Hi there..... so here is my first ever blog post. My name is
Stefanie and I am 24 year old female
from London. Here is a presentation of the issues and learning curves I have
encountered during my time with chronic facial pain, Sinusitis and muscular
pain in my neck, back and shoulders. This blog will also cover my journey from
2008 when I was first fitted with braces to the present time after undergoing
dramatic orthognathic surgery on both my upper and lower jaws. Additionally,
this blog will also cover issues, such as dealing with long term pain whilst
working and undertaking full time studies and coping with the long term issues
surrounding my internal and external well-being.
Although at first glance this all seems very heavy and
depressing, I hope that my story will comfort and encourage others to stay
strong and find ways in which you can deal with long term pain issues and
medication. From reading blogs and self-help books online it is often very
calming to know you are not alone and there are people (such as myself) going
through the same struggle. My journey has been nothing but surprising to
myself, family and my doctors, who all find it hard to understand or grasp why
I have had so many issues.
The outline of my case
In August 2011, I undertook bimaxillary osteotomy surgery to
correct my class III asymmetric malocclusion. Designed to straighten, shorten
and align my upper and lower jaw with the mid line of my face. My lower chin
point was moved 9mm to the left and my upper jaw rotated 2mm right and 2mm
forward. Although, there was a risk of making my TMJ and facial pain
significantly worse, I did not have any alternatives available to me at the
time. I had been under the care of Kings College Hospital and Guy’s Hospital for
3 years and had been fitted with braces to straighten and move my teeth into an
optimal positioning for surgery.
I had been suffering for 2 years with
severe left sided facial pain and I had episodes of bruising externally. All I
can describe the pain on a good day was having a 24/7 migraine in my face. The
doctors and various specialists pumped me full of drugs from codeine, to muscle
relaxants to anti-epileptic drugs but nothing touched the surface. They had no
clue what was wrong with me until they opened me up for the original
orthognathic surgery and cut my nerve on the left side of my face by accident.
As it goes my trigeminal nerve on the left side of my face runs along the top
of the jaw bone (which is unique). When I was fitted with braces before the
operation my orthodontist needed to move my teeth to the other side of my mouth
due to my asymmetry. Because we did not know that my nerve was positioned there
the braces and teeth (that had little room anyway) started to rub against the
nerve and this gave me severe crippling pain on the whole left side of my face.
Four years into treatment and one year
post orthognathic surgery, I am no longer wearing braces and no longer have this
nerve pain. However, I am experiencing various
side effects of orthognathic surgery (numbness, weak teeth, geographic tongue
etc). But my main concern is that I have discomfort and pain in the lower jaw
where my plates are and I am also experiencing reoccurring sinus infections.
These infections are thought to be the result of the surgery screws poking
through the nasal cavity and I have been booked in for the removal of my titanium
plates and screws on 6th December 2012. Before this point, I want to
provide you with as much information as I can on my case and problems I have
experienced through my orthognathic surgery journey. I hope
this blog proves useful.
Pictures illustrating my severe underbite and asymmetry that caused me to not be able to eat properly and eventually cause crippling facial pain.
Available now
To find out more click on the link below:
http://www.jawandface.co.uk/jaw-surgery-survival-pack/
If you would like to be kept informed about the latest work I am undertaking and want to receive more content from the Jaw & Face charity project, you can subscribe for FREE on the link below.
You can now continue the chat and speak with other patients on my new closed Facebook group:
Looking forward to connecting with you soon!
Lots of love always,
Steffie
x.x.x
Hi there Stephie,
ReplyDeleteI was reading your blog and had not noticed any detail on behalf of the COST itself, let alone any incurring costs that were associated with the surgery.
I was curious to know how much it cost, as I would like to get a rough estimate into what I could be getting myself into. Is this fully covered under your insurance? Are you paying out of pocket? Is there a community donation?
I'm also sorry you are having difficulties with the post-surgery, and hope that there is a resolution to this problem, as it effects your everyday life.
Anyways, I will to be having my orthognathic surgery, once nearing the completion of my braces.
Anywho enough of my ramblings, any information in regards to cost for surgery, post and before, would be great.
Cheers,
Alejandro Eastman
Hi Alejandro. I am located in the UK. As it was diagnosed from an early age that i had a jaw deformity and asymmetry my braces and surgery were all covered by the national health trust here in the UK. I was very lucky and as this is an essential surgery it is all paid for here. I do speak with a few people from America who have had the same surgery as me some have also had the genioplasty and their insurances covered the cost of the surgery. It is seen as medical not cosmetic because the aim is to correct the bite and allow someone to eat correctly and live a normal life without the increased risk of arthritis or jaw joint deterioration. Thank you for reading the blog. If you are on Facebook you can private message me on www.facebook.com/steffiesstuff or email on steffiemg@gmail.com always happy to help if i can. Hope your treatment is going well. :) I will ask around and see if i can get a rough figure for you but most people went through insurance.
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