Feeling started returning to my lower lip today! Though only on the left side, similar to my chin. My partially numb upper left lip corner is also improving, inside and out. The right side is still completely numb and tingling.
I noticed today that the cheek areas lining the nose have full feeling. Not sure when my senses came back completely; it could have been days ago. Either way, I'm sure glad it did.
I have gotten bolder about spending more time at home with my jaws unbanded the past 2 days, specifically around meal times. I am supposed to take the bands off only when brushing my teeth, but they are causing my teeth to hurt by being so tight. I figured an extra 10 - 15 minutes of unbanded time couldn't hurt anything, especially when I'm only days away from having the splint removed. Oh I can't wait to chew again.
I also have reason to believe my teeth have been clamped so tight together that the splint between the back left molars has actually cracked. I will find out at my Monday appointment if this has indeed happened.
Not much else to report -- the day to day changes have greatly diminished. My face, while mostly deflated, still has stiff areas that are fading every day. Smiling is becoming a more natural task, but I still have stiffness and resistance in the areas directly around the nostrils and chin, which actually distorts the shapes of my lips a little. My hope is that by Monday, these stiff areas will be completely gone. But something tells me that is just unreasonable.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
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There is a chance that after the splint is removed, I'll still be on a liquid, or blended diet for a while, since my jaw muscles have gotten so weak I can barely open them a finger's width apart.
ReplyDeleteWhen did the feeling of stiffness go away?
ReplyDeleteHey Jawsurgerycamilla, I cannot say for sure when it did, but it's all gone now. At some point the recovery just becomes so gradual it's hard to keep track of all the milestones. However, the estimate the surgeon gave me was 1 year for all recovery to complete. I would say at about 10 months, I feel completely normal, maybe even sooner than that! Again, you do reach a point where you regain all functionality but don't really keep track of it. Hope this helps :)
Deletehi..did the numbness stay or it's completely healed? some say that it can be permanently numb..
ReplyDeleteHi Ronnie, my numbness recovered 100% on the left face, and 99% on the right side. I would say it's a very very little bit numb on my lower right chin area, which is not noticeable unless I am shaving.
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