After my mandibulectomy, I was in agony when I woke up. It was the worst pain Ive ever had in my life. I feel so bad to read you are going thru something similar. I remember the pain as it would be so bad at times Id be walking across the room and it felt like I was stabbed with a knife and I was stopped in my tracks unable to move even one foot until it subsided. I think it was a good 10 months until these stabbing pain episodes started to become noticeably less. I wish with all my heart for you do better than I did with your pain management during recovery.

The surgery is a major one where nerves can be involved causing considerable pain. After 2 months of recovery, you still have a ways to go. Your swelling should be down quite a bit but it will still take months for it to completely heal and the inflammation to subside. Of course everyone is different and your surgery could be far different than what I went thru or the other mandibulectomy patients I know. My doc explained to my it takes a full year to recover from this major operation. It involves so much intricate work that it takes healing so long. When you throw into the mix rads then it further makes healing more difficult. Some patients end up doing HBO to help with healing after going thru rads. If you havent already tried some nerve pain, maybe that cold help? I used gabapentin, AKA neurontin. Ask your doc if that would help and if so to write you a script.

Hope this help. Best wishes with your continuing recovery.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile