Post-op questions

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#1 Post by **Neil(NI)** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:41 am

Hi guys

I'm now 3 weeks post-op from the upper & lower jaw surgery, and 1 week post-op from the operation to adjust upper jaw in relation to relapse. As with my pre-op thread, I've a few questions!

1) I have removable elastic bands holding my jaws shut at the minute. I'm allowed to take them off for a few minutes a day to clean my teeth etc, although I prefer to leave them be. When I do take them off, I can only open my mouth a bit, no more than 1.5cm gap between teeth. Is this normal? Jaw seems very stiff.

2) Following on from above, this makes it difficult to clean the back of my tongue which is getting disgusting! Anyone else find this?

3) How long for numbness to go away? My lower lip down to my chin is currently numb. I do get some throbbing/twitching/tingling sometimes, but after 3 weeks its still just as numb.

4) How long for rubber bands to come off? I'm worried it will be a while because I swear my upper jaw (1 week after op) is still sore and not very stable.

Many thanks for your help folks!

#2 Post by **asmileconnectsus** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:36 am

1/2) I am also banded with removable elastics. At two weeks post-op I was allowed to remove my bands and open and shut for 10-15 min. (not aggressively) twice a day, and then brush. This made it easier to reach the back teeth and tongue, and my joints feel less stiff.

3) Numbness is different for each person. I still have numbness in my lower lip and chin and I am just about 6 weeks post.

4) For me I am in these bands for 10 weeks full time, then 8 weeks at night. I know this is longer than a lot of people are in bands, but my case is "high risk" so they want me to be as careful as possible.

I think these questions might be good to ask your doctor. Can you email with them or an assistant? I've found email a great resource through this process.

#3 Post by **Neil(NI)** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:11 pm

I also forgot to ask about swelling. After my 1st op, the swelling was very bad but has largely went away. The 2nd op on my upper jaw has left me a bit more swollen than I was before, but nothing as drastic as with the 1st op. How long did people find it took for the swelling to completely go away?

#4 Post by **srs** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:57 pm

# 1, sounds normal. I am 6 weeks post op and can open 2.1 cms.

#2 I thought for the longest time that I had a "dirty" tongue when in reality I had oral thrush (white thick coating). They had to give me medicine for that. Make sure is not that.

#3 I cannot answer, I only had mild numbness on both sides of my lower jaw and that has pretty much resolved.

#4 I will be in these bands for 6 more weeks, a total of 12. I take them off for eating and brushing and now will start exercises to increase my mouth opening.

#5 Post by **OzzysMom** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:32 pm

Hi, Sorry you had to go through so much.
1) Normal
2) It is hard to clean back there. I had to rely mostly on rinsing(a lot) in the beginning.
3)It can take up to a year or longer. My tingling peaked at about 4-5 weeks. I'm more than a year post-op and still healing in that respect, although it does get better all the time. Everyone's situation is unique.
4)I wore various bands/configurations of them for a few months, although not tightly banded.

Most importantly, don't worry but do call your surgeon with any concerns. Give your body time to heal as it's been through a lot.

#6 Post by **Neil(NI)** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 9:04 am

Thanks for your replies folks

I now know from discussions with my doctor & orthodontist that I can take the bands off by new year, then wear them at night afterwards.

My Orthodontist said that I should now start progressing towards getting back to my normal diet. At the minute, I can only open my mouth about 1.5cm wide, so I can't actually bite anything. How long did everyone take til they could open their mouths a reasonable amount?