POSTED UNDER Jaw Surgery REVIEWS
Complications of jaw surgery
ORIGINAL POST
I am 48 years old. I had braces put on my teeth...
Melissa jakeNovember 4, 2013
$60,000
I am 48 years old. I had braces put on my teeth about 15 months prior to the surgery and knew I would have to have double jaw surgery. No research I did could have prepared me for what I went through. Nothing prepared me for feeling like I couldn't breathe after surgery and being surrounded by incompetent nurses. I was vomiting up blood and my lungs were full of blood which I struggled to cough up. When I was sent home from the hospital only two days later, I was sent home where I live alone and couldn't keep track of what medications to take when and couldn't get enough liquids in me. I highly suggest having some one with you from the moment you wake up from surgery. I ended up dehydrated and needed to go back into the ER where I was treated and released. Then began my two week stent of insomnia when I slept only an hour a night. This is also when the pain started. I felt and still do feel like I have fire ants eating my lips and chin. Though I am able to sleep now and have decent stamina during the day I take loads of non-narcotics to ease the pain. It now feels like I have tabasco sauce burning my lips. My chin is still completely numb as is my lower lip with the exception of continuing nerve pain that drives me batty. My surgeon thinks it is just the nerves "waking up" . I wish I would have known the surgery was going to be this brutal. I read many blogs before the surgery and no one mentioned this pain so I am getting quite concerned. At some point I will post before and after pics. I like my profile but not sure about the change to my face from the front. My bite is better , but not perfect. Hopefully the orthodontist will be able to correct the remaining issues, but he has only stated he will "do his best". Suffering in pain....
Replies (60)
November 6, 2013
Hello!!! I am sorry to hear about the pain you experienced after your surgery. Each patient has a unique experience and alot depends on the patient´s pain toleranace level, the type of pain medication used, the inital reaction to post anesthesia. Some patients are used to taking a large amount of medication and many times the prescribed pain medication does not help. The insomnia is a side effect from the anesthesia and tolerance to pain. If the patient does not get enough sleep the pain can increase. It is important breathe deeply, think positively, eat well and take medication as recommended. It is important to discuss your concerns with your doctor.
November 13, 2013
I'm one of those people not used to taking any medications. So the narcotics made me nauseous so I only took them for 4 days after the surgery, I switched to non narcotics like neurontin and tylenol. You are right about eating welll, I got enough calories, but ate non-nutritive foods because I wanted comfort so badly (mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, icecream, canned soup, etc).
November 8, 2013
Thank you for your review, i would greatly appreciate if you could update pics and also how you are progressing. God willing the pain will subside and you will be in full good health very soon.
My son has only had his initial appointments and is due for his braces soon so i would really be grateful if you could continue ur updates.
Best wishes
November 13, 2013
Young people deal with the surgery much easier. I would guess anyone under 30 would deal with it easier. Especially since he has you on his side even doing research for him. You will make it go very smoothly because he will have your support even at the bedside and for weeks later so he will do very well I bet. I am single so it was very difficult for me. The pain continues for me, but I hear this is highly unusual.
November 8, 2013
Sorry to hear you are still in pain. Was the surgery performed at Nova University school and who was the actual surgeon? Was the cost your cost or the total cost for the surgery? Curious since I'm also in South Florida. Thank you.
November 13, 2013
Hi, I would like to wait to say who the surgeon was at this point. My insurance company paid 10k, but its a terrible HMO that most facilities don't accept. My deductible was 1500. The surgery was performed through NOVA school of maxillo facial surgery , but it was actually done at a hospital in hollywood.
October 24, 2014
That's to bad. I had jaw surgery when I was 19 - no blood to cough up. Just dried blood on my face that wasn't properly wiped clean from surgery. No burning lips - the hardest part was that first day back to work people wanted to talk to me about it and well you really can't talk properly back. I lived by myself and I don't recall having trouble with the medications but they were all liquid as you can't really take a pill with your mouth wired shut. I do remember the chin staying numb a long time. And I can still remember the dr. face when I was healed and he opened my wires and got a nice whiff of my breath, which had to be wild since you can't do anything but swish for 6 long weeks. What shocked me was how long it takes for your muscles to let you open your mouth wide enough to put a spoon full of food after your healed. It's to bad your experiences wasn't a positive one. But your smile pics look good. My surgery was performed by Oregon Health and Science School of Oral and Maxillofacial Inst.
October 24, 2014
Yeah I believe this surgery should be done on people no older than 25. People my age and near it just don't tolerate it well.
UPDATED FROM Melissa jake
1 month post
6 weeks post op, nerve pain continues as well as numbness, but improving
Melissa jakeNovember 13, 2013
Okay, where do I begin. The swelling has gone down. I am getting a lot of compliments on my new face, but it is hard to enjoy because of the pain. However, the nerve pain continues to be extreme. Today I finally saw a neurologist who agrees with my surgeon that it is the nerves "waking up" and re-establishing their abilities. He calls the pain Trigeminal Neuralgia. My lower lip and entire chin are completely numb. It is uncertain if they will regain feeling or not and if so how long it will take. I finally went back to work but talk a little funny because of the numbness. The nerve pain increases because of all the talking. So the neurologist started me on trileptal because he didn't feel like the neurontin was working and he was probably right because I was having to take 2000mg a day to just take the edge off of the pain.
