TMJ... Tell Me About It...

[AKL_Megs]

Well, I was just diagnosed with a "mild case" of TMJ... Whatever that means.

I'm supposed to "Yawn with my fist on my chin", "Take plenty of NSAID's", "Keep my jaw aligned when I open my mouth", "Apply warm compresses", and "Chew less".



This is no fun.

Apparently, there is nothing they can do, but it will get better on it's own for the time being.

So... If you have TMJ, what helps YOU feel better?

 

[C.Ann]

Well, I was just diagnosed with a "mild case" of TMJ... Whatever that means.

I'm supposed to "Yawn with my fist on my chin", "Take plenty of NSAID's", "Keep my jaw aligned when I open my mouth", "Apply warm compresses", and "Chew less".



This is no fun.

Apparently, there is nothing they can do, but it will get better on it's own for the time being.

So... If you have TMJ, what helps YOU feel better?

All I know is that it can hurt like the dickens.. (Not from my own experience, but others I know who have dealt with it..)

Sorry to hear this - and since it's a mild case, fingers crossed that it will be gone quickly!

 

[AKL_Megs]

All I know is that it can hurt like the dickens.. (Not from my own experience, but others I know who have dealt with it..)

Sorry to hear this - and since it's a mild case, fingers crossed that it will be gone quickly!

Thanks, C.Ann! At least it wasn't a ruptured eardrum!

 

[Gina]

The best advice my dentist ever gave me about my TMJ issues was to be aware, to go "slack-jawed" whenever I realized I was tensing my jaw or clenching my teeth in stress, and always ask for a bite-block when I go to the dentist for any sort of work where my mouth would be open for an extended period of time. The slack-jawed thing has helped me the very most, and luckily I haven't had a bad flare-up since I became much more aware of how I was clenching my teeth when I was even minorly stressed out or even just concentrating too hard, like in bad traffic.

I would do pretty much anything to avoid having another bad flare-up -- that is pain like no other I have experienced... Like a hot wire being held to the points right in front of both ears, and connecting through the middle of my head. It refers into your ears, your teeth, everywhere, and no pain med seems to help. I'll walk around with my jaw hanging open looking like I've had a lobotomy if I have to.

Diagnosing it seems the be the hardest part, since the pain can be just everywhere, so I'm glad you have that part out of the way. Here's hoping you can avoid any issues with it from here on out!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Thanks, Gina, for the clenching tip. I do clench a lot, in my sleep as well.

The ear pain was my giveaway. Since my ears looked "perfect" but KILL, and my jaw popped and creaked when manipulated, I guess it was a no brainer!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I was diagnosed with TMJ right before I graduated from high school (I'm, um, 45 now). I've tried using night guards but I grind right through them! It really only flares up now when I've had a really long day, am very tired and have been talking a lot. When my jaw starts popping and hurting, I know it's time to shut up!

 

[CathrynRose]

I became much more aware of how I was clenching my teeth when I was even minorly stressed out or even just concentrating too hard, like in bad traffic.

Great point. Those of us who clench, clench a LOT - not just sleeping.

I remember years ago, when I was a server, getting "spacers" in my teeth to get them prepared for braces. Those spacers made it hurt to bite down.

I realized that when a table was giving me a hard time - *OUCH!* Asking for a refill after I JUST brought one - *OUCH!*.

I was clenching whenever I got annoyed, or was concentrating.

Yes - loosen up.

 

[Rogue26]

I have a very severe case of TMJ, I've had it for about 15 years. I clench really bad, so I sleep with a night guard. That doesn't help my particular case of tmj, but it does protect my teeth. Mine has now progressed to arthritus in the jaw joint and it is past repair, so do whatever you can now to avoid that! Some people find ultrasound and physical therepy help. The neck muscles get very tight because of it. I grew up on NY bagels, but they are thing of the past. Also no gum, I'm really careful what I eat and don't eat anything tough or chewy. My case is so severe that I am in constant pain, I'm not saying this to stress you out (not good for tmj!), but for you to do what you can now to avoid difficulties down the road. Good luck.

 

[MM27]

The only relief I got from my TMJ was going to the chiropractor. He had this little metal gun that he put against my jaw. He used it to realign the jaw. I had to go back a few times, but it's never been bad again. Every now and then I'll get a bit of pain and I start hearing/feeling the clicking when I open and close my mouth if I eat bagels or other chewy food items, but nothing like I felt before.

 

[glammadiva]

I'm a clenched. My first attack occurred out of the blue. I had bite adjustments, wear a night guard and make sure I always have skelaxin in the house. The bight blocks at the dentist are must. Even for cleanings.

 

[dyna]

My oldest DD got TMJ when she was 14 or 15 yrs old we found out she had it after her mouth locked open at school during class an she yawned. At the time she was having lots of othodontic work done an her dr said it would go away once her mouth was fixed.

We had many emergency trips to the othodontist to shut her mouth for her we called him out of church on Good Friday got him out of bed in middle of night.

As DD got older she is now 33yrs old her mouth started locking shut if she did not move mouth often enough...sometimes woke up with pain when her mouth was trying to lock shut which it did no a few times we was then making emergency trips to the orthodontist for him to open her mouth.

A couple of months ago DD told me her jaw had popped a few months earlier an she was no longer having any TMJ trouble no locking of the mouth open or shut an she has been pain free for the 1st time since she got the TMJ all those years ago.

I know ppl who have had surgery for the TMJ an had mouth wired shut for 6 to 8 weeks one who had that done twice because face grew after it was done the 1st time. That was never suggested for DD tho an I never thought of taking her to chiro for it... Never noticed DD having more trouble with the TMJ when stressed but she might have an we never made the connection.

 

[Best Aunt]

Two things helped me:

1) The chiropractor.

2) Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Universal Orlando. Stress made the TMJ worse. As the ride went up, up, up... and we knew it was going to go straight downhill... Well, it was impossible to think about work and all of the things that had been stressing me out. I screamed my head off, but I felt better afterward.

 

[WDWBarb]

Two things helped me:

1) The chiropractor.

This.

I suffered so badly for a few years that I lost all quality of life. As a last resort, I tried going to the chiropractor. I was a total skeptic, but within a few visits, I was pain free. I have to be careful today, but I live an almost 100% pain-free life now.

 

[mafibisha]

Did a search for info and found this thread, so bumping to the top.

I haven't been diagnosed but am pretty sure thats what it is

I really thought I'd just slept wrong when it started hurting, but now I'm thinking its really from stressful sleeping, ie clenching, ugh

Its only been a week and I'm ready for it to stop!! Not sure how y'all have lived with it for years !!

Any updates from anyone who already posted?

Any others since this thread started?

 

[shortbun]

Head and neck massage-including facial. Find someone who knows about TMJ. I agree that a chiropractor can be very helpful too.

 

[mafibisha]

Head and neck massage-including facial. Find someone who knows about TMJ. I agree that a chiropractor can be very helpful too.

How do I do that? Start with my DDS?