not necessarily---even cancer patients have good days --the key is not to worry about it----from what you told me in other posts i think that most of your problem is muscular---have you gotten into a doctor yet? if not---what are you waiting for?? dont worry about it---go in and get some answers

if its like my tmj i feel great in mornings. I don't grind teeth, but wear a mouthguard from walgreens anyway. my symptoms strike up as day go's on. i now know it gets worse after eating and after working a lot at a computer. It has everything to do with the muscles in my jaw being used while eating. if i eat a steak i get spasms on my head and neck and wanna passout. you may be similar. Start looking for patterns like these.

YES! i feel ok when i wake up - no pain while sleeping - but 1 minute sitting at my desk at a computer kills me - i get pain from the notch behind my ear down along the jawline; in front of ears, on top of cheekbones, lots of back and neck pain. Yesterday i got my weekly shiatsu massage and always feel better the rest of the day - today it will start again - some days are better than others. no pain while eating, but after i pay!pain is on both sides and always in different places.... thanks for any input...

You and i sound a lot alike. I don't get pain during eating but aferwards i get pain,tired jaws and dizzyness/spasm. I've been putting heat on my jaws right after i eat. Also just started taking valium and it helps. Although i don't want this long term pill taking. Soft foods and heat should help some. I get the same stuff while working at computer too. i guess, just try and take breaks and stretch. I bought a foam roller which also seems to help stretch the back out.

have you been checked out? I'm going to a chiro for starts soon. Are you comfortable when sleeping/lying down? My pain moves all over the place day to day/ crepitus on closing/ pain on tops of cheekbones - lots of deviation open and closing..... lots of neck and back pain - massage does help me - believe it or not - the muscles in front of the chest, too are tight!!

guys beware of night guards from walgreens etc. read the box---it says do not use if you have tmj------it will make things worse---im speaking for m experience

Sorry, don't see much of a difference. My mom in law has a dentist made one and it looks the same to me. Of course they have to cover themselves and say "not for tmj". But the main thing they do is keep you from grinding. A simple athletics mouthguard can do that too.

I agree on massages helping.

yes but they are made for you ---the ones in a drug store are made on a one size fits all basis--and arent for tmd patients--any good doctor wouldnt let you use one---if you want to make it worse go ahead--dont say you werent warned

I have been using for a few months and its helped. You can mold it to your mouth just like most good salesperson dentists say they can do. Then you just trim the top to make it more comfy. But to each his own. To me dentists and doctors are just greedy and tell you what makes them the most $$$...


But hey, my wife tells me i need a dr approved one too. But i've seen her moms and it don't look much different and now she can't afford food. Kidding:)

i did that it made things so much worse---it may take time but it will make it worse. your wife is right--go get one made fo ryou