Metal Mouth Message Board

How long did you miss work after jaw surgery? What kind of work do you do? Was this a problem for your employer?

I am not at all sure how my employer would take it if I had to miss a lot of work. Im off to a consult soon with a surgeon but looking to see how possible this is for me in the first place...feedback?

I got 30 days off. I'm in military. But to be honest 2 weeks is enough unless your job is very physical. I'm going back to work next week but I'm going to be on light duty for another couple weeks.

I kind of disagree with the person above who said 2 weeks is enough for non-physical jobs. I think after 2 weeks, you might still be exhausted and not able to talk much.

Personally I took 6 weeks off because I have a rather large sick leave bank (I work for the government). My boss kept encouraging me to take more, actually.

Everyone is different obviously. I was walking outside 5km on the 4th day. So I guess it really depends.

I had my surgery on 6/8 on a Wednesday and I'd say by Sunday 6/12 or Monday 6/13 is when I started feeling like a functioning adult again. On Monday the 14th, I drove around for a little bit. I am returning to work on Monday 6/20, though I will be working from home (since I can with my job). My voice is still a little rough, so it's perfect to let it heal and not talk to anyone for a few more weeks. I'm sure everyone's case is different, but I feel ready to do something productive again.

Branwillaws wrote:Everyone is different obviously. I was walking outside 5km on the 4th day. So I guess it really depends.

For sure! There are no hard and fast rules about anything to do with jaw surgery so I like to offer a differing experience when I have one.

In my case, I slept great every night after surgery but I was still really exhausted and run down feeling for a few weeks. So hard to know how it's going to go until you're recovering.

Yeah. And also every surgeon says different things. My surgeon strongly encouraged that I try and walk around and such. But like I said I'm in the military (Canadian airforce) and my maxo surgeon is also in the military. I see him on Monday and I'm suppose to go back to work Tuesday with a nice big paper basically telling my supervisor that I can't lift or do anything lol.

I had a sarpe surgery a year ago and my surgeon and ortho were both amazed at my recovery so I guess I can say I recover very quick. I'm exactly 4 weeks post op today and I'm maybe 10% swollen. I'm eating pretty good. The worst thing I can complain about is that my mouth is all beat up and full of ulcers. My speech isn't perfect, and of corse my lower lip and chin is numb.

I started this week going back to the gym. And yes I'm definitely ALOT weaker. But it's okay I only lift very light weight. I lost over 25 pounds in these 4 weeks. But I was also overweight to begin with.

I have posted some pictures of my face in my other forum and shows my pre op. And up until now pretty much so you will see how quickly my face has changed.

Another quick point. I had 2 incisions on the outside for my lower jaw and now I can't even tell so I'm happy about that.

2 weeks for my 2-piece LeFort. I was in that stupid splint for 9 interminable weeks, but I was able to talk well enough to work.

(FYI, I have oodles of sick leave, but I didn't need it.)

Thanks guys...this gives me an idea at least. It sounds like I would actually miss less work than I was expecting so thats good. How long would you recommend needing someone to help take care of you/your home? A few days at most?

How long did you have to sleep upright? I cannot, for the life of me, sleep upright!

Branwillaws wrote:Another quick point. I had 2 incisions on the outside for my lower jaw and now I can't even tell so I'm happy about that.

Why the two incisions on the outside?

CCinBraces wrote:

Branwillaws wrote:Another quick point. I had 2 incisions on the outside for my lower jaw and now I can't even tell so I'm happy about that.

Why the two incisions on the outside?

The surgeon had to make 2 tiny incisions to be able to put some screws in the plate for my lower jaw.

CCinBraces wrote:Thanks guys...this gives me an idea at least. It sounds like I would actually miss less work than I was expecting so thats good. How long would you recommend needing someone to help take care of you/your home? A few days at most?

How long did you have to sleep upright? I cannot, for the life of me, sleep upright!

I'm a side and stomach sleeper myself. I slept upright for about a week week and a half

CCinBraces wrote:How long did you have to sleep upright? I cannot, for the life of me, sleep upright!

Haha I'm the same way. I'm a side/stomach sleeper and sleeping upright sucked. I managed for the first week but after that I kinda twisted around a little, while still trying to stay off my face completely. It's a pain and made for some pretty crappy sleep a lot of the time.

CCinBraces wrote:Thanks guys...this gives me an idea at least. It sounds like I would actually miss less work than I was expecting so thats good. How long would you recommend needing someone to help take care of you/your home? A few days at most?

How long did you have to sleep upright? I cannot, for the life of me, sleep upright!

I had my husband around but I did a lot of things myself. I'd say it's good to have someone there maybe the first 4-7 days? I didn't want to be waited on hand and foot because it was nice to get up and move around.

I slept leaning up for exactly 30 days.

Branwillaws wrote:

CCinBraces wrote:

Branwillaws wrote:Another quick point. I had 2 incisions on the outside for my lower jaw and now I can't even tell so I'm happy about that.

Why the two incisions on the outside?

The surgeon had to make 2 tiny incisions to be able to put some screws in the plate for my lower jaw.

Wow---glad its not leaving any major scars for you then!