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.
For me, skipping PT even for a week or two meant my jaw would stiffen up and the pain crept back. Maybe it depends on the type of surgery or how your body heals, but I definitely noticed a difference if I slacked off. I also found some of those YouTube exercises weren’t quite right for my case, so I stuck to what my PT gave me, even if it felt repetitive. The cost is a pain, though—I hear you there.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.
