Did your surgeon mention how long “giving it time” actually means? Mine was super vague about recovery timelines, which just added to my frustration.
Yeah, that’s been my biggest source of stress too. I kept asking for a clear timeframe and just got “everyone heals at their own pace” over and over, which honestly doesn’t help when you’re trying to plan your life. My surgeon finally said most people feel “significantly better” by 3-6 months, but that things like pressure or clicking can stick around even longer. It’s vague, but at least it’s something.
I also wondered about whether more PT or splints might’ve been enough. I did PT for months before surgery—lots of jaw stretches, massage, even acupuncture—but none of it really got rid of the stabbing pain. The surgery did help with that, but now there’s this weird tightness and sometimes a dull ache on one side. Not sure if it’s my body adjusting or if I’m just hyper-aware now.
I keep a daily log of symptoms (probably overkill), but it helps me notice patterns or improvements, even if they’re small. It’s tough not to second-guess the decision when recovery isn’t linear. But yeah...wish the surgeons were a bit more straightforward about what “normal” feels like at each stage.
It’s tough not to second-guess the decision when recovery isn’t linear. But yeah...wish the surgeons were a bit more straightforward about what “normal” feels like at each stage.
Honestly, this is exactly what’s driving me nuts. I keep thinking, did I jump into surgery too soon? My doc just kept saying “patience” but I’m like, how much patience are we talking? Three months? A year? I get that everyone’s different but it feels like we’re all just guessing. I’ve started tracking my own symptoms too—makes me feel slightly more in control, but also kind of obsessive. The clicking and weird aches make me question if this is just my new normal or if I’m still healing.
The clicking and weird aches make me question if this is just my new normal or if I’m still healing.
I totally get that. I’ve had moments where I’m like, is this as good as it gets now? Or am I just being impatient? The clicking drives me up the wall some days, and then other days it’s almost gone. It’s hard not to obsess over every little twinge, especially when you don’t know what’s “normal” at this stage.
I also started keeping a little log of my symptoms. It helps a bit, but yeah, sometimes it makes me hyper-aware of every ache. I wish the doctors would be a bit more specific about timelines—mine just kept saying everyone heals differently. That’s not super helpful when your brain is spiraling.
You’re not alone in second-guessing the decision. I’ve had the same thoughts, especially when progress feels slow. But from what I’ve read and heard from others, a lot of people do keep improving for months. Maybe the weird aches are just part of the process and not permanent? I try to remind myself that healing isn’t a straight line, even though it’s frustrating.
It’s hard not to obsess over every little twinge, especially when you don’t know what’s “normal” at this stage.
I hear you, and I’ve been there. For me, the clicking faded after about 8 months, but the random aches stuck around longer. What helped was tracking patterns—mine got worse with stress or if I chewed tough foods. It’s frustrating when doctors just say “everyone’s different,” but honestly, that was true in my case. Some days felt like setbacks, but overall things did improve, just slowly. If anything feels really off or gets worse, I’d check in with your surgeon—sometimes a second opinion brings peace of mind.
It’s frustrating when doctors just say “everyone’s different,” but honestly, that was true in my case.
I get that frustration. After my jaw surgery, I kept expecting a clear timeline for recovery, but it really did vary day to day. For me, the “normal” aches lingered almost a year, but the worst of the clicking and locking eased up after about six months. Stress and overdoing it with chewy foods set me back more than anything. I found that keeping a simple journal helped me spot patterns, which made it easier to talk specifics with my surgeon. If something feels off, trust your gut—sometimes it’s worth pushing for more answers, even if it feels like you’re being a bother.
