I can only give you my personal opinion from the little information that you can provide here. I'm interested that your pain started mostly in your pain and shoulders. I'm going to assume that you spend a lot of time at the computer since you are a student. I also have to assume that you've had no accident or major trauma (like a whiplash accident). With those assumptions, I would say that you need to address the root cause, which I believe may be posture at the computer and general stress of being a university student. If these aren't addressed, I don't think this particular treatment (which can be a great treatment) will be fully beneficial.

I believe you will need to focus a lot of energy on correcting your posture in front of the computer and sitting at a desk. Go to nismat.org/ptcor/TMJ for some directions in this area. Reading a book for a long time with my chin down can aggravate my neck and TMJ. You probably have this problem also. I will be purchasing a book stand for eye level reading soon. I've gotten back into reading a lot.

Before completely committing yourself to this treatment, I would also make two other suggestions - get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion, and ask your doctor for referral for physical therapy. Make sure to find a PT who is trained in TMJ, but the referral should also include neck and shoulders pains as most insurance co. won't cover just TMJ.

Those would be my cheaper suggestions before spending a lot of money on a treatment that best can only give you a 50/50 chance of working. TMJ is an expensive disorder to treat mainly because it is difficult to find a true TMJ "specialist" AND no one treatment works for all people. What works for me may not work for you.

Before closing, I'll try and explain a couple of posture points that are very important. I wished I had heard these suggestions many years ago.
Here goes - stand and sit tall with the back reasonably straight; head over the body. DO NOT hold your head in a forward position, especially when on the computer. Keep your shoulders back and down, relaxed. Feet on the floor. If you have trouble seeing the monitor - do what you can to NOT thrust your chin forwards towards the screen (like people with bifocals do often). Remember shoulders.

And lastly, your mouth. Lips should be together or slightly apart (relaxed), teeth should never touch (VERY IMPORTANT!!!) NEVER except in very rare occasions (like eating maybe) Tongue should rest on the roof of the mouth. Relaxed!!!!!!

Okay, this is enough.
Just go slowly and don't make any rash or emotional decisions. Educate yourself. Neuromuscular and Gelb 24/7 dentistry can be most helpful but they are expensive and because we have these unpredictable, wonderful bodies, there can be no guarantees.

God bless...
Carol

Thanks for the response!

I tried physical therapy for the shoulder pain several times with no effect. The therapist did recommend trying to keep my head straighter but it's tough to do for long periods of time and it's easy to forget to do it. My "natural" (or perhaps TMJ-influenced??) position is to have my head forward. I do spend a fair amount of time at the computer, yeah.

As for my teeth, I actually cannot close my mouth fully at the moment without effort, so that's not a problem -- but I suppose that's a different problem in itself.

One other bit of info is that taking Lorazepam (Ativan) before bedtime seems to have some effect on the symptoms. I haven't tried it for more than 5 or 6 days at a time, I have no idea if longer continuous use would help things.

I have TMJ and alot of neck and shoulder pain as well and when my TMJ is acting up it makes me tense from jaw down.

The very best thing I have done for the TMJ so far is go to a chiropractor who knows what he's doing with someone who has TMJ. It feels a little odd having someone physically moving your jaw but it doesnt hurt. you kind of just get used to the feeling but it has helped me soooooooo so much. I have also been told to get braces and that could help or eliminate my tmj but I don't have the money to do it(not that I wouldnt love to have my jaw and teeth fixed! ).

Give chiropratic a try and I promise you will see results!