Hi Mary,

Been thinking about you lately and wondering how you're doing and if you've decided what you're going to do next? Hope you've gotten the difficult project finished!

I've been to 2 PT appointments so far and I want my physical therapist to move in with me. It helps so much it is amazing. The biggest thing I've learned is that what needs to most work is the damage to my muscles and soft tissue that occurred before my surgery. I have almost no mobility in my neck or face from being in pain for so long and being afraid to move.

So, I just wanted to say, to you and everyone with oralfacial pain, that you need to keep moving! Even if you are so tired and everything hurts, you need to try to do little things to keep your muscles loose. Little things like raising your eyebrows or winking and small neck rolls will make a big difference.

I've learned that you need to keep your lips moving when you talk. Even if it hurts and it's easier to talk without moving them. It harms the muscles more to hold them stiffly rather than move them. Your tongue should be resting at the top of your mouth...not between your teeth. You pull the muscles even more by doing the teeth cushion thing...try saying the word no or mine and wherever your tongue is, that's where it should relax most of the time.

I'm in the process of retraining all of my facial muscles to go to the right "relaxing" or resting positions. It's a long road and if someone had told me months ago, I'd be in much better shape now! The surgery corrected the mechanical issue, but the muscle issue is much harder and more tedious to fix!

Hope all is well!
Jennifer

[This message has been edited by OHJELJ (edited 03-24-2003).]