Autumn Angel
01-07-2003, 11:54 AM
I had my specialist appt. yesterday and I have to have an arthroscopy to start treatment. Then he mentioned braces and jaw aliginment surgery afterwards because I have a birth deffect resulting in an excessively long left condyle (same side as the TMJ). Has anyone had jaw alignment surgery and what does it consist of? My Doc said breaking of the jaw and a hospital stay. Can anyone tell me how long? So from what I am told to eventually fix things I will have to have the 2 surgeries and braces. Arthroscopy first then braces and jaw aliginment. Any information would be helpful. After 12 years of suffering treatment is going to be such a welcome relief I just want to know from people that have has all this done what to expect. Thank you in advance for all your help.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD for 12 years
Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured now I think)
Teen daughters that have had medical problems and I will help and over advice on what areas I am knowledgable in.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD for 12 years
Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured now I think)
Teen daughters that have had medical problems and I will help and over advice on what areas I am knowledgable in.
Sponsor
Autumn Angel
01-07-2003, 12:00 PM
Oh and I was also told my bite was a 24 and the norm was 50. Whats everyone else got here? Thanx for the help.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD for 12 years
Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured now I think)
Teen daughters that have had medical problems and I will help and over advice on what areas I am knowledgable in.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD for 12 years
Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured now I think)
Teen daughters that have had medical problems and I will help and over advice on what areas I am knowledgable in.
Elaine
01-20-2003, 03:16 PM
Autumn,
50mm is somewhere around normal. Unfortunately, I am no where near normal. After three surgeries with extensive physical therapy afterwards, I am at 10mm. I still manage to smash things into my mouth to do this so called "eating neccessity". People always tell me I have a big mouth, I think they are wrong!!!!
Elaine
50mm is somewhere around normal. Unfortunately, I am no where near normal. After three surgeries with extensive physical therapy afterwards, I am at 10mm. I still manage to smash things into my mouth to do this so called "eating neccessity". People always tell me I have a big mouth, I think they are wrong!!!!
Elaine
Merrida
01-20-2003, 03:20 PM
I get envious of people who can open their mouth to actually bite into a whole sandwhich, much less a sub. There I am in a social setting cutting things up with plastic sporks into finger food to shovel into my lips....
What people take for granted,...
What people take for granted,...
Autumn Angel
01-20-2003, 04:16 PM
Elaine, I dont know how you handle that I have trouble at 24. What 3 surgeries did you have? Can you let me know? Thank you.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia
18 year old daughter bulimia survivor.
If I can help ANYONE with anything from a papercut to a life threatening illness, I will do my best just to be a friend. " A friend is someone who knows all your faults and loves you anyway".
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia
18 year old daughter bulimia survivor.
If I can help ANYONE with anything from a papercut to a life threatening illness, I will do my best just to be a friend. " A friend is someone who knows all your faults and loves you anyway".
Elaine
01-20-2003, 08:29 PM
Autumn,
The first surgery was to put the disc back in place. The second surgery was to unlock me from scar tissue, resulting from the first surgery. The third surgery, the disc was finally shot and totally tied up in scar tissue. So when they took out the scar tissue the disc came with it. They put in a Christensen fossa implant and that leads me to this hell I am in now. Right back where I was to begin with, only with less opening, worse headaches, weight loss due to not being able to chew, implant screws have come loose as the implant can't handle the load of the jaw joint. Who ever heard of metal against bone doing anything but more damage. Now I have a "stub" for a condyle. Total joint has been suggested but once I get rid of this implant, no one is ever touching me again. Shouldn't have been done in the first place...I learned the hard way but at least, I did learn...Uggghhh!
Elaine
The first surgery was to put the disc back in place. The second surgery was to unlock me from scar tissue, resulting from the first surgery. The third surgery, the disc was finally shot and totally tied up in scar tissue. So when they took out the scar tissue the disc came with it. They put in a Christensen fossa implant and that leads me to this hell I am in now. Right back where I was to begin with, only with less opening, worse headaches, weight loss due to not being able to chew, implant screws have come loose as the implant can't handle the load of the jaw joint. Who ever heard of metal against bone doing anything but more damage. Now I have a "stub" for a condyle. Total joint has been suggested but once I get rid of this implant, no one is ever touching me again. Shouldn't have been done in the first place...I learned the hard way but at least, I did learn...Uggghhh!
