Broken jaw update - a thread for those with medical

[CindyLou]

Hi Bandit,
I am happy that you are recovering! I noticed that you said you clothes no longer fit May I suggest you check out your local salvation army or other thrift shop? My husband I were given a trip to Jamaica by my employer over the summer. We needed shorts and summer clothes and didn't want to spend a ton of money. We went to the salvation army and really got some VERY nice things for our trip. We had to make a few trips over the course a months and spend some looking through racks but it was well worth it. For 30 or 50 bucks you can walk out with 3 or 4 nice out fits!!! Worth a try!

[Bandit]

Hi Bandit,
I am happy that you are recovering! I noticed that you said you clothes no longer fit May I suggest you check out your local salvation army or other thrift shop? My husband I were given a trip to Jamaica by my employer over the summer. We needed shorts and summer clothes and didn't want to spend a ton of money. We went to the salvation army and really got some VERY nice things for our trip. We had to make a few trips over the course a months and spend some looking through racks but it was well worth it. For 30 or 50 bucks you can walk out with 3 or 4 nice out fits!!! Worth a try!

Yes indeed. I go to thrift stores when I am needing certain things & most definately find them. I also do it the same way you mentioned by going several times frequently (over a couple of months) because the stock moves that quick. My shirts are good but the pants went from fitting well to falling off like the extreme baggy look.
Things are going well, cindylynnsmith. I am recovering better than I thought possible a few weeks ago. Thank you & hope to see you around.

[Bandit]

OUCH - I FELT THAT HURT.......

TALK ABOUT "BUSTIN YOUR FACE" - YOU DID!!!

Hope you heal up soon.............

It is healing fast. I am always amazed at how our bodies recover from things & it seems the older we get the more we can tolerate it.

Didn't I do it up but good? My Doctor was kind of funny the way he wrote it down. It read like this= "You were riding your bike and fell on your face." Then asked, "Is that what happened?"

[AMISLANDER]

It is healing fast. I am always amazed at how our bodies recover from things & it seems the older we get the more we can tolerate it.

Didn't I do it up but good? My Doctor was kind of funny the way he wrote it down. It read like this= "You were riding your bike and fell on your face." Then asked, "Is that what happened?"

The mouth heals really fast! I had to use a giant syringe to get the ensure in for 10 weeks, I used to go crazy watching pizza commercials...when we moved to FL, went to dinner & I had them blend up a shrimp dinner. I tried it with the syringe & it went everywhere but my mouth; a catastrophe at dinner, but I was just dying for real food. After the wires were removed & I could open my mouth, I chewed a lot of ice. Just keep the listerine mouthwashes continuing after its all over as that really works to keep your mouth healthy.

[whatamess]

OM Goodness

I just read this post and what happened. OUCH! My god, that sounds horrid. I live to eat too, and love cooking, so I feel you, well maybe not but you havemy sympathy.
I used to downhill mountain bike. I quit when one day on slick rocks my bike went out from under and I went flying over the handlebars and about two feet from over the mountain side!!!! I was wearing a helmet and knee protection. I was banged up and scraped, but okay..nothing broken. I also had a horse and was thrown into a tree once, and also only had a two inch gash from my nose to my lip, but again, was very lucky. I was wearing a
helmet then too. I was in my late teens then and like rubber.

No more for me...you know the three strikes rule!! I'm a mom now with two kids and cant afford health insurance for myself anymore. I am injured now, from all things getting rear ended while at a red light!! Thats what messed up my neck and back a few years back.

Anyhow, I'm babbling. I hope you are able to eat soon, and can gain some weight back. My husband just bought a bunch of clothes marked down to nearly nothing at Target. Cargo shorts and polos. Before, he wouldve never shopped at Target for clothes, (Always Dicks sporting goods and the Gap) but now he gets excited just to get new clothes!! He gained a lot of weight when he quit smoking last year.
Keep us updated on your progress, both physically and money wise.
Best wishes!
WAM

[Bandit]

The mouth heals really fast! I had to use a giant syringe to get the ensure in for 10 weeks, I used to go crazy watching pizza commercials...when we moved to FL, went to dinner & I had them blend up a shrimp dinner. I tried it with the syringe & it went everywhere but my mouth; a catastrophe at dinner, but I was just dying for real food. After the wires were removed & I could open my mouth, I chewed a lot of ice. Just keep the listerine mouthwashes continuing after its all over as that really works to keep your mouth healthy.

