Scrambled eggs were a lifesaver for me too—soft foods just made things easier. Agree on checking with the doc though; my lingering pain turned out to be mild inflammation. Quick check-up and some anti-inflammatories sorted it right out. Better safe than sorry.
"my lingering pain turned out to be mild inflammation."
Hmm, interesting... did your doc mention how common inflammation is after a bone graft? My kiddo's been complaining about soreness longer than I expected, and now I'm wondering if it's something similar. We've been sticking to yogurt and mashed potatoes—scrambled eggs sound like a good idea though, might switch things up! Did you notice swelling too, or just pain? Sorry for all the questions... just trying not to panic here, haha.
My daughter had a bone graft about a year ago, and honestly, soreness and inflammation lasted longer than we expected too. Her surgeon mentioned that inflammation can vary quite a bit depending on the individual and how extensive the graft was. We definitely saw some swelling, but it wasn't super dramatic—just enough to make her uncomfortable and cranky for a while.
One thing I learned through our experience is that sticking exclusively to soft foods like yogurt and mashed potatoes is great initially, but after a certain point, gently introducing slightly firmer foods (like scrambled eggs or even soft pasta) seemed to help her recovery. I think chewing gently might actually help reduce stiffness and soreness in the long run, as long as it's not causing pain.
Of course, every kid heals differently, and I'm not a doctor—just sharing what worked for us. But if you're concerned, it never hurts to check in with your doc again. Better safe than sorry, right? Hang in there... it does get better!
"I think chewing gently might actually help reduce stiffness and soreness in the long run, as long as it's not causing pain."
Interesting you mention that, because when I had my bone graft done (adult here, but still counts, right?), I was super cautious about chewing anything remotely solid for way too long. I basically lived off smoothies and mashed potatoes until my family started teasing me about my "baby food diet." 😂 Eventually, I got brave enough to try scrambled eggs and soft pasta like you said, and honestly, it made a noticeable difference. My jaw felt less stiff, and weirdly enough, the soreness eased up quicker once I started gently using those muscles again.
But yeah, everyone's healing timeline is so different. My surgeon kept saying inflammation can linger longer than you'd expect, especially if the graft was extensive. Still, if the pain feels off or you're worried something's not right, definitely get a second opinion. I did, and it gave me peace of mind (plus an excuse to complain to someone new about my smoothie burnout). Hang in there—it really does improve eventually.
That's a really good point about gently chewing to ease stiffness. I remember after my graft, I was overly cautious too and stuck to soups and smoothies for weeks. Honestly, I think that made my recovery slower because my jaw muscles got pretty weak and stiff. Once I started carefully chewing softer foods (like scrambled eggs or oatmeal), things improved noticeably. But yeah, everyone's different, so if something feels off or the pain seems unusual, checking in with your dentist is always a safe bet.
