Can anyone tell me how/where to get a therabite? The doctor gave us a script for one. I called the number of the company listed at OCF but it has been disconnected.

The number we have is 1-800-217-0025 -- this is Atos Medical, who bought out TheraBite several years ago. The woman my husband spoke to sent him the form which is needed to be filled in (by your doctor) to get insurance to pay for the TheraBite -- but perhaps if you have a script in hand this will not be necessary. They have a web site, do a google for TheraBite.

It does work, my husband has no trismus and used his TB all the way through treatment and is continuing to use it several times a day as recommended. Using it post-treatment after trismus has set in also works, according to several studies, but results are slower and you may not reach desired jaw opening, per several posters on this list. So best advice seems to be -- get it early and use it consistently.

Gail

Thank you Gail, that worked, hopefully it will arrive soon. Did insurance pay for yours?

Deborah,
My insurance considered it durable medical equipment, and paid 90%. I've had mine for nearly 2 years. I used it faithfully for several months and saw great improvement in the trismus. I now use it infrequently ot prevent loss of range of motion.

Good Health,

Chuck

Hi Deborah, I still use my therabite. Prepare yourself though, my insurance co. would not pay any of it. Maybe your insurance will be more merciful, I think it cost several hundred dollars but well worth it....Take Care, Carol

Deboah --

My husband has Medicare, they pay for TheraBite with doctor, dentist or therapist filling in the "medical need" form (which Atos sends you). His ENT filled it in, citing his HNC, radiation therapy and probable trismus as a result. His medigap picked up the rest. The woman at Atos with whom Barry spoke seemed to really know her way around the insurance programs, ask for advice if your insurance balks at paying. I noticed that (at Hopkins) the therapists also have them so we may have been able to get one through them.

Gail

I have a thera-bite. I had to pay for it up front and get reimbursed from my insurance company. My ENT had to write a letter stating that it was medically necesarry. I'm one who never really benefited from it's use, although I've read many posts from others who swear by them.

John

What is a therabite? Some device to force your jaw open?

Erik,

You pretty much nailed it. It's a device that has a mouth piece that fits into your mouth. The other end has a grip that when sqweezed it very gently pries your mouth open. It is designed to simulate the natural opening of your mouth.

There are different settings to allow for increased range of motion.

I had my jaw split just like you did. I personally never had much success with the therabite. Now that I've had some dental work done, and some teeth removed, I'm going to give it another round of use. I was just never able to open wide enough to get the damn thing into my mouth. Now I beleive that I can. I'm just finishing up with HBO therapy from the dental / oral surgery.

John

I don't think I needed one ever. From reading early on, I stretched my jaw as much as I could all the time as soon as I could, I just ignored the pain as much as I could. I think I just do it all the time now without thinking about it. My wife asks if I'm tired, cause she thinks I'm yawning. Now that I think about it I do remember using my fingers as a gauge of how far I could open my mouth. At first I could barely get 2 fingers in vertically. I just checked & I can get 4 in vertically, now. I can't remember what the reference was about getting the jaw open early on & so I just worked on it from early on. Stretch, stretch, stretch! Jaw, neck, shoulder! Just do it!