Pain Control - PLEASE HELP

[shenreice]

Hey Guys,
First I just want to thank everyone who has answered my multiple questions on this board. You all are lifesavers!

So I am 3 Weeks post op from MMA surgery, and I am still in a ton of pain. My surgeon wants me off narcotics, but they are the only thing that sort of helps. I am not sure why the pain is so high, as I usually have a very high pain tolerance. I had 4 teeth pulled without anesthetic, and didn't even take a tylenol when I had my wisdom teeth out! But this surgery is kicking my ass. I am currently taking 800mg Ibuprofin and 1000MG Tylenol every six hours. I also take between 10 and 20 MG of Oxycodone two to three times a day. Yet somehow I am still in pain. The pain is mostly in my ching and lower teeth, with some by my cheekbones (if I smile or something) and some on my lower jawline.

Do you have any ideas what I could do? I hate being on narcotics because I don't want to become addicted. Is there anything stronger than oxy or that would work better? My pain was better for a while, and then I started chewing. I think this may be why my pain is worse. Shold I try going back to a blended diet? I am down to 97lbs, so I am also afraid of losing more weight. This may not seem to bad, but I a 5 foot 9!

Another thing causing pain is that my over bite is now fixed, but that means my upper teeth now sit on top of my lower brackets. This means I either have to hold my mouth open or put pressure on my lower teeth. I have also bit a hole through my lip, so I am trying to stop biting it. I have this tic (I have tourettes) where I keep sticking my tongue into the back of my mouth, imagine locking your back molars with the tip of your tongue. When I do this my lower jaw slides to the side which makes my jaw hurt, but I can't stop. Am I going to mess my jaw up by doing this? I am sorry this is so long, I am just desperate for help!

[sirwired]

I would certainly stop chewing, for starters! It sounds like you just aren't ready yet.

Get creative with calorie intake, and pay no attention whatsoever to high levels of fat, sugar, vitamins, etc. Your priority is to shovel that food in to stop the weight loss. My "go to" non-chew meal was mashed potatoes (just made from flakes) mixed with cheddar cheese and some fried up canned corned beef. You can go for milkshakes, Ensure, etc. to your heart's content. Go heavy on butter, cream, oil, etc. on whatever you do end up eating.

[tylerjwilson]

Agreed. Sounds like you've been doing a little bit of chewing which may be causing some pain. I personally have also been doing some minor chewing, but I wouldn't even call it chewing...just mashing it once before I swallow...like mac and cheese. It requires no chewing, but my bodily instinct is to squish it against my teeth or roof, then swallow it. Also, check out the freezer section of your local store...I bought some cheap packs of Salisbury Steaks and BBQ Ribs...the crap they served in school...it's so soft and mushy, just like mashed potatoes...just cut them up into small pieces and they are swallowable...may not be completely healthy, but it's tasty and something different. Pudding and cottage cheese are good, scrambled eggs/omelettes, boost, milkshakes, smoothies...it's not as bad as it sounds!