Totally get where you're coming from—it's nerve-wracking trying new movements after something like this. I remember being super hesitant myself at first, worried I'd mess up the healing somehow. But honestly, taking it slow and gentle really helped me ease into it. Your jaw will definitely let you know what's comfy and what's pushing it too far. Trust yourself, take your time...you've got this.
"Your jaw will definitely let you know what's comfy and what's pushing it too far."
True, but sometimes pain signals can be tricky—especially after a bone graft. I found that gentle heat packs before movements helped ease stiffness and anxiety. Might be worth a shot if you're feeling hesitant...
Heat packs helped me too, but honestly, cold compresses were my lifesaver right after surgery. Weird how different jaws prefer different things...guess it's trial and error till you find your sweet spot. Hang in there!
Interesting you mention cold compresses—I actually found them way too uncomfortable right after my graft. Heat packs were soothing, but honestly, alternating between warm and cool worked best for me. Did you try switching it up at all? Sometimes mixing things up can trick your jaw into calming down a bit...at least that's how it felt for me. Pain management is definitely a weirdly personal thing. Hope you're feeling better soon.
Interesting you mention alternating—I tried that briefly, but honestly found it a bit too much hassle to keep switching packs. Did you notice any difference depending on how long you kept each compress on? I stuck mostly with heat because it was simpler (and cheaper, since I just microwaved a rice sock), but maybe I didn't give the alternating method enough of a chance... Curious if timing matters more than temperature itself.
