Today - Exactly 2 weeks post TMJ replacement operation

Since the end of the first week following the op I've very much had up and down days. Today is a definite down. Not that I feel sad. I just feel bone weary and in pain. I've been a gym bunny all of my life, exercising at least 5 days a week with running, Body Combat and Body Balance being my favourites. Obviously as my jaw deteriorated so I had to adapt my workouts; I gradually went from a 30 min run at 11kmph down to a 10 min 10kmph if I was lucky, and Combat I dropped from a level 3 intensity to level 1 and many days not even being able to do it as the impact of jumping & punching affected my jaw. So I adapted. I made these changes but I also did more Balance (for those of you who are unfamiliar with this it is a blend of Yoga, Tai chi and Pilates put to music) and CXWorks (core work).

So back to today. I was determined that as today marks exactly 2 weeks since my op I would attempt some exercise so I put on my Balance DVD & got started. After 5 tracks, some of which were painful as they involved bending down / lowering my head, I had to go and lie down for half an hour! To call this frustrating would be a major understatement. Before the Jaw worsened in 2018 I used to do a run, then Body Combat and finish with Balance or a swim. Now 20 mins of yoga kills me????? I will not give up though.

Logically, I know that the sudden increase in pain (we're talking random daggers being thrust into the side of my head / face on top of the constant pain which I had finally got to a bearable level) is simply because on Tuesday I started using my Therabite / doing my physio exercises. However, knowing this and that it will abate once my jaw becomes used to it, doesn't take the pain away. So, after speaking to the Doctor, I am now both continuing and increasing the Gabapentin (I would have finished at 14 days otherwise), adding Ibuprofen and continuing the co-codymol. Great. Just what I - DON'T - need. I was so pleased because I had reduced the Co-codymol and swapped it for Paracetamol as Co-codymol makes me constipated. Following my previous ops I know that sticking to the physio is TOTALLY worth it. The difference it made to my mouth opening the last times was amazing. It's just that... it hurts... Oh well, onwards and upwards.