5 week post-op, pain below ear, think my jaw went back, BSSO

[Harmony]

Hello everyone

Well I'm at Week 5 post-op and been getting on really well since surgery. Still some numbness in the left side of my lip/chin, however, for about 10 days now I have this pain in my jaw, just below ear. I got lower jaw surgery (BSSO) done for my 12mm overbite/overjet.

I get this jerking pain times when I'm eating which goes away in seconds. Only get it when I'm eating so must be something to do with movement. Occasionally when I'm talking I might get it as well.

I contacted my Surgeon who I saw last week and he advised me to go back on liquid diet for 2 weeks until I see him again. To be honest I've been eating soft foods from about day 10 and never had any probs until I took this pain about 10 days ago.

Times it aches a little at that point just below my ear (hope I'm explaining it right) I don't have any pain in my ear just below it on the jawline. It's only on my right side as well. Have no problems on my left side.

Also, I feel my jaw has went back slightly since I took my double elastics off. I've been on single elastics since week 2 and I feel my jaw has went back a little, so tempted to go back using double elastics again but probably not a good idea until I would speak to the ortho!

The surgeon said that if pain still persists some have to come in again and get metal plate out and I'm a little worried! Anyone else experience any pain below there ear since surgery or know anything about it? I don't have any clicking. I only get it when eating and it just comes and goes. If I touch that area it is abit tender and pain occurs when eating?

Also a little worried as I feel my jaw has went back slightly since getting double elastics removed?

Harmony

[revelvia]

I had the pain below my ear as well. I remember it would normally get gradually worse throughout the day but would sometimes be there entirely randomly. I don't get it at all now - I can't remember when it stopped though, it stopped kind of gradually.

I get the jerking pain as well. Mine has slowed down a lot but I still get it ocasionally, but now it's once every two to three days or so usually. I thought it had stopped but then when I was allowed to start chewing again it started up again for a few days but seems to have been reducing. Infuriating isn't it! Mine liked to do it when I was eating, mid sentence, or shivering - the latter is by far the most painful!

[gutsygumshoe]

I'm only 11 days post-op but I've also been getting pains in and around my ears from time to time. It's so close to the jaw joint that I don't get too worried about it because I figure that's what's causing the pain - jaw surgery is a pretty major trauma to your head so everything's bound to hurt at some point or other while it's healing up!

I understand your worry about the elastics though. I was pretty much banded shut for the first six days, but when my orthodontist removed the front bands because she didn't think I needed them anymore I really missed the security of everything being tightly held in place!! I too worry a lot about my jaw moving back. I'm sorry I don't really have any advice for you but you're not alone in worrying about it at least!

I'd follow your surgeon's advice and wait for your next orthodontist appointment to see what they think. In the meantime I'd try not to worry about it too much - I find worrying causes all sorts of aches and pains to come on just because I'm thinking about them!

Hope you feel better and get everything sorted soon x

[sirwired]

Certainly keep your surgeon updated. I wouldn't change your elastics config without the surgeon's say-so, though.

The joint is going to have to go through an "adjustment" period certainly; this is called "condylar remolding" as the "slip joint" re-shapes for your jaw's new "resting" position. I don't know how much pain is considered a normal part of this phase.