Just got through TMJ surgery a couple weeks ago, and man, recovery's been a ride. Here's what's helped me so far: ice packs religiously for swelling, soft foods (smoothies are my new best friend), gentle jaw exercises my doc recommended, and honestly, binge-watching Netflix to distract myself from discomfort. But I'm still feeling pretty stiff and sore some days... anyone found better tricks or shortcuts to speed things up?
Recovery can be seriously tough, and it sounds like you're already doing a lot of the right stuff. When I had some extensive dental work done (not exactly jaw surgery, but similar soreness and stiffness), I found that gentle heat packs—after the initial swelling stage—helped loosen things up more comfortably for me. Ice is great early on, but after a couple weeks, warmth might ease some of that stiffness better.
I totally relate to distracting yourself with Netflix. Honestly, distraction was half the battle for me too. Podcasts helped a ton when my eyes got tired of screens. Also, don't underestimate rest—your body heals faster when you're not pushing yourself too hard. I know it's tempting to push through exercises and get back to normal ASAP, but pacing yourself really does pay off.
Hang in there... it gets better bit by bit. You're doing great already.