Replies (10)
November 14, 2014
It looks amazing!!!! I had a friend who had this done and it was a FULL YEAR of healing time. You poor thing. Perhaps they should have prepared you more for what to expect...as it sounds like you were made to believe this would be a few months healing at best. When anything is done to the face/mouth area, breathing is scary and one is so vulnerable. I hope you feel better. I have a crooked jaw and have accepted it although I have dreams of having a gorgeous chin, jawline like your after photos. I am 49 and I just think I will keep what I have although your long journey shows amazing results. I just hope you feel better. Thanks for sharing.
February 19, 2015
Hi there.
I'm surprised that the surgeon you had did not explain to you the liklihood of 'pins and needles' as the feeling returns in your jaw. Particularly with lower jaw surgery, I was told about the risks of not being able to feel my face for a long time and the sensations I would experience as the feeling returned. I expected to get it, but was quite lucky and just felt numbness for about 12 weeks after surgery as it slowly returned to normal.
I think everyones experience if quite different, but It's certainly very common to get very little sleep after the surgery. Jaw surgery can be very uncomfortable and not being able to sleep lying down for a number of weeks can prevent you from getting a good nights sleep - that and feeling extreme hunger from lack of solid foods.
I hope you are feeling better now, but don't feel too down hearted about the 'experience'. I think we have all felt the way you have, we just all have a manner of forgetting the pain of how bad it is - similarly to how women who go through child birth and yet do it all again! I remember saying to my mum about a week after surgery, 'If I had known how bad it was going to be I NEVER would have had it done' and now 9 months later, I would go through it all over again!
I help you feel better soon and get on the road to recovery!
You look like you are healing really well :)
Rosie
xx
January 9, 2018
Hi! I’m 6-7 months post lower jaw surgery and have feeling in most areas except a portion of my lower lip and chin. It feels very stiff... I have Pins and needles but not bed pain, except when I got A facial and she started picking at around that area. At 9 months do you have complete feeling back? Should I be concerned? Thanks!
February 19, 2015
Not good. It sounds like your mandible nerve has been cut. I have the same thing and my mandible nerve was found laying passively outside of the canal. My surgery was a total botch job. I'm sorry that it sounds like they are not telling your the truth. If you would like to talk privately, my email address is patientsforsafety@gmail.com. I am suffering for almost thirteen years now and it does not get any easier. I have no feeling in my lower face, lip, hard palate, and back of my throat. Complete numbness is not normal, and if there is going to be a repair, it must be done as early as possible. You can find a doctor that does an ICAT, which will show the nerves. People need to realize that some doctors, or many of them, are not honest with their patients when a mistake has been made. Nerve pain in your face is unbearable at times, but the repair could make things even worse if a doctor is not an expert, or even if he is. Let no one tell you that you have nothing to complain about. This kind of pain is insanity. Message me and we can talk privately. I describe it as having a vise grip attached to my face and twisting it. Frozen face. Burning, tingling, stiffness. When I floss my lower gums and teeth, I can feel it in my lip.
February 19, 2015
This sounds very similar to what I've been experiencing in my lower lip and chin. It's been a year without any improvement but I was told that operating on the nerve could make things worse.
February 19, 2015
Time is important. If it is left too long there is nothing they can do. In my case, I was told to wait two years. This is wrong information. The truth is that it cannot be repaired after two years. I wouldn't rule out a repair, but I would do due diligence to find an expert. I would weigh the options based on how much it bothers you. If you can live with it or not. I wasn't given a choice, but rather, was lied to and left without any the proper information and diagnoses for too long. :(
February 19, 2015
Technically, the surgeon should identify an injury immediately, and should repair it right away.
February 27, 2017
I just had a titanium plate fremoved from my face. It had been causing me shooting pain.
I am now numb a week after surgery and still receive shooting pain,
I am now numb a week after surgery and still receive shooting pain,
UPDATED FROM Melissa jake
1 month post
BEFORE and 5 weeks AFTER PICS
Melissa jakeNovember 13, 2013
I'ts still really difficult to smile especially since my upper jaw has been moved forward so much and PLUS i have the braces on . So much discomfort. My look will supposedly change some more.
Replies (3)
November 13, 2013
You look beautiful in both pictures. But knowing you are in so much pain makes it hard to not see it in the after picture :(. You look pale and not as happy. So many weeks and so little improvement. Is the trileptal starting to work better? Is there no way you can do less talking? I suppose you're in a corner because you're single and have no help--if you don't work, who will pay. I am keeping you in my thoughts, but I really hope the trileptal helps.
November 13, 2013
Yeah okay, your profile is much more comfortable looking! It looks like you had a little bit of an underbite before but they fixed that. I think they did a great job, looks-wise. But this pain thing is not good. Weird--you look way younger in your now pictures, despite all the pain.
November 13, 2013
Awww, thank you! People ask me all the time if I would do it over again if I had to. My answer now, is NO WAY. But I"m hoping after some time my answer will be different.
Thank you so much for starting a review. I am so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. :( One goes through the terror leading up to surgery, then the actual trauma of it, and then the pain of healing. And one hopes that one can handle the pain of it, since by then it's too late. But when it doesn't improve after four weeks...that just sounds heinous. And I, like you, would worry. I know with my mommy makeover, there was certainly an improvement in the pain by then--but that's all soft tissue, and jaw surgery involves bone.... Is it possible for you to get a second opinion? Perhaps even asking the doctors here on RealSelf, in the doctors's Q&A?
I am interested to see your pictures. Sometimes we can be overly critical of ourselves, and I know others who've had jaw surgery find they are dismayed with their after-faces, while those of us who never knew them before think they look great. Please keep us posted--whether you get any second opinions, and any changes in your pain.