Georgek,
Im sorry to hear you have had such problems, but thankful you have found a de to help.
I have also been having terrible problems with pain since my TMJR in 2011. I have hit roadblocks in every treatment direction, another one today, and frel lost where to turn next. I just know I shouldnt been in this much pain!! I want to get off the pain meds so bad.
How did you find the new dr?
I did a bunch of research and found out that this new surgeon has corrected a number of patients who were having complications from my surgeon who did the orignial jaw surgeries and joint surgery. I am so sorry to hear you are having complications. I have had pain on the left side and decreased opening (10mm) for the past 3 years. Like you, I hit roadblocks with every procedure. Now at least I finally know what is really going on. My new surgeon is Dr. Glyman.
Hello My TJR Family!!!!!
I am still hanging in here. Returned to Shands on 3/22/13 & the screw holes had began to close up but not as much as the OS had hoped so no decision has been made to replace my left mandible and most likely will not be made until the end of May... . I am okay. Very hard to eat ANYTHING I have to chew so I am finding it hard to keep my weight up..I find this hilarious since I have been trying to get back to a healthy weight after the birth of my daughter in 1989...I continue to remind myself I have survived much worse! The OS was also VERY upfront with me about he is unsure at this time that I could under go another jaw surgery without causing MORE facial damage. My lower, left side lip had yet to regain any movement when I was there on 3/22. Over the last 2 weeks it has began moving again the only issue is I am not moving it so when it has one of its spaz attacks it freaks me out. At the check up he put me in the 90% that IF I had another jaw surgery on the left side I am at a higher risk for total loss on the left side of my face, I would look like I had a stroke. So the jaw implants would be useless on my left side. But now that my lip is starting to come around my % will go down. I have made the decision to NOT worry or apply any negative energy towards this. I have come too far to give up and I have faith in my body's ability to heal. Without going into too much detail...I have a family member who has a drug problem & the family has not been able to reach her with help & I could not understand how drugs could be chosen over kids & family BUT now I am understanding the expression chasing the high..I was PAIN FREE with Great function and would goes DAYS without even thinking about TMJ and I want that back! I NEVER THOUGHT I would live like that again and it happened and I want it back!! But I am not willing to take a chance is I am 40% or higher. I just feel I have come too far & fought too hard to just give up on myself. I just have to wait & see what the OS has to say at the end of May.
I hope everyone is doing as well as they can and PLEASE never give up!!
Take Care!
Shirlett
HELLO!!!
As of this morning ALL of my facial movement has returned!! WooHoo! The feeling has not returned BUT my eyelids & mouth are moving so that takes me out of the 90% and drops me back to normal surgical risk. I do not return to Shands till the end of May & should find out then if they are going to replace the implant parts they removed 02/18/13. Hope EVERYONE is doing as we'll as they can!!! NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!!
Take Care!!!
Shirlett
That is great news Shirlett. I return back to Vegas on Monday to see how I am healing from the explant surgery. Fingers crossed all will be healed so I can move forward with putting the prostheses back in. Eating is still a challenge since my bite has sifted drastically once the prostheses was removed, but my surgeon feels he will be able to correct everything during the next surgery. Hope your healing continues to go well!!!
The following user gives a hug of support to Georgek04: Shirlett (04-23-2013)
The Following User Says Thank You to Georgek04 For This Useful Post: Shirlett (04-23-2013)
First how is everyone's progress???????? I will be returning to Shands May 31st, my own left Mandible is not strong enough nor is there enough of it for me to continue without the implant in there & I am not willing to wait & see if not having it will tear up the remaining left side & or the right side so surgery #20 will be happening. The GOOD NEWS is over the past 4 weeks feeling has returned to my face after 9 years, my chin is still numb but no biggie. Nice to lick my lips & know that there is no food hanging off of them! Lol!
Pam, NavyMid, Sorbil, Georgek04, TMJC, Tom, how are you doing????
Shirlett
Last edited by Shirlett; 05-08-2013 at 02:00 PM.
Reason: I can't spell.. :)
The following user gives a hug of support to Shirlett: Georgek04 (05-08-2013)
It is great to hear from you. I think you have made the correct decision in not waiting. It is also great news that your feeling is beginning to return. I just had the CT scan done on Monday to send to TMJ Concepts to begin making the new prostheses. With any luck, I will have the surgery to put the prostheses in by early July. Other than that, I have to see my OD on Monday because the banding to hold the jaw in place following the explant surgery was placed on the wrong side. Not to sure where the miscommunication happened, but it will be corrected soon. My lower jaw has dropped drastically down on the right side creating about a 7mm openbite. On a good note, my ROM is still at 41mm. I am sure this is partially due to not having a joint on the left side, but it is nice having opening back. Chewing is very difficult with no bite contact.
I look forward to seeing how your upcoming surgery goes. I will be keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Georgek
The following user gives a hug of support to Georgek04: Shirlett (05-08-2013)
The Following User Says Thank You to Georgek04 For This Useful Post: Shirlett (05-08-2013)
Shirlett, it is good to hear you are doing well! And Georgek, I hope you don't have a long wait to put the new prosthesis in. I am doing ok... I moved from FL several months ago, and away from my surgeon, so I've been on the search for a new one. I have found one that does TMJ concepts surgeries too, and sadly he stated two weeks ago that the extra bone growth is back. For now he wants to wait, and I don't know what I want to do, it doesn't seem to be limiting movement any more than it is already limited, and the pain, well, I just don't know if it will ever go away!
I was going to have a "neurostimulator" put in for te pain- it is still experimental for facial pain- but the insurance denied it because of that. So now it's back to the drawing board. I did start physical therapy again, they are mainly working on my neck which is really tense (I wonder why, haha!)
Otherwise, I am actually getting my "jaw story" published! The publisher said it should be out in 2-3 weeks which is super exciting!! I know you all can relate so well to what I've been through!
It's good to hear from y'all!
The following user gives a hug of support to navymid: Shirlett (05-16-2013)
. I am okay. Very hard to eat ANYTHING I have to chew so I am finding it hard to keep my weight up..I find this hilarious since I have been trying to get back to a healthy weight after the birth of my daughter in 1989...I continue to remind myself I have survived much worse! The OS was also VERY upfront with me about he is unsure at this time that I could under go another jaw surgery without causing MORE facial damage. My lower, left side lip had yet to regain any movement when I was there on 3/22. Over the last 2 weeks it has began moving again the only issue is I am not moving it so when it has one of its spaz attacks it freaks me out. At the check up he put me in the 90% that IF I had another jaw surgery on the left side I am at a higher risk for total loss on the left side of my face, I would look like I had a stroke. So the jaw implants would be useless on my left side. But now that my lip is starting to come around my % will go down. I have made the decision to NOT worry or apply any negative energy towards this. I have come too far to give up and I have faith in my body's ability to heal. Without going into too much detail...I have a family member who has a drug problem & the family has not been able to reach her with help & I could not understand how drugs could be chosen over kids & family BUT now I am understanding the expression chasing the high..I was PAIN FREE with Great function and would goes DAYS without even thinking about TMJ and I want that back! I NEVER THOUGHT I would live like that again and it happened and I want it back!! But I am not willing to take a chance is I am 40% or higher. I just feel I have come too far & fought too hard to just give up on myself. I just have to wait & see what the OS has to say at the end of May.
