Jaw surgery for TMJ: did it actually help you?

The day I managed to eat a soft piece of bread felt like winning the lottery.

Totally relate to this. My “jackpot” was when I could finally handle mac & cheese without feeling like I’d pulled a muscle. Honestly, I tried to stick with the PT stuff, but it felt a bit half-baked - like, do these three things and hope for the best. I also wondered if pushing harder would’ve sped things up, but then again, I was worried about messing something up and ending up with more bills. The nerve weirdness is real... mine still zaps me sometimes when I yawn too wide.

The nerve weirdness is real... mine still zaps me sometimes when I yawn too wide.

That nerve zap thing is wild, right? I thought I was the only one who’d get a random electric jolt just from stretching my mouth to yawn or laugh. It’s like my face has its own jump scare feature now.

I remember after surgery, everyone kept telling me, “Don’t worry, you’ll be back to eating burgers in no time.” Meanwhile, I’m over here celebrating when I can get through half a banana without feeling like my jaw’s about to stage a protest. Mac & cheese was basically my Everest for months. And don’t even get me started on apples… pretty sure those are still banned in my house.

PT was such a mixed bag for me. Half the time it felt like I was just opening and closing my mouth in slow motion while someone watched and nodded encouragingly. The other half, I’d start wondering if maybe pushing harder would actually help - or if I’d just end up with a jaw that clicks louder than a Geiger counter. It’s tough trying to balance “healing responsibly” with wanting your life back faster.

I do kind of wish there’d been more real talk about the weird little setbacks - like how sneezing too hard could make everything ache for days, or how you suddenly become hyper-aware of every single muscle in your face. Sometimes it felt like everyone else bounced back way quicker than me, but maybe we all just hide the weird stuff better.

Anyway, surgery did help with the main TMJ pain (that deep ache that made chewing feel like punishment), but yeah… nerves are still doing their own thing. Not sure if that’s just my new normal or if it’ll settle down eventually. At least soft bread doesn’t scare me anymore. Small wins, right?

That’s exactly how I felt after mine - everyone kept acting like I’d be biting into apples again in a week, meanwhile I was living off mashed potatoes and yogurt. Nerve zaps are still a thing for me too. It’s weirdly comforting to know it’s not just me.

Nerve zaps are still a thing for me too. It’s weirdly comforting to know it’s not just me.

Yeah, those nerve zaps really threw me off. I remember thinking something had gone wrong, but apparently it’s just part of the healing process for some of us. I’m curious - did you notice any change in your jaw clicking or pain levels after the first few months? For me, the joint pain eased up, but the numbness stuck around a lot longer than I expected. It’s a trade-off, I guess.

I’m really glad you mentioned the nerve zaps because I’ve been stressing about that a lot. It’s honestly reassuring to hear it’s not just me. I keep second-guessing every weird sensation, like - should it still feel this tingly? My jaw pain did get a bit better, but the numbness and random zings make me anxious. I wish someone had warned me how long that part can last. But hearing others had the same thing makes it feel a little less scary.

Honestly, I get what you mean about the nerve zaps - those freaked me out for a while too. But I will say, in my case, the tingling and numbness stuck around longer than I expected. My surgeon told me it could take months for the nerves to calm down, sometimes even longer. I know some people bounce back quicker, but for me it was a slow process. The jaw pain did ease up eventually, but I still get occasional weird sensations. It’s annoying, but not as scary once you realize it’s pretty common after this kind of surgery.

the tingling and numbness stuck around longer than I expected...my surgeon told me it could take months for the nerves to calm down

Yeah, that’s been my experience too. The tingling drove me nuts for a while, and honestly, I was convinced something had gone wrong. Turns out, nerves are just slowpokes when it comes to healing. I still get those random zaps if I chew something tough. Not fun, but at least the pain’s mostly gone now. Guess patience is just part of the deal with TMJ surgery...

Honestly, I was kinda surprised by how long the numbness stuck around too, but I’ve also heard from a few folks that sometimes it’s not just about waiting it out. I actually tried some cheaper physical therapy exercises (YouTube has tons), and that seemed to help speed things up for me. Maybe worth a shot if you’re looking to avoid extra appointments or costs.

I actually tried some cheaper physical therapy exercises (YouTube has tons), and that seemed to help speed things up for me. Maybe worth a shot if you’re looking to avoid extra appointments or costs.

I totally get that - those PT videos were a lifesaver for me too, especially when my insurance didn’t cover much after surgery. The numbness took way longer than I expected, but doing little stretches at home made a difference. It’s not instant, but every bit helps, and it’s way easier on the wallet. Hang in there, it does get better, even if it’s slow.

We’ve been trying some of those YouTube PT exercises for my kid too, but I’m always second-guessing if we’re doing them right. Did you ever worry about making things worse, or did your doctor give you the green light? I get nervous about skipping appointments, but the cost is just… ugh. Did you notice any setbacks or was it mostly just slow progress?

I’m always second-guessing if we’re doing them right. Did you ever worry about making things worse, or did your doctor give you the green light?

