clunky jaw

[candycin]

just about at 1 year post op and have been having this odd thing happening
if i yawn or open my mouth too wide SOMETIMES...my jaw kind of clunks only on the left side, kind of feels like it goes out of place (some mild discomfort) then i move it a bit and it goes back to normal....anyone else have this happen? is it normal?

[Rodney008]

My surgeon told me this can happen after surgery. He says it is only a problem if your jaw doesn't pop back into place.

[candycin]

even a year after? what the heck do I do if it doesnt pop back into place?

[Rodney008]

Yes...even after a year. If you start to have trouble with it popping back in place then the only way to fix it is surgery.

[candycin]

well what causes it to pop out of proper place?

[JayTee11]

I'm wondering the same thing. Does the jaw joint become unstable after years of over-compensating...?

[candycin]

i am only one year post op but a big yawn or sometimes talking can make it feel like it clunks out and i can move it back in my sliding my jaw back and forth...

[ColoradoGirl]

My surgeon said that was likely to happen as long as a year after surgery; maybe it's just a healing thing?

If not: In my case at least, my jaw joints were eroded pre-surgery due to my misplacement and associated TMJ issues--the ball of the joint is just smaller than it should be, and therefore pops out. Maybe you have something similar? I agree that if you can pop it back in, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.