I just want to see if what I am experiencing now is normal or if I should contact my surgeon.
I got the go-ahead to start eating normally two weeks ago at the 6 week mark. I've been pretty cautious, only eating certain things and going slooooowly. I was out having a drink last night when I got a sharp pain in my lower jaw right where the break was done on the left side. It has ached (not in an unbearable way- its an annoying dull ache) ever since. At the point the pain started it had been almost 4 hours since my last meal. Is this normal and part of the whole healing process or has something gone wrong?
I attributed it to a lot of yelling at a football game yesterday afternoon and my mistake of trying to eat a bagel (I ate 1/4 of it before I quit) that morning. I figured I overdid it with my jaw muscles. Of course I am no expert so I really have no idea.
I still get the occasional ache on my left side too at the site of the break and in the left joint if I yawn too wide. You are at the 8 week mark, so your bone is just starting to fill in. I wouldn't worry about it yet. You have plenty of screws and plates holding things together.
Braced October 17, 2007
BSSO and Lefort August 13, 2008
De-braced November 24, 2008
Here's my thoughts as an RN as well as having gone through this too... if you're ever doubting something, feeling something "different" or "wierd," give your doc a call. If you have increased swelling, pain that pain medicine doesn't help, fever, drainage, etc,. definately call the doc.
One wierd experience I had around my 5 months mark was I got sick -- I had swollen lymph nodes on my right side (where the tightness and swelling was worse for me even after a year) and the swelling from the lymph nodes pressed against my screws. A course of antibiotics helped; just make sure you take all of them.
I got the same type of sharp pain then dull ache that you described a couple times around 2-3 months post-op. I think I just overdid it that day but I cant be totally sure. For me, I decided that if it started happening more often, or if it became painful (enough so that it became a problem or I needed to take something for it) that I would call my surgeon and get in for an appointment. Luckily, it never got to that point for me. Though if it is bad enough and you are actually worried, (not just curious) I would call your OS.
I was wondering if you heard back or if it has improved. I have pain in my left jaw that showed up about two weeks ago (I'm 12 weeks post op) and I'm starting to worry a bit. I have a follow up appointment next week but I was hoping for some additional input in the interim.
It lasted for a couple weeks, and then gradually went away. At times the throbbing got so bad that I was back on the Tylenol with codeine. I also found that a heating pad helped, though it was awkward to hold to that part of my face (I think I used a hair band to hold it in place).
There was a much longer discussion about this on the yahoo groups message board, but I'm not sure how to link to that. Suffice it to say-- this seems like a pretty common complaint! Hope you feel better soon.
