lower jaw advancement day 27 lots of pain on left side

Message

#1 Post by **user10** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:34 pm

Hi,
I had my jaw moved forward and a sliding genioplasty, on the 18th september, the healing went well for the first two weeks, then I started getting very sharp pains on my left side when I spoke or laughed and a constant dull pain, it also started swelling again on that side. I'm now on my third course of antibiotics and feeling quite miserable (can't sleep due to the pain) and I'm also worried that I'm looking ugly.
I saw the surgeon a few days ago, he took an xray and gave me stronger antibiotics, I'm showing signs of delayed healing, he also mentioned that my jaw splintered on the left side during the procedure and he fixed it with a little screw and that shouldn't be a problem. With regards to the ugliness he said my muscles weren't relaxed in the new position, there's still some swelling and the bite will probably move back by a couple of mm's.
Has anyone else experienced an infection and if so did they get the very sharp pain when speaking or laughing? Has anyones bites moved back a little after surgery and did you still feel ugly at day 26?
Thank you for reading this and sorry for all the questions.
Bridget

#2 Post by **AF104** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:41 am

Full cosmetic improvement takes a year and the pain can last many months. I had variable levels of pain for five months. Swelling can re-occur suddenly for many months as well. So, you shouldn't worry too much about your appearance for a while and just relax and heal.

#3 Post by **mp921** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:44 am

Sorry you are having problems. I hope you feel better soon.

I had an infection on both sides of the lower jaw at 1 week post-op. Until around the 6th week post-op, I continued to have a sharp pain on the left side which I thought was the plate or a screw but my surgeon said it was the nerve. Today at 8 weeks post-op I still have sharp pains off and on. My muscles still refuse to relax, even with physical therapy and muscle relaxers. My right jaw muscle is causing my lower jaw to be pulled to the right. Darn muscles!!

#4 Post by **user10** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:36 am

Hi,
Thanks for the replies, I feel better today, I just reread my first post, what a whinger

. I feel better knowing that my symptoms are relatively normal, although I'm sorry you're both having pain and problems. I'm going to have the mirror removed from my sitting room as that's the one were I look really ugly, I don't look too bad in other mirrors

#5 Post by **Graceful58** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:23 am

I sympathize with you as I had pain on my left side as well. I used a tube sock filled partially with white rice and tied it off. Heated it in the microwave and would put it on that jaw joint. It helped tremendously along with a little ibprofen..I wish you all the best.

#6 Post by **user10** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:34 am

hi graceful,
Thanks for the advice!
It has worked surprisingly well, after half hour with heated rice/pack most of the swelling and tenderness has gone. I added some lavender to it and it smells good too. Last night I had the first good nights sleep since op.
Thanks I'm very grateful