Disaster results of TMJD surgery - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

lucydoll35 · 02-19-2007, 07:48 PM

My TMY got so bad that one morning my mouth opened about 13mm. The pain was so servere that I prayed it would pop back. I went to several dentist and had CT scans and MRI, I was put on muscle relaxers and pain meds. for about 2 months. no relief. They couldn't open my mouth to fit me for a splint and after several weeks of major pain I went to an oral specialist.
He explained that the disc had slipped into my muscle tissue and that the onlt solution would be surgery. He also told me that he has done hundreds of these surgerys and I would be up and runiing in about 4 days. He told me that I would have some swelling and bruising but I would be painfree.
Well that didn't work out that way by all means. I still have some pain and I can only open my mouth 20mm. But the kicker is I have nerve damage above my eye and I am not able to lift my eyebrow at all. Its been 5 months and no improvement. The surgeon told me that once the swelling went down I would be back to normal. I went to a neor. specialist and the results from that werent to promising. He said there is signs of re growth but can not be sure if it will come back fully. Now I am living with a droppy eye and get shampoo in it because it doesn't close tightly. On top of all this I still have pain and have spend $$$$ for what??
I wish I had never had it. I wish I had read this forum before believing the doctor.

Thelma-Louise · 02-20-2007, 12:35 PM

I am so sorry about what you are going through but please hang in there - nerves can regenerate themsevles. Although not as serious as what you are going through - I had orthognathic surgery many years ago that left my chin and lower lip numb and tingly for more than a year - I was always dribbling my food b/c I couldn't feel it fall out of my mouth - what helped it get back to normal was that I started to rub the areas very hard several times a day to stimulate the nerves and started to do facial exercises whenever I encountered a bathroom mirror (other women thought I was nuts I am sure). Maybe you should look into going for some physcial therapy geared for people that have muscle/nerve damage - there maybe some facial exercises you can do to stimulate the nerves and strenghten the muscles that have become lazy. Also look into movement disorders - there may be some treatments available that can help as well as dietary supplements that promote nerve and muscle support. Hope things improve for you very soon.

GoodThings · 02-20-2007, 05:05 PM

Belief it or not, european style ortho or FJO has even cured people with surgery to the joints. Maybe not all of your pain but most of them. So it is possible. But it's very difficult. I also hope things will improve for you in the future.

take care,
GT