Trismus

Blod said:

‘hinge’ 

Temporomandibular joint

I know quite a few people who have been helped by a therabite. You need to work at it though and it does take time

Good luck with it.

Hi

I have used the Therabite, the wooden spoons didn’t work for me. The Therabite was a godsend, I won’t lie it was a little painful to start with, but it gets easier. I can now open my mouth wide enough to see the dentist, and can open my mouth wide. When I had Trismus I couldn’t even get a baby toothbrush in properly 

Hi Blod

Good to read you have been seen by your SLT for help with your trismus. Did the SLT say anything about the clicking and painful jaw joint and what could be causing this? 

 The therabite when I used it  many years ago you had to have at least 12mm mouth opening so it could fit in you mouth. You also had to have it prescribed because things like teeth and  jaw bone health needed to be taken into account. I found it could  be painful to use when my opening was tight. I believe  it works  both as a passive stretch and static stretch device. It  did not work very well for me as my trismus was very severe caused by surgical scar tissue and then radiotherapy made this worse. It has worked for others. Every person's trismus is unique to them and what  has caused it and what will be the best way to tackle it. Your specialist will be there to advise you with all your concerns and guide you. If things are very painful when trying to open your jaw discuss this too. The exercises given with help to try to gain flexibility and to help  the jaw  not to stiffen up further. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes 

Nicky

Hi Blod

I found the tongue depressors worked for me and I could see my progress by adding a depressor one at a time. It was a bit painful doing the stretch but if you persevere it does make a difference.

I can now open my mouth wide enough to get a spoon and toothbrush in without any issues although it definitely does not open as wide as before and a hamburger is out of the question.

I have heard good reports of the Therabite but did not go down that track myself as it was very expensive. I hear that you can get it free in the U.K. if it is prescribed so I would definitely give it a go.  

I would get the clicking and pain in your jaw looked at as I definitely did not have that.

Lyn

Hi Lyn

I was lucky my cancer nurse managed to get me a Therabite, if I had to buy it the cost would have been £450, for basically a small plastic devise. I tried really hard but just couldn’t do the tongue depressors. I thought I was doomed to not being able to open my mouth again, I appreciate that everyone’s Trismus is different, and I have been lucky it worked for me.