Radiation

Hi 

Recovery takes time, trismus 3 fingers exercise helps, I still have some pain when attempting to overstretch during eating.... you should improve eventually.

Peter 

3 fingers exercise?  What is that?

Hi Hidden Valley

For some with ongoing exercise trismus resolves but for others it is ongoing. Just keep on with the exercises you have been given. I used the exercise using tongue depressors gradually increasing the number until I reached an optimum but unfortunately for me I could get no further than 10 tongue depressors. The optimum mouth opening is 3 fingers wide and I can only get to 1 finger wide although wide enough to get a spoon in and clean my teeth and wide enough for my prosthodontist to mess around when fitting my dentures. I have adapted to the reduced mouth opening and get on fine.

2  lots of radiotherapy and 3 ops for jaw cancer contributed to my reduced mouth opening.

Apparently the Therabite machine works well too although my doctor told me that the tongue depressor exercise was just as good. The Therabite is quite expensive to buy so I did not try it although I have heard that in the U.K. you can get it free of charge in some places.

Press on with your exercises and fingers crossed your trismus will improve.

Lyn

Middle three fingers of your hand is the normal vertical mouth opening space... My dietitian and CNS explained that I should be striving to make it a daily exercise.... started with placing 2 fingers in my mouth ...  gradually managed 3 fingers.  

Peter 

Peter E said:

I should be striving to make it a daily exercise....

What exercise did you do?

Hidden Valley said:

I am still having a problem with my trismus

You should be able to put the first three fingers of your subordinate hand between your teeth. If it's significantly less and your insurance allows ask about a Therabite. Trismus is caused by fibrosis of the chewing muscles. It can be progressive and permanent if you don't do something about it

I can get my fingers inside my mouth. I’m talking about the side of my mouth inside.

Started off by insertion of two fingers into my oral cavity 2-3 times daily...  gradually increased it to 3 fingers. .. still doing it... Dental hospital encourages me to do it daily.... also jaw rolls. 

Do you still exercise jaw?

Sorry I don’t understand. 

Hidden Valley said:

I can get my fingers inside my mouth. I’m talking about the side of my mouth inside.

If you can get three fingers like this you don’t have trismus 

Peter E said:

Started off by insertion of two fingers into my oral cavity 2-3 times daily...  gradually increased it to 3 fingers. .. still doing it... Dental hospital encourages me to do it daily.... also jaw rolls. 

Ah. I wondered how you could stretch your jaw with your fingers. 

Peter E said:

Do you still exercise jaw?

Yes. Swallow ones and neck stretches too