Trismus
Royal Pains - 2009 A Trismus Story 5-12 was released on: USA: 4 September 2013
Trismus is the inability of the mouth to fully open.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is typically involved in trismus, which is a condition where the muscles of mastication spasm, limiting jaw movement. It can be caused by various factors such as trauma, infection, or inflammation of the joint.
Tetanus is the medical term for the condition commonly known as lockjaw.
Trismus is restruction of the opening of the mouth due to spasm.
Five weeks seems too long! I would seek a medical dr instead of the oral surgeon who did it in the first place. I have my wisdom teeth out two weeks ago and can only open my mouth 19 mm....it hurts so bad, and they told me it was Trismus. My sympathies!
Tetanus is commonly referred to as lockjaw due to the characteristic symptom of severe muscle stiffness in the jaw muscles that causes difficulty opening the mouth. Tetanus is caused by a bacterial toxin and can be prevented with vaccination.
Trismus is a condition characterized by difficulty in opening the mouth due to muscle spasm or stiffness in the jaw joint. It may be caused by various factors, such as infections, dental issues, or trauma. Treatment typically involves addressing the underlying cause and may include medications and physical therapy.
The limitation of the gap of the mouth due to trauma, medical procedure, or radiation (oral cancel treatment) is called Trismus. This condition also affects the diet and speech of the patient.
For treatment of patients with cancer, radiation oncology is a common treatment to help fight and treat the cancerous region. One of the side effects of radiation therapy is a progressive stiffening of the tissues under radiation. The more radiation a tissue receives, the more likely the stiffening will occur; and patients with long treatment schedules or on a second round of radiation often see these effects. This stiffening is usually treated with stretching to the affected areas. For head and neck cancer patients, if radiation is applied to areas around the mouth and jaw, the stiffening of the facial tissues causes trismus. Trismus is the limited opening (or range-of-motion) of the mouth. Severe cases of trismus are often called "lockjaw." Unfortunately, the mouth does not easily lend itself to be stretched open, and the stiffening is significant. Additionally, patients are rarely warned of this side-effect to prevent it. Patients often only discover it after the stiffening has caused limitations in their ability to eat, drink, speak, etc. Exercises and stretching to prevent trismus is the best course when head-and-neck cancer patients are receiving radiation therapy. However, treatment for stiffening of the jaw or trismus includes heat, medication and stretching. Stretching the jaw is difficult and a number of aids have been developed to assist patients, like the OraStretch Press or the TheraBite systems. These devices are used by patients to press their mouth open and stretch the jaw and facial muscles, to overcome the stiffening caused by radiation.
For treatment of patients with cancer, radiation oncology is a common treatment to help fight and treat the cancerous region. One of the side effects of radiation therapy is a progressive stiffening of the tissues under radiation. The more radiation a tissue receives, the more likely the stiffening will occur; and patients with long treatment schedules or on a second round of radiation often see these effects. This stiffening is usually treated with stretching to the affected areas. For head and neck cancer patients, if radiation is applied to areas around the mouth and jaw, the stiffening of the facial tissues causes trismus. Trismus is the limited opening (or range-of-motion) of the mouth. Severe cases of trismus are often called "lockjaw." Unfortunately, the mouth does not easily lend itself to be stretched open, and the stiffening is significant. Additionally, patients are rarely warned of this side-effect to prevent it. Patients often only discover it after the stiffening has caused limitations in their ability to eat, drink, speak, etc. Exercises and stretching to prevent trismus is the best course when head-and-neck cancer patients are receiving radiation therapy. However, treatment for stiffening of the jaw or trismus includes heat, medication and stretching. Stretching the jaw is difficult and a number of aids have been developed to assist patients, like the OraStretch Press or the TheraBite systems. These devices are used by patients to press their mouth open and stretch the jaw and facial muscles, to overcome the stiffening caused by radiation.