Too much pressure!

Message

#1 Post by **peggysue** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:25 am

Hi everyone..I'm a long time lurker and few time poster but I feel compelled to write as you guys seem to know all thats worth knowing about this!

i made it through surgery last week (Lefort I maxillary intrusion, to close a 7mm gap) and have been luckily recovering pretty well. I had my braces for 2 years before the surgery but I never needed to have any elastics. I had my follow up with the surgeon today and he's put some mega stong (industial strength it would seem!) elastics on my front top and bottoms just to ensure than my bite is perfect as after the surgery I was having a hard time fixing them together the right way.

Now I don't think im being a baby but these bands are bloody killing me.. I would expect for there to be lots of pressure and pulling, as my muscles move around, but I feel like this is just too much. Im finding it hard to swallow let alone drink or eat anything!!

My surgeon says the elastics have memory and as my mouth gets more comfortable they'll slacken but in the meantime is there anything I can do to give a little relief? Is heat better than cold? Should i try to open my mouth a little to stretch the bands?? Any advice is welcome!

Thanks! x

#2 Post by **kittenmaisey** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:18 pm

Poor you..PS,

I,ve as yet not taken the plunge into brace world. However,I do suffer from TMJ. When I have facial discomfort, I use a heat mask. Basically you can heat them in the microwave. You could also alternate between cold and heat, which is sometimes what Physiotherapist's advice.

Good, good luck.

#3 Post by **peggysue** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:57 pm

Thanks for the advice Kittenmaisey! The heat is helping to relax my muscles a bit but I think its just a case of riding it out. Luckily I've got an appt with my ortho first thing Monday morning so he'll have no choice but to change them to lighter elastics!

Lol

Good luck if you do decide to delve into the world of braces and surgery...its a long journey, that is often hard and sometimes lonely but well worth the outcome (and I'm saying this 9 days post surgery so the optimum results are yet to be revealed!) x