Heat. Good.
So... yeah. I'm supposed to get my teeth-stitches out Monday, and... I still can't open my mouth. This concerns me, as they will no doubt need my mouth open for the removal. So I called the surgeon's office yesterday during my lunchbreak (yes I'm working again already. boo.) and the lady asks if I've been applying warm compresses to my face a few hours a day.
Me: "Uh..." *vaguely remembers reading something like that in the brochure*
Her: "That's a no."
Me: "Yeah, no."
Her: "So, you should start doing that. You're not still using ice, are you?"
Me: "Uh..."
Her: "You are."
Me: "Yeah, I am."
Her: "Okay. You only needed to use the ice to keep the swelling down the first couple of days. After Tuesday you should have switched to moist, warm heat. The reason your mouth won't open is because the muscles in your jaw are tightly clenched after the surgery. Cold is only going to make them clench more, but moist heat over a long time will force them to relax. Do that for the next few days and work your jaw open and shut, and gradually you'll see some improvement."
Me: "Kay. Thank you."
I currently have heat stuff wrapped around my face. This better work, because the clock's a-tickin' and I'm really not looking forward to them having to pry my jaw open with a device in order to cut those fuckers out.
Me: "Uh..." *vaguely remembers reading something like that in the brochure*
Her: "That's a no."
Me: "Yeah, no."
Her: "So, you should start doing that. You're not still using ice, are you?"
Me: "Uh..."
Her: "You are."
Me: "Yeah, I am."
Her: "Okay. You only needed to use the ice to keep the swelling down the first couple of days. After Tuesday you should have switched to moist, warm heat. The reason your mouth won't open is because the muscles in your jaw are tightly clenched after the surgery. Cold is only going to make them clench more, but moist heat over a long time will force them to relax. Do that for the next few days and work your jaw open and shut, and gradually you'll see some improvement."
Me: "Kay. Thank you."
I currently have heat stuff wrapped around my face. This better work, because the clock's a-tickin' and I'm really not looking forward to them having to pry my jaw open with a device in order to cut those fuckers out.