Hello all,
Some of the older members remember me. I am a patient who struggled for approx 9 years to get help for my jaw problems - went through one oral surgeon locally (two scopes), one supposed referred to specialist (a disaster IMHO, expensive, worthless and emotionally traumatic in the long run when she didn't seem to believe me when I said her methods were making me WORSE), and, finally, with the help of my own internet research and talking to a willing TMJ surgeon in NYC area, he referred me to someone in my "own back yard" (hour and a half drive away). That OS quickly summed up the Xrays, MRI's, history of my jaw problems, with progression of same, more XRays, and in the LONG run - after trying several slightly less invasive methods - said I needed TJRs.
One year ago this week, June 23, 2009, to be precise, I had both joints removed and replaced with CONCEPTS joints in a long but uncomplicated surgery.
A year later? I take an occ aspirin if my muscles get tight, mostly if I have been chewing licorice <G> or talking and laughing a ton, like at an all week family reunion. But otherwise - I feel very damned lucky and as back to very normal as I can possibly be - and FAR more normal that I had been for 9 years! I eat anything I want - steaks, sub sandwiches, salad, crunchy veggies raw, you name it. My boyfriend said the first time he saw me eating raw carrots and dip I looked like a kid in a candy store <G>! I had been on MS Contin and Vicodin for pain control preop for quite awhile, so to take only an occ aspirin now is......a miracle!
I just want to come back to say THERE IS LIFE AFTER TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENTS. It is not the cure or answer for everyone, depending on their cause of discomfort. For me, mine was clear cut from the beginning that is was joint related and it just took forever to convince many experts ?! they had to look beyond the "box" and figure out the real problem.
So, please, don't give up, not ever. Good luck and if anyone needs any personal support I am willing to talk directly to them.
Best of luck and wishes to all of you.
Ginni in Wisconsin
Some of the older members remember me. I am a patient who struggled for approx 9 years to get help for my jaw problems - went through one oral surgeon locally (two scopes), one supposed referred to specialist (a disaster IMHO, expensive, worthless and emotionally traumatic in the long run when she didn't seem to believe me when I said her methods were making me WORSE), and, finally, with the help of my own internet research and talking to a willing TMJ surgeon in NYC area, he referred me to someone in my "own back yard" (hour and a half drive away). That OS quickly summed up the Xrays, MRI's, history of my jaw problems, with progression of same, more XRays, and in the LONG run - after trying several slightly less invasive methods - said I needed TJRs.
One year ago this week, June 23, 2009, to be precise, I had both joints removed and replaced with CONCEPTS joints in a long but uncomplicated surgery.
A year later? I take an occ aspirin if my muscles get tight, mostly if I have been chewing licorice <G> or talking and laughing a ton, like at an all week family reunion. But otherwise - I feel very damned lucky and as back to very normal as I can possibly be - and FAR more normal that I had been for 9 years! I eat anything I want - steaks, sub sandwiches, salad, crunchy veggies raw, you name it. My boyfriend said the first time he saw me eating raw carrots and dip I looked like a kid in a candy store <G>! I had been on MS Contin and Vicodin for pain control preop for quite awhile, so to take only an occ aspirin now is......a miracle!
I just want to come back to say THERE IS LIFE AFTER TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENTS. It is not the cure or answer for everyone, depending on their cause of discomfort. For me, mine was clear cut from the beginning that is was joint related and it just took forever to convince many experts ?! they had to look beyond the "box" and figure out the real problem.
So, please, don't give up, not ever. Good luck and if anyone needs any personal support I am willing to talk directly to them.
Best of luck and wishes to all of you.
Ginni in Wisconsin
