Well, I think I mentioned that the coronoidectomy seems to have, at least temporarily, gotten rid of the bad jaw cramps but has not helped at all with range of motion. In fact, despite using the therabite fairly often, I think my range of motion has gotten worse.. They did remove scar tissue around my lips and stretched my cheeks so I'm not having the same problem with teeth irritating cheeks and inner lips and that's a good thing. But the whole hope was more range of motion in my jaw because there may eventually be dental problems that can't easily be fixed otherwise and that seems to have been a bust.

I had a followup with my ENT today and he took out the stitches in my mouth from the coronoidectomy and places where they had either removed scar tissue or it had torn (he said there was one place where the cheek just tore around the scar tissue as he was trying to remove it) and he said that another thing is can try is Botox injected into the jaw muscle and he'd like to do that.

I remember Curt's wife mentioned Botox as a possibility for her husband who was having cramps. I am not having cramps but from what he said, it would relax the jaw muscles and might help range of motion. I did not ask him how often he's done this before (I suspect the answer would not be NEVER but it wouldn't be often either. I am in that zone where nothing I'm trying is done often as far as I can tell). He did say (did I mention he has distinct lapses in being reassuring) "I hope I don't overshoot" (in the same tone of voice you might say "I hope it doesn't rain"). I asked what tht meant and what would happen.

Apparently "overshoot" could mean that the jaw muscles get so slack that I can't close my mouth and it could cause swallowing problems" (I have enough swallowing problems already!!!). He said "you're muscles are so tight, I don't think that's going to happen" but I didn't find that so reassuring.

So I am here hoping against hope for more advice. Has anyone had this done before? Is it reasonable to think Botox could help my range of motion--I odn't want to do something risky if the likelihood of it helping is not very great! I really wish Curtswife was not on the other coast since she was looking into this!

Oh, the other thing is I had a couple of stitches in the back corners of my inner cheeks that, because I can't open very wide at all, I think Dr. S had a hard time reaching (it was painful enough getting the others out!) so he said he was going to leave them in and eventualy they would dissolve and come out on their own but I am worried about that. I can't get back there to brush easily either and what if they come out then get caught in between my teeth or go down my throat and I choke? Maybe I'm fussing about nothing (sigh). Time to go do another painful round of jaw stretching....

Nelie