http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ Past, current, and future Jaw Surgery patients Unite! en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:17:32 +0000 http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/numbness-in-lips-and-chin-after-lower-jaw-surgery#post-24 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:13:00 +0000 Jaime Ramirez 24@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>i got surgery on june 3rd on my lower jaw only and was wondering how long before i can feel my lip and chin tanks 4 the help </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/bit-worried-im-still-numb-at-6-months#post-8112 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:40:29 +0000 leila 8112@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Hey,</p> <p>6 months post lower jaw surgery and the right side of my lip and chin is much number than the other side. A good part of the lip is completely numb even to poking it with needles (I have a little acupuncture mallet)! Would be great to hear from those further on than me so I dont feel like Im an odd one and keep up my hope that my sensation eventually returns!</p> <p>Thanks! </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/how-are-people-a-year-or-more-after-surgery#post-14910 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:01:37 +0000 leila 14910@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Im coming up to a year after my lower jaw surgery and still have significant altered sensation and numbness in the lower lip and chin. Would be great to know if people have noted improvements that kept on going after a year in case I need to expect to wait 2 years or more until I feel its back to normal! Just need some hope and encouragement that I will get better because its depressing not being able to feel a kiss properly... </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/had-surgery-3-days-ago-help#post-19142 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:49:40 +0000 Stgall5905 19142@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Hey everybody.. I&#39;m glad I found this website, I have been trying to find somewhere that others have gone through what I am going through. I was hit in the face about a week ago, and my jaw was broken in 3 places. Just had surgery 3 days ago, had 6 plates put in, as well as 8 screws to hold the 4 wires. Luckily I was able to get a plate on each side of the breaks, so I only have to keep my mouth wired for about a week.. Maybe more, but doc said it should be good by then.. My face is extremely swollen. Like I don&#39;t want to be seen in public swollen. I was wondering how long until that should go away?</p> <p>Another really big concern of mine is facial numbness. Before the surgery the RIGHT side of my chin, my lower lip, my lower gums, and lower teeth were pretty numb.. I could feel a slight pinch as I pulled out a hair on my chin though (which normally hurts like hell). After the surgery I have no feeling in my ENTIRE lower lip, my entire jaw, lower teeth, lower gums.... I can&#39;t feel anything when I pull a hair out of my chin now... It gets itchy and tingly though every now and then.... Even though I can&#39;t scratch it.. Doc said it could take a long time to have some feeling come back, might not come back at all... Anybody have this problem? If you did how numb was it right after surgery, how far along are you, and how does it feel now?</p> <p>If you actually read all of this, you are probably dealing with or had dealt with what I&#39;m going through, please, if you can help... I&#39;m very worried, but even if I don&#39;t like the answer, I would like some idea... Thank you to anyone who cares to comment. </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/acupuncturist-in-atlanta#post-18722 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:38:12 +0000 bracedblogger 18722@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Hi - someone has suggested through my blog that acupuncture may work for painful nerve regeneration. I would like to give it a try. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good acupuncturist in Atlanta, Georgia? Or perhaps how to find one/what to look for as far as credentials go? </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/freezing-lip-painful#post-18669 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:48:17 +0000 bracedblogger 18669@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Hi all, today is day 16 post op for me and I am trying to find any relief I can get. My lower lip is 95% numb (as well as my chin). My chin is tingling like normal and it&#39;s fine because it doesn&#39;t hurt, just very uncomfortable but I can live with it because I know it&#39;s a good sign the nerves are regenerating! My lower lip is another story however. Just yesterday, it started to feel like it was freezing. It seemed to be triggered while I was walking at the park. But it hasn&#39;t gone away, in fact it&#39;s gotten worse, much worse to the point where it actually hurts. It feels so cold like I&#39;ve been outside in the snow all day making snow angels. I can&#39;t recall reading about anyone else having a similar experience where it was painful. I&#39;ve tried using moist heat from my bed buddy and it does help some but not much. Tonight I&#39;m at my wits end. I&#39;m tired and want to sleep but there&#39;s no way I&#39;m going to be able to sleep. I took a Lortab to see if it would make the pain go away but it&#39;s 20 minutes later and still feels the same. I don&#39;t know what to do. Any advice or similar experiences? Please tell me this is temporary and all normal!! </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/coldness-is-chin#post-18422 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:47 +0000 Tucker1027 18422@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>I am week and one day post op and my chin area feels like it is freezing !Does anyone know what this is or anything i can i do help it ! </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/lip-weakness-on-one-side#post-5053 