Just a followup on this over a month later. I am still seeing the PT once or twice a week despite the dent it is now putting in my savings account because of the low amount insurance is kicking in (but I'm appealing this--long story to do with billing codes).

I'm not sure she has done anything that will permanently help the range of motion in my jaw, but whatever she does definitely loosens it temprarily so mauybe over time it will stay looser. The main thing I have noticed in the last couple of weeks is a really noticable improvement in how moist my mouth is. This may just be natural healing of course--I did have IMRT,as well as taking amifostine during treatment and taking salagen now, and supposedly I should get some salivary function back from all that even without the PT. But when she massages inside my mouth and even around the parotid gland area on the outside, my mouth gets *really moist* and even in general, even on days when I don't have PT, my mouth is much more moist. I rarely get the inside-of-lips/cheeks-sticking-to-teeth thing happening anymore and also rarely find myself needing to spray my mouth or use the biotene gel to keep it moist enough. People also say my speech sounds better which I suspect has to do with my mouth being naturally less dry as well.

I am still having major problems swallowing but I am going to see someone who hopefully can give me more of an expert opinion on that next week and, if necessary refer me to specialists elsehwere. But the saliva thing, at least, is real progress!

Nelie