Tell me what you know about TMJ

[Harley Chick]

I know there was a post about this a few months ago, but the search function is disabled and I couldn't find it. I was diagnosed with this earlier in the week after I went to my doctor thinking I had an ear infection. This is sooo painful. I've already taken muscle relaxers and pain medication and used a heating pad but it won't go away. My teeth feel like they have holes drilled in them and my jaw is just aching and aching.
Does anyone have this and know a good cure to make the pain subside? If you do have it, how often does it flare up, and how long does it take for it to go away?

 

[DopeyRN]

You might try going to your dentist. I had a splint made...I wear it only at night...and it helps a lot. Lately I have been having pain at work in my right jaw, but we are probably all losing our jobs, so it is stress. Stress definitely makes it worse. In extreme cases they may do surgery to realign the jaw. I makes you miserable, and definitely hurts. Good luck...

 

[Beauty]

I was diagnosed with it about a year or so ago and at times it drives me crazy!! Sometimes its better than others and honestly I have just stood it. Everytime I open my mouth both jaws pop and sometimes I feel the pressure on it and have to pop it a few times. I would love to make it better because the pressure gives me headaches and my jaws stay sore but I'm just not ready for surgery.

D is right that stress definatly makes it worse as well!

 

[DisneyBug1995]

I have been dealing withTMJ for about 10 years now. When I was first diagnosed with it I couldn't even open my mouth far enough to be fitted for a splint. I went to my dentist until he did everything he knew what to do for TMJ and then I went to a TMJ specialist. What helped me the most was going to the specialist for treatment. They had a special messager that they messaged all the muscles in my face. It was so relaxing. I also had a splint made that I had to wear all the time at first and then just a night with I slept. I don't wear it any more and I don't have many problems with my TMJ, only when I'm under a lot of stress. When it does act up, I usually message my muscles with my hands or use a regular messager. Niether compares to the treatment I got at the specialst though.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very sorry to hear that, Cody. My best wishes for you and the others here too who have that. Sounds like a bummer.

Dan

 

[luvdzny]

I had TMJ surgery 15 months ago and I wish I hadn't waited so long. I had been having problems for 20+ years. The last few years were terrible! When I had the surgery the anestheologist couldn't even open my mouth wide enough to get a standard breathing tube in. I am SO happy I had the surgery. The only thing I regret is that the insurance company did not pay for it. It cost us almost $20,000 (think of how many Disney trips that could have paid for!!!) But I am now pain free. I have a splint I have to wear at night, and I still need more surgery, but the pain is gone. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

 

[gshoemate]

I have it....started about 6 years ago when I had braces put on. Silly dentist only put them on the top, not the bottom because those teeth were straight. He didn't stop to relize he was messing up my bite by not doing it. I had a splint a while ago but it was from a dentis that didn't know what she was doing. Right now have daily headaches (i've learned to deal with them) and every once in a while my jaw will really act up. Some things that I have found to help with the pain....moist heat. I do it the easy way, take a new sock (a large one), put some white rice in it (not minute rice) then tie the sock. Put it in the microwave (time depends on how how you want it for your face) then just put it on your jaw. I also do trigger release on my jaw. When the muscles get tense this helps relaxe them. I learned it from a PT and also from a great book, Taking Control of TMJ by Robert Uppgaard. Stay away from food that with irratate your jaw, gum, hard candy, nuts, carrots...anything that you really have to chew. If I think of anything else, I'll post it for ya....good luck.

 

[KarenC]

Shortly after I was married I had the same thing--thought for sure it was an ear infection--doc even gave me antibiotics which did nothing. He sent me to an ENT who decided it was TMJ. I went to my childhood orthodontist for follow-up. He was certain that I didn't have to do anything; that it was stress related and would go away. I don't remember how long it took, but it did go away. Haven't had a problem since.

 

[onecoolmama]

I was diagnosed with this about 7 years ago. I went to a dentist who specialized in it, but it was way too expensive for me. So I bought a mouthgaurd for $2 at CVS. I wear it at night when the pain starts to come. My doctor told me that mine came from grinding my teeth at night when I am under stress..and that I talk a lot didnt help. hehehe

Anyway, the night gaurd and the pain killers made the pain go away. I will never be cured until I get rid of all my stress. Since that will never happen, that is what works for me.

The pain is horrible... and cheer up..the pain will go away in a few days!

 

[barbeml]

Mine has been "almost" cured since I had my wisdom teeth removed 20 years ago. However, I still have trouble when I am out in the cold (I can literally feel my jaw seizing up) or if I eat something that requires major chewing.

At the worst point, the only thing that gave me any relief was an alcoholic beverage.

Barbe

 

[septbride2002]

I've had TMJ for as long as I can remember and it seems to run in my family since my Dad, I, and my younger brother all have it. The best thing I do is take about 600 milligrams of IB Profin to help the pain and swelling. Mine acts up if I am stressed, not getting enough sleep, or if I am out in the cold for a really long time. It also usually results in a headache as well. Try to relax lay down and take some IBprofin for it and it should stop hurting.

Sorry you are dealing with this. It is the pits.

~Amanda

 

[Denine]

I have been dealing with TMJ for about 15 years. It started in college. My jaw locked and I couldn't open or close it. I finally got it popped back into position.
I had a splint made and saw an orthodontist for several treatments which helped some.
I stopped wearing the splint a long time ago. Thankfully, I don't have the pain or the headaches. I have a lot of jaw popping and it goes out of position, especially if I have something hard to chew or am under a lot of stress, like this past year with a new baby!
I try to massage the tight muscles.

Good luck!

 

[crazelion]

I have TMJ for 2 years now and I used a football mouth piece that I got on clearance at Sports Authority for .99 cent and it works great. If gets really bad I take musle relaxer and use a heating pad to stop the pain.

 

[mamajoan]

Hi.... I hope some of your pain is decreasing.

I belong to one of the groups that treats TMJ.. the physical therapy group. Dentists, Docs and Chiros also treat TMJ. It has been my experience that patients seem to get the best relief of their TMJ when they see a Dentist who is current with TMJ treatments who is willing to work in conjunction with PT. Diagnosis to the cause of pain is important. There are several different treatments that can be used to decrease pain. Those include ultrasound, moist heat, massage, electrical stim, muscle relaxers, pain meds, splint and dental realignment. Surgical procedures by a surgeon who has a great deal of experience with TMJ procedures.

I hope that you are able to find a combination that works for you.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've been dealing with TMJ for close to 20 years now. It comes and goes and I've learned a few tricks with it. Currently, I'm going to a dental school for some work and their TMJ clinic will see me before I finish treatment.

Some no nos:
Gum
putting pencil/pen in your mouth to hold it
chewy foods (DH doesn't understand why I can't eat a bagel unless it' has been toasted!)
'stacked' sandwiches

I also find that avoiding really cold drinks also helps me. If I get something cold in just the wrong place, man, that hurts.

A coworker was studying to become a massage therapist and taught me a reflexology move. I now massage the fleshy part of the hand between the thumb and index finger when the TMJ flares. That helps quite a bit.

Hope that helps. The rice in a sock also works well for me.

Those who have had the surgery, what did they do? I remember reading years ago about replacing the joint with teflon, but that teflon did not hold up and those having surgery had bigger problems. My former dentist (awesome one, btw) was going to give me the night guard and said I should wait on surgery until they improve it...that was over 10 years ago.

Suzanne