Maybe someone can help with this. Why is it when I yawn, it is so painful? I could just cry. zi will do anything to avoid yawning,

I know it sounds silly.

Molly

Hi Molly

I also find yawning and indeed anything that requires me to 'open wide' painful.

I had a tumour in my tonsil diagnosed August last year (2005) had to have major surgery to remove it along with my lymph nodes and also had a 'flap' inserted where the tumour had been. Then followed 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

I an currenty undergoing physio to try and help but this is quite an unusual for physiotherapists to deal with, and no-one at the hospital In attend has dealt with this before. The thing they tell me is to keep pushing the jaw as wide as you can go but do it very gently - I have some hairbrushes with handles of varying diameters and each day I start eith the samllest one and work up to the largest one. At the end of each session I can manage the largest one without pain but bu by the time the next session comes I'm back to square one and have to start eith the smallest again!! Try holding a hot watwer bottle or a heat pad against the area for 10-15 mins before starting any exercise. (not ideal in this weather I know!!)

Best regards

Rosie

Hello Molly

The involuntary yawn forces a stretch of fibrosed tight muscles caused by damage through the cancer treatment (radiotherapy/surgery) which causes the difficulty in mouth opening (trismus). You might find these previous posts on trismus useful.

Best wishes
Vinod