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?