It does heal fast but it also seems like the most painful place to have something go wrong initially. They took those wires off me after 4 weeks & put elastic but I still cannot chew because it does hurt to bite down in a chewing manner.
He has a perscription antiseptic for me to prevent the gums getting infected, maybe you had that too?

I know what you mean about the pizza & shrimp. I did put a piece of pizza in the food chopper & ate that. It was good at first but them it started tasting like already chewed food because that is basicly what it was. I also had to sit through a dinner with some friends while I ate the soup through a straw & they pigged out on steak & shrimp. I vowed to never go again until I can eat as well & they promised to take me out for dinner again because I could not eat & that is why they took me there. (makes no sense because I think they just wanted to go there- I really did not want to go because I knew)

Today was a good & bad visit. The doc says I wont be needing him for awhile because he saw that my bite is back. The bad news was I still have to wait 4 more weeks to get the final wires off & still NO CHEWING!

You had your wires a long time but I can see we are still facing about the same amount each of time for ensure and liquids. I wonder what the ice was for?

[Bandit]

I just read this post and what happened. OUCH! My god, that sounds horrid. I live to eat too, and love cooking, so I feel you, well maybe not but you havemy sympathy.

It was horrid. Microwaved broth has been the extent of my cooking. just different flavors added to the broth.

I used to downhill mountain bike. I quit when one day on slick rocks my bike went out from under and I went flying over the handlebars and about two feet from over the mountain side!!!! I was wearing a helmet and knee protection. I was banged up and scraped, but okay..nothing broken. I also had a horse and was thrown into a tree once, and also only had a two inch gash from my nose to my lip, but again, was very lucky. I was wearing a
helmet then too. I was in my late teens then and like rubber.

I think it all depends on what part of the body we land on. If you go one way you get your front teeth knocked out. if it goes the other way we crack our skull & then if you hit you chin it will be the back teeth & jaw that break. A helmet will stop all that. It wont stop a broken neck or every cut & bruise but it will stop most problems. I wrecked on a motorcycle many years ago & broke my shoulder blade and also went blind of 10 minutes. I wont own a bike again but also have to admit there is no better and more fun way to get around. Never been on a horse except for little pony. My luck I would get trampled right on my face.

No more for me...you know the three strikes rule!! I'm a mom now with two kids and cant afford health insurance for myself anymore. I am injured now, from all things getting rear ended while at a red light!! Thats what messed up my neck and back a few years back.

I have always had insurance through employers and used it in emergency in the past but this time I did not. I have also had the auto accidents when people hit me from the rear. I must agree with you, whatamess...No more for me either. I will settle for boring mostly because it feels safer.

Anyhow, I'm babbling. I hope you are able to eat soon, and can gain some weight back. My husband just bought a bunch of clothes marked down to nearly nothing at Target. Cargo shorts and polos. Before, he wouldve never shopped at Target for clothes, (Always Dicks sporting goods and the Gap) but now he gets excited just to get new clothes!! He gained a lot of weight when he quit smoking last year.
Keep us updated on your progress, both physically and money wise.
Best wishes!
WAM

The Gap & Taget has some good things for clearance but I am wondering if my weight will go back up. I also saw some good ones at JC Penny for 70% off but will wait for a little while.
Thanks for the note & concern. The only way is up from here on out with the physical being & just waiting for that all to settle back into place then I will get the money part straightened out.
Cheers!

[AMISLANDER]

It does heal fast but it also seems like the most painful place to have something go wrong initially. They took those wires off me after 4 weeks & put elastic but I still cannot chew because it does hurt to bite down in a chewing manner.
He has a perscription antiseptic for me to prevent the gums getting infected, maybe you had that too?

