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Corrective Jaw Surgery?
I've finally sought treatment for my TMJ symptoms that have progessively been getting worse over the past 6 months. It turns out that I have an overbite of 11mm (knew that), cross bite, right joint smaller than left (possibly degenerative) and class ii occlusion jaw. My treatment options were a splint to possibly relieve the symptoms or surgery to fix the issue causing the symptoms. My insurance company has deemed the surgery covered so at this time we're planning to go ahead with surgery. From what I've been told thus far I would have braces for 6-9 months, surgery (reconstruction of mandibular rami w/ sagittal split and internal rigid fixation) and then more braces. I'm incredibly nervous as this is a very invasive surgery and we will be putting the baby making on hold.
Has anyone ever had corrective jaw surgery? Can you tell me about your experience, what you had done, how long it took to heal, etc? Did it fix your TMJ or whatever else ailed you?
Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}
Re: Corrective Jaw Surgery?
I had a patient today that had jaw surgery about 2 years ago. She said her recovery was okay, she just couldn't eat for 8 weeks.
Thanks! I'll page her over there.
Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}
Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}
I had surgery eighteen years ago when I was in high school. It was a great decision for me and people are always shocked when I tell them. I had issues with my upper and lower jaws and have zero issues now. I am not sure on all the appropriate medical terms but essentially they cut bone out of my upper jaw and moved it back to correct an overbite. Apparently I have small metal plates with screws in there somewhere. My lower jaw was growing down at a slight angle instead of out straight. It was broken and adjusted as well.
The downside already mentioned is that I had my mouth wired shut for six weeks. Obviously a liquid diet was necessary. I drank so much Ensure that the smell of it makes me want to gag. I should also add that the swelling was pretty significant and took a while for all of the swelling to go away.
Hope this helps and good luck!
I had the exact same thing done 6 years ago. My recovery time was around 6-7 weeks with a liquid diet and such during that time. I too never want to see an Ensure shake again. The swelling was pretty bad for the first 2 and a half weeks and then slowly went down from there. My face was also quite bruised for a few days but that cleared up fairly quickly. I am super happy with the results!
I had jaw surgery when I was 16 (13 years ago) to correct a very large overbite. I had braces before and after, and I am not sure of the exact nature of the surgery, but I believe I had a sagittal split. The surgeon sliced my lower jaw on both sides, moved it forward, and used screws to hold it in the new place. My jaw was not wired shut- the screws held it and there were elastics inside my mouth to help with support for the first week.
Recovery was pretty bad - I was off school for a little over a week, and on liquid codeine for a while. I was very swollen and bruised for probably a couple of weeks. I couldn't open my mouth more than a centimeter or so for the first week - I got a syringe for squirting food into my mouth, actually.
I was on a completely liquid diet for I think a week, and on a very soft food diet for another week or two after that. My mom was very creative, so I had milkshakes, Gatorade, Ensure, soup for the first week, and then she started making homemade baby food in the blender for me (things like steak ground up with spaghetti sauce, or chicken / lima beans / ranch dressing blended together).
My chin and lower lip went completely numb after the surgery for a few months. This is really common, due to the fact that they are breaking your jaw right near some important nerves. I drooled a lot at first and eating was incredibly messy, because I couldn't feel if I was smearing food everywhere. The feeling came back slowly, and for about a year my chin felt sort of tingly if I touched it. It still feels "weird" sometimes now 13 years later. Some people who have the surgery permanently lose feeling in their lower jaw area.
I am incredibly happy with the results. Growing up with a huge overbite was very hard and I got teased a LOT. The first time I saw my jaw after the surgery and I saw that my front teeth (top and bottom) lined up, I wanted to cry. I would go through it again in a heartbeat. My mom, who never had braces or any correction for her similar overbite, was really happy for me and I think she'd have done it too if she were younger. I didn't have any side effects like TMJ, but I always had trouble with things like corn on the cob, and now I have no issues at all.
Germany 2012
I actually just had the surgery you described almost 6 weeks ago... It will be 6 weeks this Tuesday to correct a 10mm overbite and inclusion.
Everything vicmo described is me except I wouldn't classify my recovery as bad. I came out of surgery doing quite well and talking. I lost 6 lbs in the first week but I have maintained at that weight since then.
I was out of work for 2 full weeks. At about 1.5 weeks, I was getting out of the house to meet folks for lunch and run errands, cleaning the house, etc. I was making my own food and bathing on my own after a week (I was pretty nervous about being too weak and falling). You just have to watch yourself and not push too hard.
I have had rubber bands to guide my jaw for the entire 6 weeks and a "non-chewing" diet for the entire 6 weeks. For the first 3 weeks or so probably won't have any desire to chew due to swelling and such. I have just recently been fighting the temptation to chew.
I was out of work for 2 full weeks. At about 1.5 weeks, I was getting out of the house to meet folks for lunch and run errands, cleaning the house, etc. I was making my own food and bathing on my own after a week (I was pretty nervous about being too weak and falling). You just have to watch yourself and not push too hard.
I was put on oxycodene and only took it twice. I was taking ibuprofen for swelling, an antibiotic, and steroids. The swelling was also helped by the fact that I wore the "jaw bra" (ice packs) on my face for 3 days straight and I slept sitting up. I don't think I fully laid down to sleep until 2 weeks out. My husband also slept in another room because he was scared he'd hit me in the face.
There are tons of things to eat - you just have to get creative and/or take small bites.
I blogged about most of it and posted photos. I haven't updated in a couple of weeks but I am going to be adding some other meal options I had and such here in a week or so. (link to blog)
So far - it's been the best decision I've made!
Your story and blog is very encouraging. Both DH and I read it last night and it helped confirm that we've made the right decision to go ahead with the surgery. Thank you so much for sharing, I very much appreciate it! I've added you to my reader and will continue to follow your journey. I'll be blogging about this in the next week or so, I hope you don't mind if I link to you.
Thank you everyone who has commented and shared their stories! I'm trying to have a positive yet realistic expectation of how this will go.
Race PRs {5K-23:55} {10K-48:54} {15K-1:24:30} {13.1-1:53:39} {26.2-4:30:43}