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Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

1. 

   bracedblogger
   Member

   I'm about 3.5 wks post op and for the past several days, I've noticed that my TMJ/left jaw muscle will spasm quickly or even lock up for a second and then release. Is this normal? It hurts when it happens but it comes as quickly as it goes. I began noticing it after two events - once morning I woke up after apparently rolling over onto my jaw and it was stiff and sore the next day and then I started noticing it happening a few times throughout the day. Mostly random but also wen I would yawn.

   Then yesterday I had to go into the office for a few hours to interview someone for a job position. I did a lot of talking in 3 hours, more than in a single day since surgery. I think I overdid it because I was really sore in the left TMJ area and when I woke up this morning, that side was more swollen when it's been the other side more swollen ever since surgery.

   If this is normal to experience, then I'm ok with that and will be patient for it to go away. But I hope this doesn't signal any complications of surgery. I have read some develop TMJ issues post surgery. I didn't have any pre-surgery.

   I welcome any feedback you're able to offer!

   Double jaw surgery on 12/17/11. BSSO mandibular advancement of 10 mm; two-piece le fort 1 with 3 mm impaction and maxilla brought forward 1 mm.
   
   http://www.tara-jaws.blogspot.com

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   BaliGirl
   Member

   Muscle spasms are unfortunately normal during the healing process. The muscles have to get used to their new positions (and in the process stop going to their old positions), and sometimes they are not happy about it. Mine sure aren't. Some nights when I'm banded shut, my lower jaw fights the bands to open back up to where I think it used to close (my upper jaw was impacted 5mm so my lower jaw closes more now than it did before). I've also been having headaches in my temples that are actually muscle spasms (there's a muscle that runs from the lower jaw to the temple area). My surgeon said the headaches should resolve when my range of motion returns and my lower jaw gets used to its new position. I've also had my lower jaw snap shut at random and when I yawn sometimes. Good times. I'll bet your TMJ pain is a spasm of the other set of muscles in the lower jaw, but I would bring it up with your surgeon just to be sure.

   Does anyone have any suggestions for speeding up the process of getting your jaw muscles used to their new positions?

   On 12/28/11 I had a 4 piece LeFort 1 procedure done to correct an open bite.
   
   http://jawsurgerysaga.blogspot.com/

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   Hose.A.Jaw
   Member

   My muscle spasms were really bad when my jaws were wired shut. As BaliGirl stated, my muscles were fighting with the wires to move back to their old position. It would be worse at night just as I was dozing off. I still have spasms, but not as frequently nor as forcefully. Having elastics seems to help, and I have been doing exercises by opening my jaws while wearing the elastics. I'm not sure if these exercises helped, or if the spasms just became less frequent with time.

   http://hoseajaw.wordpress.com/

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   Lily984
   Member

   I got me spasms 2 days post op - when I got the bands put on, then when they changed the bands j got this awful earache & constant pain with spasms, they were happening at least every 30 mins. The ortho said it was normal & to take my pills, but something didn't feel right - I felt like I wanted to push my jaw forward! So I told her this & she moved my jaw, even since then I've had no pain at all. I get the odd spasm, but no whee near as often.

   People kept telling me it was normal, but I knew something wasn't right!

   Posted 4 months ago #

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