FaceNit:
We went into it with no guarantees about the TMD issues. His statement was pretty much some improve, many stay the same, some have gotten worse. No promises, no expectations.
Everything I have read - there is no reliable TMD treatment and what has worked for some may not work for others and worsening is widespread.
Before surgery:
I could open as wide as about any person but to do so would mean my left side TMJ would pop and there would be pain at times - sometimes just waking up in the morning was painful. My right side never had any issues or pain.
Post surgery during the first few weeks and months of recovery I experienced the normal soreness and limited range of motion as any patient. This continued into a time of worsening pain into sever pain with any jaw movement on my left side TMD. Sidenote: I hate the effects of the drugs on me and 3 days after surgery refused all pain meds). The pain on my left side became so sever I took the heavy pain pills the gave me. Further, I was convinced I was screwed and that my jaw would never function correctly again because the pain would be so acute and severe.
It subsided. Thankfully. But then my right side started up. My right side TMJ started to feel like there were tiny pebbles in it that made this uncomfortable crunching sound/feel as the jaw opened and closed. Dammit! There was no way this would heal - I was screwed. It subsided. Thankfully,
Currently about 5.5 months post op. The jaw opens and closes pain and popping free. My range of motion is limited to 2 fingers wide. I have been here for a while and it hasn't improved for a while now. I can get into a hamburger so if it never improves - I'll be ok. But given unexpected improvements, I haven;t given up yet.
Note: When I was having my TMJ issues, I looked up remedies. Now I will be the first to admit that I have no idea if this actually worked BUT one exercise I found did really seem to help. So, part of my problem was my whole life I spent moving my lower jaw forward to do so many things but now since my jaws lined up this was no linger necessary. But, and we all have heard of muscle memory, my muscles were't adapted to the new position of the jaws. Instinctively, the wanted to make the old movement. So, I found this exercise where you open and close your mouth but keeping your tongue to the top of your mouth as you do it. This build new muscle memory and helps does so with your jaws making the correct movement (even and back to the same beginning).
So FN, I know this was more of an answer than you asked for but I wanted to try to give a full account and maybe just maybe somebody else out there will read this and find some hope and help in this when they are getting prepared for surgery or recovering from it.