I know what you mean about the pizza & shrimp. I did put a piece of pizza in the food chopper & ate that. It was good at first but them it started tasting like already chewed food because that is basicly what it was. I also had to sit through a dinner with some friends while I ate the soup through a straw & they pigged out on steak & shrimp. I vowed to never go again until I can eat as well & they promised to take me out for dinner again because I could not eat & that is why they took me there. (makes no sense because I think they just wanted to go there- I really did not want to go because I knew)

Today was a good & bad visit. The doc says I wont be needing him for awhile because he saw that my bite is back. The bad news was I still have to wait 4 more weeks to get the final wires off & still NO CHEWING!

You had your wires a long time but I can see we are still facing about the same amount each of time for ensure and liquids. I wonder what the ice was for?

Wow, they took your major bite controlling wires off fast!!
So you can open & close but not bite?

Yeah, I did have antibiotics to take as well as using the listerine all the time. I just had the need to chew! Like some weird addiction, I just had the urge to constantly chew & ice fit the need; I was chewing deprived.

I did not have any pain, after the wires were off, like you do now? But mine were on for 10 full weeks, that might be the difference. Do you have any numbness?

[Bandit]

[I]Wow, they took your major bite controlling wires off fast!!
So you can open & close but not bite?

Exactly. The other wires & brace are still on & the original bite wires that keep it closed are replaced with elastic bands. I did try to bite through a bannana (one bite) & it hurts too much so it is really impossible.

Yeah, I did have antibiotics to take as well as using the listerine all the time. I just had the need to chew! Like some weird addiction, I just had the urge to constantly chew & ice fit the need; I was chewing deprived.

I am finding the same thing as I am constantly clicking my teeth together lightly without actually giving the jaw pressure.

I did not have any pain, after the wires were off, like you do now? But mine were on for 10 full weeks, that might be the difference. Do you have any numbness?

Yes I do. But it is tolerable because it is not constant & starts in mostly at night when trying to sleep or if I actually try to chew something. The elastic bands keep my mouth closed but not all the way & I take them off once a day to stretch & excercise my jaw open & brush my teeth.
So I have 4 weeks with my mouth wired shut and now looking toward about 5 weeks with the elastic bands keeping my mouth from moving too much. These elastic bands have honestly helped me relocate my bite...in both the front & the back.

This is one place I think we are different because you had yours done to improve your bite & mine was done to repair the broken jaw bones only.

I have numbness on both sides of my face from the jaw upward & all the way around the top of my head. Like a circle.

I think it was harder for you because you had to keep those original bite wires on for such a long time. I would probably have insited that the Doctor cut them by now. At least one good thing you did not have to go & get 5 broken teeth fixed after the wires came off.

Did you have moments when it was impossible to breath? Gasping for air through your mouth & not able to get enough oxygen? I had that with panic attacks several times.

[AMISLANDER]

I remember waking up from the surgery, which was 8 hours long, and I felt like I had crashed into a brick wall. I couldn't really feel anything at all in my mouth for at least a month. I had faith in my oral surgeon, for sure.

I was on the phone talking 3 days after surgery, wires & all...

I think I had to throw up once, that was next to impossible!

I think getting used to breathing was weird the first few days.
But I really don't remember...

hmmm, you should keep notes on your recovery. I don't remember having numbness all around like that but that might be due to your accident? nope, no broken teeth, thank god! I do have a front capped tooth from a regular flying over the handle bars incident back years ago that I had to get another root canal on three years ago that freaked me out...but they didn't even kill that tooth way back in '91 when I did the surgery, so I was impressed...by kill, they told me it was possible that I could have a few broken teeth after the surgery depending on how things went...

I just am totally numb on my left bottom jaw...if I have something like on my face there, I would never know it, like ice cream on my face, food, you name it...You could punch me & I would not feel it...

[Bandit]

I remember waking up from the surgery, which was 8 hours long, and I felt like I had crashed into a brick wall. I couldn't really feel anything at all in my mouth for at least a month. I had faith in my oral surgeon, for sure....

I was ready to kill when I first woke up, then I saw the nurse rubbing my feet to calm me down and I started crying my eyes out because she was trying to help me and all I asked her to do was come and hold me and hug me. I was in so much pain and not being able to speak for them to understand me was aweful. I was writing all this garble on paper which I read later & made no sense. I wrote like 3 pages of words that made me think of what I was trying to tell them but could not think straight.

