So I had my 4 week appointment today; my OS took off the heavy duty bands that kept my jaws completely shut for the past month and the splint is still in for another week.
It felt like my jaw was going to fall off my face when he took those bands off! Currently, I can just move my jaw open a tiny bit, so I can see the tip of my tongue, but I can't stick it out.
How long does it take to start getting some range of motion back; I guess it totally depends on the individual, but it's still so early after being immobilized for 4 weeks to expect to open wider than this, do you think?
So is it fair to guess that at this point (day one of getting the bands off, splint still in), I shouldn't be hard on myself that it will only open up a teeny tiny bit? I just want that jaw to drop open and throw a cheeseburger in there!!
Definitely normal...I wasn't banded or wired shut tightly after surgery, and I was stuck at one finger width ROM for a few weeks right after surgery. Now I'm nearly 100% of pre-surgery ROM and am 10 weeks out..I've done LOTS of exercises per my surgeon's recommendations to get here. Also, he tells all his patients to use warm, moist heat and light massage of the facial muscles before, during, and after jaw exercises...I still do this because it feels SO good (and really does help with ROM). I'd definitely ask before doing any jaw exercises, but the warm heat/massage may help on its own!
Good luck...the #1 thing this surgery does is force us to be patient!
Four premolars extracted 12/29/2008
Braced 1/12/2009
Lefort I (upper jaw moved up 5mm) and BSSO (lower jaw lengthened by 7mm) on May 11, 2010
I'm glad to hear this is normal; it's such a strange feeling wanting my jaw to open more and more, but it just won't! I do however notice a difference even now vs. day one after the bands were taken off, so it seems like it's a slow process for this, just bit by bit, day by day - I'm assuming this is what you found as well?
Those are great suggestions - my OS gave me jaw exercises to do, but I think adding some heat as well as light massage will really help; did you do that yourself? Just lightly rotating your fingers along your facial muscles and jaw line?
It is a very strange feeling! I started to wonder if it would ever open more...but like you said, each day you get a little more and more.
I did do the massage myself...my OS told me to do it during/after warm heat. You just rub your muscles and anywhere there's swelling in a slow circular motion...he said you'll know if you're doing it too hard. It feels SO good...I'm 10 weeks out and still do it several times a day! haha
Good luck...it sounds like you're already making progress, so congrats!
Four premolars extracted 12/29/2008
Braced 1/12/2009
Lefort I (upper jaw moved up 5mm) and BSSO (lower jaw lengthened by 7mm) on May 11, 2010
It's definitely coming along, thanks. It's a slow process, but there are definite improvements each day. This weekend in fact was the first time I had real food somewhat, other than just mush! Everything is cut up into teeny tiny pieces and I'll try to chew as much as I can, and then swallow. It's incredibly odd because the teeth and gums are still so sensitive, but I really feel much more "human" now again.
I see my OS tomorrow and I can't wait to hear what he says. My ROM has increased, but it really is a slow process. I think being banded for so long takes a toll for sure, and where I have lots of elastics in there now, it's like it fights itself against opening up further. Right now I'm at about 15 mms, so between 1 and 2 finger widths. Being optimistic makes all the difference now - instead of me dwelling on how I wish I could open it further like I was before, now I look at it as an accomplishment that I don't have to use baby spoons and can fit more and more food in there! It really pays to stay positive, there's no question!
Tomorrow, it'll be 6 weeks since surgery, and I can't believe it. It's also amazing how much you find time heals things, and it really does get so much incredibly easier and better as time goes by.
The appointment went well. The OS said that he was really pleased with my bite still and he changed up my elastics a bit because my teeth are moving a little bit where my orthodontist changed up my archwires and put "buttons" on, on the insides of the molars up top to attach to my hooks on the outside, on the lower molars. But, he's still happy with how my bite looks.
He also said my ROM is good for the time frame to this point (2 weeks after being unbanded), every day it's opening up just slightly and slightly more - I"m working my way SLOWLY to two finger's width and I can't wait to get there! The ruler is my best friend at the moment!
That's a very good question, and I think my best guess is that it's totally random and depends on every individual's situation with how they heal perhaps. I know, that sounds like such a generic answer, doesn't it?! I do think there is likely more strain put on the muscles and tendons from the surgery for sure vs. someone just being banded shut for the sake of comparison, just from the physical stresses the surgery puts on the body but it's an interesting point. Maybe I should do this to my husband 1) so he can feel what I went through somewhat, and 2) to answer this question!
I remember vividly those first few weeks of feeling like my jaw muscles were pulling apart from themselves and having sensations of my face wanting to rip apart sometimes from the tension (I hope this doesn't scare anybody, TRUST ME, I don't have any regrets about having this done, and I'm now at 6 weeks post op, and those feelings are what the medications are for!), but I found the immobilization the bands and splint caused really strained my muscles and tendons. By about the 3 week mark, it almost felt as though my jaw muscles "gave in," and that they settled, and I stopped clenching and fighting the tension. I welcomed atrophy I guess!
I know that I didn't realize how slow the process of bringing back ROM would be - this morning I was thrilled that I'm now at about 16mm vs about 10 just a few short days ago. I keep telling myself that I'm the turtle in this race to heal - slow and steady....
Hmm, interesting question. I'd guess and say twin A would have the worse ROM, because in the process of the surgery his muscles have been almost literally moved about. So for underbite surgery, your bottom jaw is being cut and moved backwards - your muscles are going to spasm around a bit as they re-adjust! So that definitely doesn't help with the ROM as they need to learn where they need to be, they're reset. Whereas his twin only has to practise opening again in his own time, his muscles and bone know what to do.
I guess if you want a very vague and rough point of comparison, think about people who dedicate their lives to silence, in monasteries etc. Yes, they can eat and what have you, but really they open their mouth very infrequently...
