My pain has changed in the last few months. My day-to-day pain is not as bad. However, my pain when the weather changes has worsened. There is a greater difference between the pain when the weather is good versus the weather is bad or changing from good to bad or bad to good. I now get terribly nauseated. If I lie down, it is so bad I feel like the bed is spinning too. The greater the pain, the worse the nausea. I take Metaclopromide (prescription) for the nausea and it does help.
I also cannot sleep when the weather is changing, prior to when the pain and nausea start. What I mean is that I lie down and try to fall asleep, but I can't. For some reason, I can't fall asleep. I don't know if it is because I am anticipating more pain, or what it is. I finally fall asleep at about 8am because I am extremely tired and fatigued.
My bite has also changed since the surgery. It was perfectly aligned post surgery, but it has shifted and is continuing to shift. My front teeth no longer touch. My bite is stronger on the right side and my teeth touch better on the right compared to the left. I continue to wear my night guard every night. My prosthedontist has to modify the night guard about every 4-5 months because my bite is constantly changing. I have found that the night guard has helped to re-align my teeth and bite. It hasn't corrected it, but has made it better. I can't go to sleep without it now. It's funny when I forget to take it out in the morning and try to talk to someone and sound like I have a bunch of marbles in my mouth.
My left eardrum also seems to be permanently plugged. You know how you go in an airplane and your ears plug up and you have to "pop" them, when that's what it feels like. I can pop my right ear, but my left ear will no longer pop. Sometimes it sounds squeaky like crinkly plastic or when you used to get water in your ears when you were a kid from swimming, when I try to pop it. It was so bad one night that even my dog could hear it!
I finally have movement of my right and left eyebrow and forehead. When I close my eyes, I still smile on my right side. The biggest thing that I do miss is my smile. It is much better now that I have more movement in the right side of my face, but it is not as big as it used to be. But at least I can smile!
I never hear my prosthetic joints when they move. Only once in a blue moon it sounds like Styrofoam rubbing together. But in general, they are pretty much silent. The only way I know that they are not my real joints is that there is a slight dent or dimple right above my ear on both sides.
If I could go back in time..... would I have the TMJ Replacement surgery? My answer is yes. It has helped. Yes it was a long recovery but it was worth it. The ability to eat solid food is a big plus!
Let me know if any of you experience greater pain or nausea when the weather changes. Or if you have problems with plugged ears in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to comment on any of my posts!