It feels like ages have passed since my oral surgery and very little has changed since my last post. I've seen the oral surgeon a couple of times since and they were only 5 minute appointments. The surgeon I've been working with for the past two years leading up to the surgery has actually gone on medical leave so a different surgeon has been looking after my recovery appointments. All he does is look at my face and ask me to open and close my mouth a couple of times, tell me how often and where to wear my elastics, and then sends me on my way.
I also had my thanksgiving dinner since the last post, everyone at home is impressed with how well I've recovered and am eating. They did see me a week after my my mouth was released from its prison- so this is quite a difference. Still numb all along my chin and lower lip and I can open almost two fingers worth. (If that makes sense).
Today I saw the orthodontist to get my surgical lugs removed- super happy about that since my bottom lip was starting to look really awful even though I can't feel it. Unfortunately I still can't open super wide so it was hard for them to take off the lugs and put a new wire in. Although my orthodontist is referring me for physiotherapy, he thinks that my limited range of motion is from a displaced disc, I've watched a couple of videos on TMJ and what is actually happening to the joints and I feel like it's dead on for what my problem is. That pain I had in my temples may have been related to the joint being squished. This video I watched explained it really well. TMJ & disc displacement animation
Learning about what may be happening to has sort of freaked me out a little, I keep wondering if my recovery would be the same if I would be been able to see my original surgeon and get those wires out a week earlier. I guess there's no use dwelling on the past and the disc displacement may not even be my problem. I'm hoping I'll hear from the physiotherapist soon. I really miss hamburgers and this limited movement is getting old.
I now only have to wear my elastics for 8 hours a day which is super awesome. Before I was supposed to wear them as often as I could (surgeon's words not mine).
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| 6 weeks post |
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| 7 weeks post |