Elaine
Isew4work
01-20-2003, 11:53 PM
I had arthcentesis in November. I really did not know much about the procedure of the outcome. I was surprised that the recovery was as uncomforatble as it was. I could not open my mouth for a few weeks more than about 15 mm. Then after about 4 weeks my jaw started locking shut and causing more headaches than I even got before I had the arthocentesis. I was evaluated by my tmj doc and today by the surgeon. They both feel that the next step for me is arhroscopic surgery. Does anyone have a success story that will give me any confidece in this? Or worse, a story that will help me decide what to do? I can open my mouth pretty easily most of the time. It just locks at a certian point a couple of time per week. I am only 36. Any opinions out there? Thanks Mary Z
Cymy Sue
01-21-2003, 08:52 AM
Autumn,
I've had both jaws broken twice(1988). It did not work very well. When it was done, they did not know that my disc were shot. I'm sure the surgery has been improved due to MRI technology.
I've had 2 arthroplastic procedures. This is open joint surgery and is a little different than arthrocopy. The first was to replace disc with ear cartilage, the second was to remove it. The ear cartlage was gone after about 2 years. This was 92 & 97. I'm sure they have improved on these procedures, too.
With all surgeries there is always a possibility of problems. Anytime you have surgery on your face, there is going to be swelling, pain, and possibly some numbness for a while. In your case, it sounds like you will have to have the condyle corrected.
There have been a lot of failures with these procedures, but also successes. I'm sure what has been learned in the last few years, will be to your advantage.
My advice is to make sure you have a very good Surgeon. Make sure he tells you everything about the surgeries, the recovery time and the follow-up treatments.
For more information, you can "Search" Arthroscopic Surgery, Orthognathic Surgery and Sagittal Split.
Some of the websites are a little graphic, but you will be a little more prepared and also get an idea of the percentage of successful surgeries.
By reading any of my posts, I'm sure you know that I'm pretty much against irreversible treatments, due to my experience.
I did ask my Dentist last week if any surgery was absolutely necessary for any TMJD condition. He's very knowledgeable, has followed my condition for 25 years and the only person I trust right now for advice and treatment. I guess I thought that everything that I had let the Surgical community do, was "stupid' on my part.
He said if disc are totally destroyed, they just about have to be removed and that some bone deformaties have to be surgically corrected.
I do wish you the best, I hope you find the information you need, and pray that your surgery will be one of the "Great Success Stories".
Cymy Sue
I've had both jaws broken twice(1988). It did not work very well. When it was done, they did not know that my disc were shot. I'm sure the surgery has been improved due to MRI technology.
I've had 2 arthroplastic procedures. This is open joint surgery and is a little different than arthrocopy. The first was to replace disc with ear cartilage, the second was to remove it. The ear cartlage was gone after about 2 years. This was 92 & 97. I'm sure they have improved on these procedures, too.
With all surgeries there is always a possibility of problems. Anytime you have surgery on your face, there is going to be swelling, pain, and possibly some numbness for a while. In your case, it sounds like you will have to have the condyle corrected.
There have been a lot of failures with these procedures, but also successes. I'm sure what has been learned in the last few years, will be to your advantage.
My advice is to make sure you have a very good Surgeon. Make sure he tells you everything about the surgeries, the recovery time and the follow-up treatments.
For more information, you can "Search" Arthroscopic Surgery, Orthognathic Surgery and Sagittal Split.
Some of the websites are a little graphic, but you will be a little more prepared and also get an idea of the percentage of successful surgeries.
By reading any of my posts, I'm sure you know that I'm pretty much against irreversible treatments, due to my experience.
I did ask my Dentist last week if any surgery was absolutely necessary for any TMJD condition. He's very knowledgeable, has followed my condition for 25 years and the only person I trust right now for advice and treatment. I guess I thought that everything that I had let the Surgical community do, was "stupid' on my part.
He said if disc are totally destroyed, they just about have to be removed and that some bone deformaties have to be surgically corrected.
I do wish you the best, I hope you find the information you need, and pray that your surgery will be one of the "Great Success Stories".
Cymy Sue
Autumn Angel
01-21-2003, 09:27 PM
Elaine thank you for your information. Did the arthroscopy work? This will be the first thing I have to have done and then the jaw realignment which to tell you the truth I may not have done if the arthroscopy eases the pain any or alot who knows.
Sue... As always you are a fountain of information I am just sorry you had to go through so much to know some of what you know.
Thank you all for your replies this board has given me more info in 2 months than I have gotten in 12 years.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia
18 year old daughter bulimia survivor.
If I can help ANYONE with anything from a papercut to a life threatening illness, I will do my best just to be a friend. " A friend is someone who knows all your faults and loves you anyway".
Sue... As always you are a fountain of information I am just sorry you had to go through so much to know some of what you know.
Thank you all for your replies this board has given me more info in 2 months than I have gotten in 12 years.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia
18 year old daughter bulimia survivor.
If I can help ANYONE with anything from a papercut to a life threatening illness, I will do my best just to be a friend. " A friend is someone who knows all your faults and loves you anyway".
Cymy Sue
04-08-2003, 07:41 AM
bump.