I have found this BB very interesting and educational.However I'm afraid I found it too late. About
3 years ago, I began to experience jaw pain. After a move
with 2 small children away from family and friends, the pain
was unbearable. The doctor said I had some idiopathic condyle resorption that resulted in a significant openbite and osteoarthritic condyle. The treatment included physical
therapy,splint,orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. I
had lower jaw surgery in Mar. and suppose to have braces
removed next month. The sad thing is,after all this time and money (over $10,000), I still feel some pain.
I have read Mind as a Healer. I am learning and trying to
practice skilled relaxation(it's not coming easy,my mind is
so full). I walk 3-4 times a week.
My question--Did I screw up by having surgery? Will I ever
be able to chew pain-free? Am I too late?
Thanks for any bit of advice or revelations to this matter.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Dee
Follow Ups:
Perhaps that is the wrong question to ask
Posted by Jim Marconnet on October 21, 1998 at 08:15:51:
In Reply to: Am I too late?? posted by Dee on October 20, 1998 at 23:18:16:
What you did, you did using the best available information you had at that time. You cannot change that decision, or what you did, so why be concerned about it at all. Right? or wrong? then based on what you know now, what does it matter?
You are right where you are, at this moment of time. The real question is what are you doing right now and what will you do in the future about this? You answered that, at least to some extent-Good for you! Glad you found this community! Welcome!
I suggest that in general we all simply let the past go and worry about it no further. The good from the past we carry with us always for free. The troubling parts of the past require our "energy" to keep them alive in our minds and to repeat the stories to others and to ruminate about them and to worry about them, taking away our time and energy to live today. So I suggest cutting off the old past troubles, like cutting the strings to helium balloons. Simply let them float away.
I practice what I just preached and I have noticed a major positive attitude and vitality/energy difference in my life as a result.
RocketHealer Jim++
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 21, 1998 at 13:13:04:
In Reply to: Am I too late?? posted by Dee on October 20, 1998 at 23:18:16:
Yah, Dee, you did.
However, I do not see what choice you had. You were firmly in the grip of the system & believed in your docs. They practiced the "standard of practice" on you. That same "standard of practice" is now the 4th most common cause of death in this country. Be happy you escaped with your life!
You are going to have SOME residual, now, no matter what you do. However, since it took them so long to figure out what you had, you already had some irreparable damage to the joint before surgery.
I am grimly amused at their attempts to use medical gobbledegook to confuse the fact that you had terminal TMJ. All that other medical terminology just means exactly that.
Regardless what the present situation is, you still need to do what would have resolved it in the beginning to get the best results in the future.
Even if you are reduced to using self-hypnosis to get rid of the last bit of pain, that would be a small price to pay for comfort.
Right now, while you are learning what else you could do, is the time to become an expert in the regular practice of skilled relaxation and practiting it at least twice a day.
Talk at me.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: Perhaps that is the wrong question to ask
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 21, 1998 at 13:14:55:
In Reply to: Perhaps that is the wrong question to ask posted by Jim Marconnet on October 21, 1998 at 08:15:51:
Thanks, Jim.
I agree with you & I, too, do not think she is "too late".
Walt
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Dee on October 22, 1998 at 15:27:35:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Walt Stoll on October 21, 1998 at 13:13:04:
Dr.Stoll-First I want to thank you for this site and being
so accessible and approachable. Now for more questions. Are
you saying that my 2mm anterior overbite;2nd molar to 2nd molar would have become a stable bite without surgery had I
found and practiced what is taught here??? Does practicing
the skilled relaxation techniques more than twice a day make
you better quicker? Next I have had 3 massages in the past 2
weeks(I would have had more but scheduling conflicts prohibited) They felt good but the therapist says my neck and shoulder areas are still like a "brick wall". Should I try and find a rolfer instead?? Lastly, my husband and I are trying for a 3rd child. Is that nuts?? Will that just add to my stress and thus terminal TMJ. Again thanks for
being here and giving your genuine care. I can't wait for your response. Dee
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Nancy on October 23, 1998 at 22:36:37:
In Reply to: Am I too late?? posted by Dee on October 20, 1998 at 23:18:16:
Dee
I had a LaForte I osteotomy + orthodontics back in 1983-84. Only my upper jaw was broken, requiring wiring my jaw shut for 2 weeks. I, too had an open bite with few teeth touching, and a long upper gum line. I can honestly say that that surgery was one of the BEST things I ever did for myself. I didn't have all that much pain prior to surgery, but it was done on advice of several dentists and oral surgeons who told me that I would quite likely lose many of my teeth as I got older if I didn't correct the problem. People who don't have open bites don't have any idea how awful it is to not be able to close their mouths properly I did experience pain for a number of months post surgery, as a result of my bite adjusting to its new position, but it gradually disappeared, even though I didn't (unfortunately) know about relaxation at the time. There wasa structural advantage. But the biggest advantage for me was the fact that it changed my face, and hence my self esteem. You can't put a price tag on that! Now that I'm nearly 50, I'm really glad that I don't have to worry about losing my teeth and that I have a nice face, even if it is a little wrinkled.
