Hi there. I went back to my PT, Mark, both yesterday and today. I wanted to relay additional info he has given me. I asked him if I should take some type of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (NSAIDs)such as motrin. He did not recommend it. He says recent evidence shows they can actually do more harm, which is in agreement with what a I was told last year by an orthopedic surgeon after developing a stress fracture.

Secondly, to echo Christine (and what you have figured out yourself), if you start having more pain or pain that lingers even after you stop the stretch you are pushing yourself too far.If you are able to start using the tongue depressors again before you get in to see your doctor, maybe these guidelines from Mark will help:
When I initially put the stack of tongue depressors between my back teeth I don't really feel any pain or discomfort (if just doing that causes pain you might be starting with too big a stack). I add one new tongue depressor at a time in the middle of the stack until I feel discomfort-- don't add any past that point. Also, don't forget as you are sliding the additional tongue depressor into the middle of the stack to bite down gently and briefly on the ones that are already in place and then relax before you slide the new one in. If one new one still causes no pain, you can add another. You may have to repeat the bite down/relax process two or three times before each additional one is all the way in place. Once you have added enough tongue depressors to cause a little discomfort (which may be only one depressor) hold that stretch 60-90 seconds, but try to keep your jaw somewhat relaxed while holding it (in other words, don't bite down on the stack of tongue depressors during this hold time).

I am so sorry you are having such a terrible time with the trismus-- I sure hope they get you into a good therapist! I am having good results and Mark is confident they will be able to get a mouthpiece in when I go for my simulation Thursday. I can tell a big difference in eating, too! Good luck!