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:33:32 +0000 leila 5053@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Im just going to start a new thread here as hopefully will get responses easier than just adding my story to other topics! Anyway Im 3 weeks post surgery, my lower jaw was advanced about 6mm and I had my upper wisdoms out. My concern is that only the left side of my lower lip is contracting properly if I pucker my lips or I try to pull the lower lip down to expose the lower teeth. Just makes holding water in my mouth harder as it dribbles out of the right side where its much weaker. </p> <p>And I cant talk as clearly as I used to as it feels as if the lower lip is getting in the way. When I smile showing teeth the lip doesnt move down and still covers half the upper teeth so doesnt look normal at all! I havent heard others talk about this so bit worrying. Im equally numb on both sides of my lip so doesnt seem to just be about that but I have had more pain and swelling on the right side so Im thinking its due to that somehow. If anyone has or has had a similar problem with lip weakness I&#39;d be most grateful it they shared! </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/numbnesstinglingnerve-questions#post-17677 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:00:33 +0000 bracedblogger 17677@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>I know it&#39;s still very early on but I wanted to run by you my experience with the numbness to see what you all think. I am 6 days post op and I have some feeling everywhere in my face except the lower lip and chin. However, my lips are constantly tingling (like the feeling when you&#39;re coming off of novocaine at the dentist office). I do not have pins and needles feelings or electrical shoots/sparks as some of you have described. The tingling feels somewhat &quot;hot&quot; but it&#39;s not really, it&#39;s just the way my brain registers the sensation. Do the pins and needles and electrical shocks come later on or perhaps not everyone experiences those? Does the tingling sensation mean my nerves are trying to regenerate or is this just a symptom of the numbness that may never go away? I had quite a bit of movement (1 cm mandibular advancement) so I am sure it will take a lot of patience and time if anything comes back at all. What is the average length of time before I can expect ANY feeling to come back in my lower lip and chin? Not necessarily all feeling but just any feeling - like the beginning of the return of feeling. As I mentioned, I have some feeling everywhere else although it&#39;s not 100% anywhere (maybe 75% in upper lip, nose, and cheeks). </p> <p>Does anyone know the statistics on permanent numbness of the lower lip and chin? I had double jaw surgery with BSSO mandibular advancement of 1 cm and upper jaw brought forward 1 mm, impaction 3 mm, and widening 7 mm. I&#39;m 33 years old and in pretty good health. </p> http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/topic/mandibular-osteotomy-11-march-2011#post-6691 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:23:56 +0000 Debbie 6691@http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/ <p>Hi I&#39;m Debbie, I&#39;m 21, I live in Northern Ireland and I had my operation on 11 March 2011. My operation was to correct an overbite so I had my lower jaw moved forward 15mm (a lot of movement for the jaw). I had braces on for 3 1/2 years prior to surgery, not fun as I spent my 18th birthday, my hen night and my 21st birthday in braces. Fortunately my orthodontist was very kind and took off my braces for 2 weeks while I got married in Scotland and had my honeymoon. I had tried to get my surgery before my wedding but there was other patients before me and we had to be taken in turn. I was placed on the waiting list in November 2009 so I was waiting around a year and a half. I had a<br /> Pre-assessment appointment with a nurse before the operation who took down all my details, family history, medical conditions, blood tests and an ECG because of previous heart palpitations. Everything checked out ok and so the operation got the go ahead. I went into hospital on the 10 March, all my details got taken again, was brought lunch and dinner then my anaestesist came to discuss the general anaestethic procedure and what was involved. After he left my surgeon came, this was a different surgeon than the one who was originally supposed to do the operation, and she made sure I was still happy to go ahead with the operation. I was scheduled to have my op at lunchtime on 11 march but I was told that it had been changed to 8am instead, I then had to ring my husband at 11pm to tell him so he could come in earlier. I began fasting at midnight. In the morning I woke up at 6am and had my shower, I put on my theatre gown and socks (to prevent blood clots due to lack Of movement after surgery) and I waited until the porters arrived. The porters and a nurse took me down to theatre, I remember moving from my bed onto the table and looking at the ceiling as my needle was inserted into my hand, the first needle didn&#39;t work so he had to remove that one and try again with a new needle. This is the last thing I remember prior to surgery, I don&#39;t even recall being given the anaestethic. I then woke up in the recovery ward and felt very swollen, my head like a brick was on top of it lol I could feel the ice pack on my face. I drifted back off again, when I next woke I was very groggy and I was coming out of the lift back to the ward and could vaguely see the silhouette of my husband waiting for me. I drifted off again, woke up to find my dad was also there so it must have been afternoon visiting hours, I put my hands to my face and felt a tube coming out of my nose. I could hardly talk so I wrote everything down, I asked the nurse why the tube was there as this hadn&#39;t been explained to me prior to surgery, the nurse told me all about it which made me feel better. My dad and hubby left and I fell asleep. My nurse showed