The relaxation is wonderful and healing in so many ways, but if you got positive cosmetic results from your surgery, be happy with that and start to correct the bracing now!
Good luck to you!
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 25, 1998 at 10:01:19:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Dee on October 22, 1998 at 15:27:35:
Hi, Dee.
I would at least recommend that you and your husband read "Every Woman's Book" by Paavo Airola, ND (available on Amazon.com) before trying to get pregnant. The very last thing you need right now is a child with a disability.
Anyhow, to the questions you specifically asked:
Twice a day skilled relaxation gives the most benefit for the time spent. Even 4 times a day is better than 3 times a day but you are beginning to get to "diminishing returns".
At the very least, I would get pretty healthy before attempting another pregnancy.
I am not a dentist but know that most of these "bite" problems are caused by (and aggravated by) TMJ. It would have been very interesting to see how good you might have gotten by doing the skilled relaxation a year before any surgery was considered.
The reason for the 3 times a week for 2 weeks frequency of massage is to sort of "break through" the bodymind's resistance. Less than that usually produces exactly what you have experienced: benefits but no breakthrough. You would have to do the Rolfing at least once a week but you could get the same benefits (that would last longer) that way. You would need the basic set of 10.
Talk at me. Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Dee on October 26, 1998 at 09:20:45:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Walt Stoll on October 25, 1998 at 10:01:19:
Dr.Stoll-I am going to the library this morning to hopefully get Every Woman's Book. BUT you've scared me, why
did you say something about a disabled child??? Are my chances really high due to my TMJ?? Besides exercise,skilled relaxation and massages,what other recommendations do you have for me?? Look forward to "reading" from you soon. Thank you so much for all your
knowledge.
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 27, 1998 at 10:15:22:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Dee on October 26, 1998 at 09:20:45:
Dear Dee,
You are not at special risk because of theTMJ. However, ANY reduction of health puts that person at a greater risk than those who are healthier. There is a Bell Curve of risk, just like in everything else.
Even the average person, in this culture, is at an unexceptable (to me) risk of having a disabled child. In your case, since the stored stress-effect is already impacting your life significantly, a disabled child would be a MUCH greater burden on you and your family than another's family.
Is this making sense to you?
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Dee on October 28, 1998 at 13:52:40:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Walt Stoll on October 27, 1998 at 10:15:22:
Dr.Stoll- Yes,it is all making sense to me. Is there anything else I could be doing? I've read about the whole
food diet,vitamins,supplements? Would any of these be extra
beneficial for my circumstance? Thank you again for sharing
your wealth of knowledge.
Follow Ups:
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 29, 1998 at 12:30:02:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Dee on October 28, 1998 at 13:52:40:
Thanks, Dee.
The only things I would know would be "structural" things like Rolfing, Cranial Osteopathy, Chiropractic, deep, total-body massage and the like.
Walt
Re: Am I too late??
Posted by dee for shawna on January 11, 1999 at 21:29:11:
In Reply to: Re: Am I too late?? posted by Nancy on October 23, 1998 at 22:36:37:
I can only say that I am glad I found your article on the laforte 1. My daughter is soon to be 16 years old and in 2 weeks she will be having this laforte 1 osteotomy and is scared to death. I was wondering if you could some good words of encouragement to her as you have experienced this procedure yourself.
you may email me deestick@gte.net