Need to make a life altering decision.....

Hi.... I know what you feel like. I went through 12 weeks of hell. Pure hell before I even got a diagnosis. I even went to a TMJ specialist who dismissed me without taking any xrays, ultra-sounds, or anything. He didn't even touch my jaw!

My suggestion would be to NOT get surgery. Again, I'm totally new to this disease but I hear it is not the way to go. Also I believe in moderate changes.

I read all kinds of articles, journals, etc. and the one that made the most sense was something called "The Clenching Syndrome" Look it up online and download the PDF for free. It will give you 32 pages of info... and I thought it made the absolute most sense. I read each page again and agian and it was absolutely profound. It made so much sense to me.

Please look it up and let me know what you think.

I decided to get a Tanner Splint to help with balancing my bite (synthetically) during sleep. It has provided pain relief. My bite is way off but I hope that will be addressed later. Again make sure you see a VERY SPECIALIZED dentist who is very well versed in developing a "balanced bite splint" or Tanner Splint. He/She should adjust your splint 12-14 times during the treatment. Most of what I saw online said they'd adjust it only 3 times. If it is not balanced it will not help. There is no way a non-balanced splint will help things and may make things worse. A standard soft-acylic nightguard will not help. You'll still be clenching.

Hi.... I know what you feel like. I went through 12 weeks of hell. Pure hell before I even got a diagnosis. I even went to a TMJ specialist who dismissed me without taking any xrays, ultra-sounds, or anything. He didn't even touch my jaw!

My suggestion would be to NOT get surgery. Again, I'm totally new to this disease but I hear it is not the way to go. Also I believe in moderate changes.

I read all kinds of articles, journals, etc. and the one that made the most sense was something called "The Clenching Syndrome" Look it up online and download the PDF for free. It will give you 32 pages of info... and I thought it made the absolute most sense. I read each page again and agian and it was absolutely profound. It made so much sense to me.

Please look it up and let me know what you think.

I decided to get a Tanner Splint to help with balancing my bite (synthetically) during sleep. It has provided pain relief. My bite is way off but I hope that will be addressed later. Again make sure you see a VERY SPECIALIZED dentist who is very well versed in developing a "balanced bite splint" or Tanner Splint. He/She should adjust your splint 12-14 times during the treatment. Most of what I saw online said they'd adjust it only 3 times. If it is not balanced it will not help. There is no way a non-balanced splint will help things and may make things worse. A standard soft-acylic nightguard will not help. You'll still be clenching.

This will probably not be an option for you. But after decades of suffering from TMJ pain, I have not had any pain at all now that most of my lower molars have been extracted. I now wear a partial plate and do not miss those teeth or the related pain.

I will be having an open joint type of surgery next week. Insurance will not pay and just denies everything, even after appeald from my DR. I am also told nothing will help my pain except trying this. I am at the end and have tried everything too...I live with the pain everyday for years. I have to do something. I will let you know how it goes! I hope this works...it is a lot of money for me to have to pay (which I think is ridiculous), but what else are we supposed to do?

to sunflower09... i am on my 25th year of having tmjd. I highly recommend a very conservitive appproach. Surgery is the last thing you want to do. Operated on joints are sometimes necessary but not until all else has failed. Surgery is not the magic button at all. In fact you could feel worse. I promise self help and a good doctor is your best bet. I dont know the particulars of your condition. Please reconsider the surgecal approach. I can give you tips if its not to late. Good Luck either way

I am open to trying anything. I have tried soft foods (currently still doing this and many others mentioned), medications, ice and heat, physical therapy and excercises, splints and other forms similar. I have neck pain, headaches, lower jaw pain now, I do not sleep at night(have to sleep on back due to pain when sleep on either side), dizzy spells, awful shooting pain through the left side and chewing anything has become extremely difficult. MRI shows dislocations on both sides, however, my pain is only and has always been on the left, and my ligaments are completely torn within that area. That is a basic overview LOL...sorry so long, but I am open to try anything that would come close to helping. According to the Dr. I have worked with within the past 8 years (and consistently within the last 2), we have run out of options to treat and manage my pain. Let me know what has worked for you. Thank you for the response and help! I appreciate it very much! : )

sunflower09.... if your doing all of what you listed FAITHFULLY, you are on the right track in my i
opinion. Moist heat everywhere except the joint. Sleeping on your back is recommended with a neck pillow. Don't try to chew any food until you feel better. its tough but you can do it. Keep the stress down, this is important. I am so in tune to my jaw now ater 25 years, i can tell stress is a bad one. Even watching a tear jerker on tv will set you spriraling off into pain land for months. Have your doctor prescribe you something like Elavil to take at nite, a low dose, it helps relax the jaw at nite while you sleep. Is your pain constant. Is it worse at night or day time. Have you noticed any pain patterns asscociated with change of weather. Splints a necessary evil in my opinion. As long as the splint is comfortable and allowing your bite to be natural. A splint can cause pain if its not made or fitted correctly. When you don't have your splint in, do your teetn feel as if they fit together? Have you had a tomography scan done? Very necessary to see total scope of what is going on. In my case motion of any sort causes pain. My doctor wires my jaw shut for long periods of time to let it completly rest. This helps alot, not fun...not bad..when you think of the pain .... well you know. I will get more information to you, have to sign off now though. good luck. I know the pain all to well. He is no friend of mine, he just hangs around all the time.

gottmjd,
I take elavil, feldene, and vicodin(when it is awful pain. The pain just stays...the pain medicine at this point doesn't even help. The lower jaw is swollen now and hurts to even touch, which is a new thing. I have not had one of those scans though. I have only had an MRI which showed the dislocations on both sides and torn ligaments (which all new compared to my last one a few years ago). The only side that is the painful one is the left. They even said the right was worse, which was a shocker to me. They thought that was due to the left not being as out of place as the right. The left still catches, locks, and then dislocates...where the right is just completely out of the socket. They only side they want to work on is my painful side to see if they can get it back in place, or if the disc is completely shot. They said they did NOT want to touch the side I am not having pain on. Not sure if this is making any sense LOL. I thank you so much and look forward to keeping in contact! I appreciate your help and advice.

2netta: Yes, I am seeing an oral surgeon. I was referred by a former orthodontist I went to and also my current dentist.

sunflower09, has your oral surgeon had success in the TMJ area? I believe surgery is the very last desperate choice you make. Operated on joints can be problematic later. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor the tough questions. If he is offended by your questions, move on. Its your life your jaw. Do your research. Just remember to take a conservative approach.

Thank you very much for these suggestions...I have never heard of that option 2netta, so very open to how to find one!
gottmjd...my oral surgeon has a high success rate and is one of 26 in the country to do this surgical procedure. He has done a number of studies involving TMJ. He comes highly recommended by a number of people in the STL area. I see him tomorrow, so I will be asking many more questions thanks to all this help I am getting! I truly appreciate it!

If you wouldn't mind guiding me on how to locate a Neuromuscular Dental practioner...that would be wonderful. Thank you to the both of you!