I was on the phone talking 3 days after surgery, wires & all...

I was talking through my teeth but it was not proper English. My whole vacubulary changed because I got tired & frustrated of repeating my self. I told everyone to just ask yes & no questions.

I think I had to throw up once, that was next to impossible!

This never happened. I was so afraid of throwing up that I took the bottle of throw up medicine that settles your stomach immediately & the wire cutters with me for the whole 4 weeks.

I think getting used to breathing was weird the first few days.
But I really don't remember...

That was the hardest thing for me and I got so scared while hyper ventilating (sp).

hmmm, you should keep notes on your recovery. I don't remember having numbness all around like that but that might be due to your accident? nope, no broken teeth, thank god! I do have a front capped tooth from a regular flying over the handle bars incident back years ago that I had to get another root canal on three years ago that freaked me out...but they didn't even kill that tooth way back in '91 when I did the surgery, so I was impressed...by kill, they told me it was possible that I could have a few broken teeth after the surgery depending on how things went...

The one root canal I had done years ago is ruined from my fall. They knocked it the rest of the way out in surgery. So I have to go through that all again. Plus one other that is split right down the middle to the nerve. The others are not too bad.
Your flying over the handle bars trip scares me thinking about it. My little brother lost all his front teeth on a bike going over the handle bars when he was a kid.
The numbness here does go allaround my head and some of it was there from before I had the procedure.

I just am totally numb on my left bottom jaw...if I have something like on my face there, I would never know it, like ice cream on my face, food, you name it...You could punch me & I would not feel it...

I do not think I am quite as numb as you are. It is a lighter numbeness that I believe will go away. For now though, I do not feel the razor go across my face & I cut the scars every time I shave. It is a big pain. You know how the scar line goes right along the curve of your jaw & chin...that is where. The first month I could not shave at all & I started looking like a big head elephant face with this nasty beard. My face was swelled up for so long. Things really are getting better.

They tell everyone that the numbness may always be there.
I hope one day you will have feeling in your face again.

[AMISLANDER]

I don't think the numbness will ever go away...it's been (oh, wow) sixteen years since I had the surgery. Right below my lip on my left bottom side it's like, tingly numb with a little feeling but on the left, middle side of my chin...nothing...they hit a nerve for sure, but, for what it's worth, my bite was corrected.

The swelling of the face did take a month or two to go down; I remember my face looking like a pumpkin.

You'll be fine!

[Bandit]

That long ago for you? I was thinking it was more recent. Thanks for the input on the swelling because I am still swollen and was wondering when that would cease. I feel the numbness going away little by little, or so it seems. I just wish you did not have that but I suppose it was fair trade to get your bite working better.

[AMISLANDER]

That long ago for you? I was thinking it was more recent. Thanks for the input on the swelling because I am still swollen and was wondering when that would cease. I feel the numbness going away little by little, or so it seems. I just wish you did not have that but I suppose it was fair trade to get your bite working better.

Thank you! It was worth the surgery...I can only imagine the technique now!

You're very lucky & when the swelling is gone, you'll be amazed...maybe it's kinda even like a mini face lift!!! (always thinking positive!)

[Bandit]

Thank you! It was worth the surgery...I can only imagine the technique now!

You're very lucky & when the swelling is gone, you'll be amazed...maybe it's kinda even like a mini face lift!!! (always thinking positive!)

Facelifts is exactly what this Dr. does also. I should have asked him to do one on me. He does bullet wounds, stab wounds, smashed bones all over the face, ears cut off, you name it.

I have one more question if you do not mind, AMISLANDER. When you were starting to chew again, did it feel the same, different or were you not sure?

The reason I ask is because I cannot tell if it is lined up on one side when I grit my teeth together. There are two different postitions when my jaw closes. Both positions feel right and they both feel wrong. (probably just minor adjustments-my jaw did break half an inch) I think it is because there are teeth missing that it feels funny.
I cannot wait to get to the Dentist. My teeth are still black and stained from when I could not brush them. Did your teeth get stained from the juices and ensure drinks while not able to brush?