That nervous feeling is so real. After my jaw surgery, my surgeon gave me a list of PT exercises, but trying to follow YouTube videos on top of that just made me overthink every little move. I was scared I’d mess something up and set myself back. Honestly, I did see slower progress when I skipped appointments, but nothing really got worse - just plateaued. I still think a quick check-in with the doctor now and then helped keep me on track, even if I couldn’t go as often as they wanted. Cost is rough, though, I totally get it.

I get where you’re coming from, but I actually had a different experience.

I did see slower progress when I skipped appointments, but nothing really got worse - just plateaued.

I get what you mean about PT being important, but honestly, the cost just piled up for me. I tried to stick with the exercises my therapist gave me, but after a while, I started mixing in some online stuff to cut down on visits. For my situation (double jaw surgery, mostly for TMJ), I didn’t notice much difference if I missed a session or two - as long as I kept moving my jaw at home. Maybe my healing was just slower no matter what, but the extra appointments didn’t seem to speed it up.

It’s possible the type of surgery changes things, or maybe everyone’s body just reacts differently. I totally get the worry about pain coming back, though. For me, the biggest issue was justifying the cost versus the actual benefit I got from each PT session. If insurance had covered more, maybe I’d feel different... but you know how it goes.

For me, the biggest issue was justifying the cost versus the actual benefit I got from each PT session.

This is exactly what’s been stressing me out. I haven’t even had my surgery yet and I’m already side-eyeing the PT bills. It’s kind of comforting (weirdly?) to hear someone say missing a session here or there didn’t totally mess things up for you. I keep worrying I’ll ruin my recovery if I can’t do every single appointment, but maybe it’s not all or nothing. Insurance barely covers anything for me either... sigh. At least we’re not alone in this jaw saga.

I keep worrying I’ll ruin my recovery if I can’t do every single appointment, but maybe it’s not all or nothing.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I was the same - super paranoid that if I missed even one session, my jaw would just, like, freeze up forever or something. Turns out it’s not quite that dramatic (at least in my case). My PT even said consistency matters more than perfection, so doing the home exercises actually helped fill in the gaps when I couldn’t make it in.

The insurance thing is a nightmare, though. I had to fight with mine for months just to get a few sessions covered, and even then it barely made a dent. Sometimes I wonder if half of recovery is just learning to navigate paperwork.

Have you found any good at-home routines yet? There’s so much stuff online, but I always worry about making things worse if I’m not doing it exactly right.

My PT even said consistency matters more than perfection, so doing the home exercises actually helped fill in the gaps when I couldn’t make it in.

That’s what we heard too, and honestly it made a huge difference for my daughter’s recovery. She had jaw surgery for TMJ last year and we were really anxious at first - especially since missing appointments felt like a big deal. But her surgeon and PT both emphasized that it’s more about sticking with the routine, not being perfect every single day.

We got a set of printed instructions for at-home exercises (like gentle jaw stretches and resistance stuff using a spoon or popsicle stick). At first, I was nervous we’d mess something up, but they told us as long as she wasn’t forcing anything or causing pain, it was fine. If you’re unsure about a specific movement, maybe ask your PT to demo it during an appointment and let you video it on your phone? That helped us a ton.

Insurance was a nightmare here too - so much back and forth. But honestly, the home stuff filled in the gaps. Progress was slow but steady...and no frozen jaw yet.

At first, I was nervous we’d mess something up, but they told us as long as she wasn’t forcing anything or causing pain, it was fine.

This is honestly such a relief to read. I get so anxious about doing the exercises “wrong” that sometimes I freeze up and avoid them, which just makes things worse. My own TMJ surgery recovery has been this constant balancing act - wanting to do everything perfectly, but also being terrified of overdoing it and making things worse. My PT said pretty much the same thing: gentle is key, and pain means stop.

I totally relate to the insurance headaches too. There were weeks where I missed appointments just because paperwork got lost and I couldn’t afford out-of-pocket. The home routine felt like my only lifeline some days. I started keeping a little notebook to track what I did and how it felt, which helped me notice progress - even if it was super slow. Still get nervous about “frozen jaw,” but so far, so good.

If anyone else is worried about messing up the exercises, honestly - videoing the PT demo was a game changer for me too. Takes away a lot of second guessing.

I started keeping a little notebook to track what I did and how it felt, which helped me notice progress - even if it was super slow.

That’s such a good idea. I didn’t think to actually write things down, but now that you mention it, I realize I’ve been forgetting little improvements because I’m so focused on what still isn’t perfect. It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re just measuring against “normal,” whatever that even is anymore.

I totally get the anxiety about doing exercises wrong - I used to overthink every single movement. My PT also said to focus more on gentle motion than “how far” or “how many.” Still, sometimes I wonder if I’m just being too cautious and maybe slowing my own progress? Hard to know, but pain definitely freaks me out, so I err on the side of not pushing.

The insurance mess is real. Missed a few sessions myself for the same reason, and it’s wild how much that can set you back mentally, not just physically. Glad to hear the video tip helped you. I might try that next round... anything to make this whole thing less overwhelming.