#71739 03-21-2008 02:34 AM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | It would appears that there are not a lot of folks who have been hit with Trismus per recent lack of responses. I met with the Dynasplint rep yesterday and was fitted for the device that hopefully will become one of my best friends over the next few weeks. There seems to be a lot more to it than with the Therabite device that I have read so much about. I am told that if I follow through with the prescribed treatment schedule that my mouth opening should increase from the current 11mm to a more normal 30 to 35mm in 3 to 4 months.
If anyone else has the problem and wants to check in with me later regarding the success or failure with Dynasplint just feel free to inquire.
Bill D.
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
| | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 Likes: 1 | Good Deal Bill
I did not have too much trouble with Trismus so I can only imagine the grief that it is causing you. I do know the jaw exercises I did were not very comfortable in the beginning, but it did get better.
Still is uncomfortable sometimes when I yawn, but that has gotten few and far between.
Kevin 18 YEAR SURVIVOR SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006. No evidence of disease 2010 Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.
�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.� Stephen Hawking | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 97 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 97 | Hi Bill- Yes, please let us know how the dynasplint works out for you. I remember talking to one lady here when I first came who had used one a long time ago with success. I used the therabite myself, which worked, but a lot of it depended on how hard I was willing to push myself with it. melissa
Age 36. Four years of fighting Stage 4 Skull Base Cancer Can't even fit it in the signature line. I've tried it all! 5 surgeries, IMRT, cyberknife, cisplatin, erbitux, AIM, taxotere, carboplatin. | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | I have been using the Dynasplit device now for 6 days and can actually tell that there is a minute improvement. Until yesterday I was unable to get my Sonicare brush to the back side of my lower teeth except for 1 or 2 seconds due to horrible pain when trying to open up wide enough to get it back there. Two nights ago I noticed that I was able to brush the back side with virtually no pain. I was excited as a kid on Christmas morning! This also really gives incentive to continue strictly with the prescribed treatment. The Dynasplint device is much better than the manual jaw mobility exercises the Oral Surgeon first gave me to do. The company rep told me that it should take about 3 months to get back to a normal opening with a gain of 1-3 mm's per week.
Bill D.
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
| | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 41 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: May 2007 Posts: 41 | Please let me know how it works, my husband is having the same problem, can barely open enough to take a bite of food. Good luck to you.
Husband age 48, diagnosed 5/10/07 with stage 4 mouth cancer, surgury not an option, teeth removed 6/21/07, 5x wks of rad with Cisplatin 1x week for 7-8 week course starting 7/10/07. Update 02/25/08 right maxillectomy and right infratemporal fossa resection
| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 97 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 97 | Bill- That's great! Soon you will be eating a corndog like the kid on the dynasplint website.
Melissa
Age 36. Four years of fighting Stage 4 Skull Base Cancer Can't even fit it in the signature line. I've tried it all! 5 surgeries, IMRT, cyberknife, cisplatin, erbitux, AIM, taxotere, carboplatin. | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | I have my next regular 3 week appt. with my Oral Surgeon next week. The Dynasplint rep is planning to meet there at the same time. I guess the rep or the OS will take an official measurement and I will see how much improvement by then. That will be after 2 full weeks of treatment with the device. I am hoping that I will measure at least 15mm up from the low of 11mm at the start.
The device itself is actually rented from Dynasplit as opposed to purchasing it. My insurance co. agreed to cover 100% of the cost but I would have paid out of pocket if necessary, anything to be able to open wide again!
Bill D.
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 30 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 30 | Good luck w/ Dynasplint's billing! Inefficient!!! They couldn't get the codes to the insurance co. and we had an awful time with them. | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
Bill:
Any update on the Dynasplint? Did you get it? Does it work?
ChristineSCC 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 | | |
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