me how to use the suction machine as I was drooling alot. Throughout the day and night I was given steroids, morphine and anti nauseous drugs as I was feeling sick alot. Later that night I was having problems with the needle in my hand as it was sore when they were putting liquids through it so the doctor was called to see what the problem was. He decided to take the needle out and try to put a new one into my arm instead, I ended up with 5 puncture wounds on my left arm and 2 on my right before he finally settled on giving me a children&#39;s needle into my left wrist. You should have seen the bruises, I looked like a drug addict. I woke every couple of hours during the night to go to the toilet but apart from that there wasn&#39;t much else happened that night. On the Saturday morning (12 march) I was brought a milkshake and a small carton of orange juice, I was told that I had to try these before I would be allowed to leave the hospital. It was hard to take it as I had to use a syringe and get used to swallowing again, I used the suction machine quite a bit as the juice was dripping down my chin as I was still numb. My surgeon came by around 11am and I asked her (I wrote it down lol) when she was going to remove the tube from my nose and she said now. She pulled the tube hard and it came out with a rag on the end, my nose began bleeding quite badly as soon as it came out and the blood was all over my face, my ice pack was covered because she hadn&#39;t removed it before she took out the tube and my bed was covered also. She then left and I was left with a bloody face, ice pack and bed. I went to the bathroom to clean my face and then I cleaned the ice pack so I could use it again. My bedsheets weren&#39;t changed until I was discharged at 3pm which I think is horrendous. I was given my toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash tablets and folic acid liquid form (building it up for pregnancy from before surgery) by the ward sister, she asked if I had been given elastics by the doctor so I could change them if they snapped and I said no she phoned for the doctor who arrived 45 minutes later. He took me down to the oral surgery clinic and gave some to me, I had to ask him how to change them if they did snap and he made it such a hassle to show me. We left after this. I wasn&#39;t happy with the recovery through the hospital as 99% of the information I should have been given by a nurse or surgeon, I had actually found on the Internet when I was researching others recovery process. I discovered that I shouldn&#39;t blow my nose for 2 weeks and when sneezing to open my mouth so the pressure didn&#39;t build up inside and burst the stitches. Two weeks ago I had to go into the hospital as an emergency as my swelling had gotten worse, I couldnt open my mouth, talk or eat properly and I was getting pain, yucky taste and bad breath and it was discovered that I had an abcess where my stitches were on both sides and I also had severe gum tissue trauma caused by my top wisdom teeth rubbing off the gums as they were healing. The consultant removed 3 of my stitches and prescribed me anti biotics and lifflam mouthwash which worked. I took painkillers everyday for 4 weeks which caused me to become constipated quite badly so i stopped them altogether. As it stands today I have had no pain until a few days ago when a child bumped into me in work, the numbness in my chin began to spread further along my jaw line on the right hand side and a strange sensation began along the gums below my teeth on the right again. I also have been getting a piercing feeling go through my ears, mainly my left ear and at no particular time of the day either and I have started to get the pain where I had the abcess two weeks ago. I have my next appointment on 4 May so I will find out what&#39;s wrong then. I would like to mention that you should invest in an ice pack prior to surgery as I didn&#39;t and my hubby had to make one out of a duster cloth (new) and Velcro then filled it with frozen peas, this wasn&#39;t as effective as an ice pack would have been but it done the job. I have before and after photos available which I can email to anyone who wishes to see, please email me if you wish to ask any questions or you would like to see these photos, my email address is <a href="mailto:crazychic9061@hotmail.com">crazychic9061@hotmail.com</a>! I have probably missed out a few things but I can&#39;t think of what they might be at the minute. I am not 100% happy at this stage that I had the surgery but I haven&#39;t fully healed as I&#39;m still numb, swollen and now getting sore again. Oh yes and I had a splint put in which I have noticed has change the shape of my teeth slightly but I don&#39;t mind, this will be removed on 4 May. I will have my elastics in for some time yet as it was such a big move the surgeon doesn&#39;t want my jaw to go back. My jaw was secured in place with titanium plates and screws. As for the diet I ate liquified everything and anything, i am actually sick of soup, I don&#39;t think I could eat it ever again. At my 3 week appointment I was told I could eat soft foods, overcooked pasta and noodles so I lived on these for 1-2 weeks and now I eat basically anything I want, chocolate, chicken, crisps, burgers, sausages, chips, pizza, jelly babies, jelly beans, chocolate fingers, buns, cake. It didn&#39;t do me any harm lol i just make sure I brush and rinse after every meal to ensure my mouth is kept clean to prevent infection. I had two incisions on my cheeks to insert the screws, both are now scars although one is raised, red and itchy but again I&#39;ll see what my orthodontist says on 4 may as I&#39;m not seeing my surgeon again until I&#39;m 6 months after surgery. At this time I wouldn&#39;t recommend this surgery but it did correct my overbite and improved my appearance but I&#39;m still swollen and numb, missing the feeling of a kiss but hoping that this will come back soon. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask below or to email me. Thanks again, Debbie xx </p>