Q1: Is it going to start stop hurting?! My molars and jaw are aching
Q2: i know it helps my bite but can someone be more detailed?
Q3: Does it speed the treatment if I wear it 24/7? My sentence is 2 years but I wanna end it early if I wear my rubber bands/headgear 24/7
Q4: HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO SLEEP

[sirwired]

1) As far as the pain goes; I imagine it's very similar to regular new-braces pain. It'll be rough for a few days at the beginning until your body decides it's not worth complaining about the new forces any more. Advil (Ibuprofen) or Aspirin or Aleve (Naproxen) (assuming those are pain relievers you can take) should help. You may want to ask your ortho and/or doctor if you can take doses over the regular OTC levels on a short-term basis. (At over-OTC doses, those three have an anti-inflammatory effect that you cannot replicate with Tylenol (Acetaminophen/Paracetamol))

2) That's a question for your ortho.

3) You should follow your ortho's instructions on wear time.

4) I'd consider at least a "nightcap" (meaning some bedtime booze) OR sleeping pills until you get used to the thing. (Do NOT combine alcohol and sleeping pills though... one OR the other.) Your ortho may be able to write a prescription for Rx sleeping pills. (In my experience, doxylamine succinate (an OTC sleeping pill) works REALLY well, but it kicks my butt the next morning until noon or so... the Rx pills don't leave me feeling like a zombie the next morning.)

[Jaynicolaou82]

how are you going with your hg and elastics now ??.

[gglass]

I guess they still use headgears? I thought those went out in the 80's, sorry, hang in there

[LongJourney]

how are you going with your hg and elastics now ??.

Honestly I haven't wore them that much. Some nights I would wear it but I would end up taking them off at 1 or 2AM. My next appointment is in two weeks so I'm wearing it more often. My rubber bands, I got used to them:)

[Zara9]

It is completely normal to feel pain when you first get your headgear. The more you wear it the less it hurts. I wear mine 24/7 with elastics and it now feels normal

[Beckett]

I guess they still use headgears? I thought those went out in the 80's, sorry, hang in there

My niece had headgear when she was a teen, 5 or 6 years ago, so they certainly still use it. But I had no idea they use it on adults who are presumed to be finished growing. Sounds miserable and I hope the OP will be done with it soon.