Double jaw joint replacement
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Rachel Stone. I am 21 years old, I work full time and attend college part-time and here is the abbreviated version of my story. I'm awaiting a total jaw joint replacement(both sides) which is not only incredibly scary but also incredibly expensive and insurance does NOT cover one bit of jaw surgery.
After years of head, jaw, face, neck and back pain, we desperately sought answers from a jaw surgeon in 2011 and was told that without a doubt, my right disc was dislocated, he later performed surgery on the right side only after AFTER slightly repositioning my jaw, putting my disk where is belongs and wired my mouth shut for two solid weeks. I was determined to make this work. I'm strong, live a healthy lifestyle and would comply 100% with his instructions and I did just that. I saw him once a week for weeks & sure enough WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY !! (Yay!)
That lasted until about 2013 when I began suffering from jaw popping, locking, chronic headaches, severe each aches, awful headaches, vertigo, loss of ROM (range of motion) and so much more. While I knew what lied ahead, I had yet to face reality... Until 2014, when I made an appointment with my jaw specialist, he too right away felt my disks were dislocated, this time BOTH sides. This time surgery wasn't the first option(yay). My specialist decided to put me in a fitted jaw repositioning appliance to wear only at night time. This appliance would allow my jaw to move and potentially allow my disk to slip back into place. I hoped and prayed everyday that this would be successful. Unfortunately 6 months went by & we have absolutely no improvement. I voluntarily tried the splint for 4 more months trying to avoid another surgery. I lasted about 2 weeks and the pain was so intense I was soon sent back to the surgeon. And as I watched the words "You need surgery on BOTH sides" I already knew the discs were dislocated and where we were going with this conversation. Not even a month later, he performed bilateral mandibular arthroscopic surgery in July of 2014. I was to wear my appliance now 24 hours a day for a month, do physical therapy and remain on a liquid/soft food diet for 6 weeks. The surgery didn't even last 6 weeks. Sooo here we are back to square 1. Back to the jaw surgeon I go for about another 10 months having 70+ injections, multiple appliance adjustments, bio freeze treatment, etc.. June 24, 2015 I had another bilateral mandibular arthroscopic surgery performed. Same routine as the prior surgery... And on the 17th day I yawned and "POP!!" There went BOTH my discs. I gave up. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I was almost devastated and felt like I had no hope(which I don't) I continued to wear my jaw appliance and was just sent to a PMR (pain management specialist) . Sure medication minimizes the pain, but by no means does is remove it completely. My every day life has changed significantly due to the pain I endure daily.
• when discs are displaced and become non-reducing the degenerative process of the discs progresses more rapidly as compared to displaced discs that reduce. When the discs advance to a certain level of deformation and degeneration, they become not salvageable. When concomitant TMJ and orthognathic surgery is indicated, in this situation patient-fitted total joint prosthesis are indicated to produce the most predictable and high quality outcome.
Today, Friday January 15, 2016 I was told I am at my very last option, which is a highly invasive total jaw joint replacement (both sides)
Fitted total joint prosthesis-$20,000
Surgery charges alone-$30,000
Insurance does not cover any kind of jaw surgery. I usually would not ask for help this way. This is something I have to have, whether it be now or later. Any donations are welcomed & I thank you SO MUCH in advance
After years of head, jaw, face, neck and back pain, we desperately sought answers from a jaw surgeon in 2011 and was told that without a doubt, my right disc was dislocated, he later performed surgery on the right side only after AFTER slightly repositioning my jaw, putting my disk where is belongs and wired my mouth shut for two solid weeks. I was determined to make this work. I'm strong, live a healthy lifestyle and would comply 100% with his instructions and I did just that. I saw him once a week for weeks & sure enough WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY !! (Yay!)
That lasted until about 2013 when I began suffering from jaw popping, locking, chronic headaches, severe each aches, awful headaches, vertigo, loss of ROM (range of motion) and so much more. While I knew what lied ahead, I had yet to face reality... Until 2014, when I made an appointment with my jaw specialist, he too right away felt my disks were dislocated, this time BOTH sides. This time surgery wasn't the first option(yay). My specialist decided to put me in a fitted jaw repositioning appliance to wear only at night time. This appliance would allow my jaw to move and potentially allow my disk to slip back into place. I hoped and prayed everyday that this would be successful. Unfortunately 6 months went by & we have absolutely no improvement. I voluntarily tried the splint for 4 more months trying to avoid another surgery. I lasted about 2 weeks and the pain was so intense I was soon sent back to the surgeon. And as I watched the words "You need surgery on BOTH sides" I already knew the discs were dislocated and where we were going with this conversation. Not even a month later, he performed bilateral mandibular arthroscopic surgery in July of 2014. I was to wear my appliance now 24 hours a day for a month, do physical therapy and remain on a liquid/soft food diet for 6 weeks. The surgery didn't even last 6 weeks. Sooo here we are back to square 1. Back to the jaw surgeon I go for about another 10 months having 70+ injections, multiple appliance adjustments, bio freeze treatment, etc.. June 24, 2015 I had another bilateral mandibular arthroscopic surgery performed. Same routine as the prior surgery... And on the 17th day I yawned and "POP!!" There went BOTH my discs. I gave up. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I was almost devastated and felt like I had no hope(which I don't) I continued to wear my jaw appliance and was just sent to a PMR (pain management specialist) . Sure medication minimizes the pain, but by no means does is remove it completely. My every day life has changed significantly due to the pain I endure daily.
• when discs are displaced and become non-reducing the degenerative process of the discs progresses more rapidly as compared to displaced discs that reduce. When the discs advance to a certain level of deformation and degeneration, they become not salvageable. When concomitant TMJ and orthognathic surgery is indicated, in this situation patient-fitted total joint prosthesis are indicated to produce the most predictable and high quality outcome.
Today, Friday January 15, 2016 I was told I am at my very last option, which is a highly invasive total jaw joint replacement (both sides)
Fitted total joint prosthesis-$20,000
Surgery charges alone-$30,000
Insurance does not cover any kind of jaw surgery. I usually would not ask for help this way. This is something I have to have, whether it be now or later. Any donations are welcomed & I thank you SO MUCH in advance
Organizer
Rachel Stone
Organizer
Frisco, TX