Eight and a half years ago I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed. Before that time I had suffered from a myriad of mysterious symtoms that didn't make sense (and some I didn't realize were symptoms until after the fact): stiff neck, impeded nasal breathing, headaches (right before extraction), poor posture, back aches, etc. Right after removal I felt a little better but nothing dramatic. Then 48 hours post-removal it felt like something was draining, then all of a sudden my face "loosened" up. For the first time in 7 years I could breathe freely through my nose (I had always thought a deviated septum was to blame), while it was also much smaller ( I literally looked different). My facial posture was much more relaxed, the tension was gone, and I was extremely exhausted. I took a 7 hour nap in the middle of the afternnon (which is unheard of for me).
I thought my problems were over but they were just starting. To make a long story short, all of my sockets caved in and healed properly except the socket on my upper left side. It hurt severely when out in the cold and eventually a tissue bubble formed inside the socket. It hurt to the touch and felt like somebody was pulling my face to that spot (I thought my sinus might have swelled down). After initial reluctancy the surgeon reoperated on the area but didnt' have it biopsied. As the next 3 weeks passed, it slowly began to heal. At times it felt like liquid was draining, but I didn't have any mucus discharge. The muslce in my cheek also appeared to be flipping inside out; I would chew on the right side once a day and spend the rest of the day massaging the muscles in my face. After the 2nd week it felt like something released, and for the last week the area itched after eating and also felt like it was being pulled upward. In a way it felt like my face was remodeling itself and my condition greatly improved. My nasal breathing got better again and I felt the best I had in years (aside from the brief period post surgery).
Since I'd been inactive for weeks, I decided to go work out. The workout went well, but afterwards I decided to sit in a steam room and relax. For the 15 minutes or so I was in there a small area, about the size of a pin point, itched and tickled incessantly. I wasn't too concerned as there was no pain and I assumed the area was healing. I went back to my dorm, showered, and went to sleep feeling okay. I awake 4 hours later to pain and find that this bubble came back (along with the same symptoms). I went back to the surgeon and told him what happened but he was reluctant to do anything further as he said the tissue was "pink and healthy" and the Xrays were negative.
I bounced around for the next several months between ENTs and oral surgeons and received the same stiff arm treatment. Eventually it got to where it felt as if something completely healed out of place. The muscles in my cheek became so rigid that my entire head and body went stiff as a result. My body was so wraught with tension and pain that my toes would curl up in a cramp and I could not uncurl them. It was surreal to be in that much pain, no where my problem area was, yet not be able to find help. I had to drop out of school and essentially did nothing for 4 years. It was brutal.
I eventually found out the tissue was an oral fibroma; it supposedly shouldn't cause much problems but it either came from something that is (my sinus maybe??) but it royally screwed me up. I eventually felt (relatively) better enough to go back to school, however recently I have had some things done in order to relieve the pain. I had a bond derbridement in front of the area in question and that revealed some osteomyelitis. I also developed a oro antral fistula post operation that doesn't want to heal; a sinus surgery was also performed in concert witht the fisutula repair to ensure proper drainage. The debridement helped somewhat as it felt like some pressure was relieved but now it is back in full force. When I apply pressure to the area inside of my mouth it throbs and cause a fist-clenching type reaction. Again, all of the muscles on that side are rigid, and my nose and left cheek collapse when trying to breath nasally. I had a 3D CT scan doen that revealed the fistula is still present although I know that something ELSE is causing it not to heal. Currently me head feels like it is an abolsolute vice, and its shunting blood from my scalp to the point that it's dry, nasty, and scabby. My head is so tight that my neck, shoulders, and chest are following suit. I literally don't want to wake up in the morning, that's how bad it is.
I left out a lot as I was warned by the moderator for duplicate posting (which I think is absurd but whatever). But after reading some of the osteomyelitis stuff I wanted to ask some questions. Has anyone experienced muscle rigidity with osteomyelitis? Also, has anyone had it in their maxillary region? I pretty much don't know where to turn to as very few people have listened or legitimately tried to help me. I've done countless hours of research and have failed to find a parallel. I've thought about the possibility of a fused or inverted muscle, a type of facial compartment syndrome, osteomyelitis, TMJ caused by tissue displacement, a neuroma, etc. I've tried the neurology route but no meds seem to work. I also can steel feel the pain and pressure through local anesthetic. Pain meds do nothing, and there is absolutely nothing I have done/can do that provides ANY type of relief. Even the MAGO I tried for TMJ did nothing.
Any kind of direction as far as specialists, suggestions of illness, or whatever via PM would be greatly appreciated. I'm pretty much at the end of my rope here. Thanks.
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