#83807 11-09-2008 08:49 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | This may sound really stupid, but could one be suffering from trismus and not have a full appreciation of it? I have always felt like I was opening my mouth fairly wide, but have this constant "knotted" feeling in my jaw joints on both sides (as well as the stiffness/numbness from the combo of ND and rad). I came across the "three finger" test for trismus, and was surprised that I could barely get 2 between my teeth. My inquiry started because of these awful spasms I will periodically get when I yawn. One yesterday almost took me to my knees.
Am I goofy, or could I have some trismus going on? (OK, even if I have some trismus, doesn't necessarily mean that I am not goofy anyway) Thanks!
Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
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Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 | Jeff,
Me too. I just tried it and I can get three fingers in, but I don't have any teeth - or a gum-line on the bottom. I imagine that with teeth, two fingers would be a struggle. And yes, yawning is painful at the jaw joints. I'm 2 years post Tx and just now meeting with the Docs for the surgery to allow for dentures.
Lani
SCC part glossectomy 3/06, recur 8/06 glossectomy, floor of mouth, part of jaw removed, RT/chemo thru 10/12/06, PET clear 7/08
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn"
Passed away 12/14/08
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Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | According to my first ENT (Had to switch to a new one for the free-flap), getting two fingers in is the norm -- I can now barely get three fingers in but that's nowhere near what I could do before the radiation.
Jeff, I also didn't realize I had trismus until I tried to take a bite of an apple and could barely get my teeth on it -- Previously, I could almost get the apple into my mouth!
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | I am not sure I have issues with this as well my physiotheropist said I am probably fine but find it difficult to get food with a utensil into my mouth and have to really stretch...but even food without utensils hard to even get in sometimes even without my top teeth being in.
How do you know for sure there is an issue?
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | | 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 |
Three fingers wide is the normal range of motion. Even two fingers inst too bad, can still eat most things easily. If you are one finger or less, then you have some problems going on. At my worst, I was only able to open my mouth not even 1/2 a pinky finger wide. You might want to check with your doctors and see what they say about it. I did alot of HBO and physical therapy to improve my range of motion and it worked for me. Not to where I want to be but definitly much better than I was. I wish you the best of luck with this.
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  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | thanks christine...I guess I have good days and bad days sometimes I can barely put two fingers in and when I really stretch I can get four in...I hope it doesn't stay on lower end of the scale I just know it is a sometimes thing..I notice it hard to eat...to get the food in...will ask and thanks...
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 231 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 231 | Jeff,
I get some pretty bad spasms in the back of my neck sometimes when I yawn. Do you experience this also or does anyone?
Dx Mar 07 with Base Of Tongue Stage IV. IMRT 35x with 3 doses Cysplatin ran concurrent. Tx ended May 31,07. Left and right node involved. Radical neck disection 7/18/07
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