Mouth opening

Hi I was lucky didn’t have any mouth opening issues but know quite a few who have had iver the last b4 years. Did your speech and language therapists suggest the lollipop method ? It’s a way of stretching yiur mouth by gradually increasing the number of lollipop sticks (wooden spatula s) you can fit in ? Sound weird but it works apparently. Another way is a therabite  machine they are expensive and some g p s will prescribe them. 
Are yiu still doing the exercises given to you at start of treatmen5. I still do mine mostly when in the car but still do them .

hope this helps  thus might help 

www.mouthcancerfoundation.org/.../

Hazel 

Steve C38 said:

I know I won’t get much significant improvement from now but would be gutted to lose more:

No that’s not true but you need to work at it. Hazel has mentioned two methods that SLT use but you’ll get very good results  by doing the trismus exercises you were given while under treatment 

Hi Steve

Good news your Max Fax team are happy with things.   Have you been able to manage to keep up with the recommended exercises by your specialist (everyday if possible) since your treatments.  I know it can be something extra on top of what we are going through. I know I have said before  23mm is not bad but I know it is not what your original mouth opening was and know the frustrations this brings.  I agree it is important to try to at least maintain the opening you have now.  One thing I believe the therapy you are doing should not be painful. The mouth exercises/ tools recommended by your health team should be reviewed if you feel you are experiencing temporary setbacks or new symptoms of pain. Sometimes things like overworking the jaw when doing exercises  can cause the muscle to tire and contract.  Are you doing any exercises  at the moment and are you still getting support with this? I would have a chat with your team too.

Best Wishes 

NIcky

Hi Steve, not sure I'm going to offer much advice, however I can certainly sympathise as my mouth opening has gone from 30mm to 17mm and after getting the all clear on tonsil tumour I now have an abnormality in my mouth and having to get a biopsy under general anaesthetic due to my mouth opening being so reduced.

I never received any exercises from my specialist, however I am doing them now so will see how much it improves if any.

Hopefully if you continue exercises your mouth opening will improve but does seem strange it has changed so quickly 

Steve - the effects you’re probably referring to is trismus or lockjaw, it’s really common with head/neck cancer patients especially if you’ve had any RT.

I am treatment +4 years now and still suffer hugely with it and it can be terrifically debilitating. At times my whole bottom jaw locks up or I start to lisp then take on the appearance of being drunk.

Can I suggest that you jump on your local SALT team (Speech & Language Therapy) and pester them for links online to head/neck exercises. I wasn’t as I started a lot of my initial treatment privately so missed that part of the loop - if I knew then what I knew now!!

Do little bits but often, maybe 2/3 times per day and you will be amazed how much they make the difference. You can make them harder with low level exercise bands but you will not believe the benefit of some simple movements that you would have taken for granted before…

Hi yes I was given exercises  from day 1 they do make a difference still do them now approaching 4 years. Sorry you didn’t get them  have known one or 2 others in same position firstly  having private then migrating to nhs .Sometimes there’s a blur in the protocols. 
Hazel x