I answered your pm----we will get you on the road to getting rid of that pain. for starters lets just use heat and ice. moist heat that is. what pain meds have you tried?

how about your treatments?

Hi Anne9876,
It is "normal" to have pain on only one side of the jaw & face with TMJ, and to have it radiate in all the places you mentioned. Are you taking anything for nerve pain? There is a major nerve (Trigeminal) in the head that branches out (almost right at the jaw joint) towards the eyes/temple, cheekbone/upper teeth and lower mandible/teeth. This nerve/nerves can be quite painful. I thank God for the nerve medication, Lyrica, for calming this type of pain that I was having.

Do you have any popping or clicking in the jaw joint when eating or any time? Do you wear a bite splint? What have they done regarding images of your jaw ? Have you seen a TMJ "specialist" at all? Be mindful that when you visit the Oral Surgeon, his focus will be on "curing" you ultimately with surgery. Not always, but it's a good chance.

I'm bringing all this up because your TMJ may be nerve related (as well as muscular) - the nerves of both your TMJ AND neck. Seeing a good TMJ specialist (such as Neuromuscular, FJO, etc.) is a good idea.


Alternating moist heat and ice is great advice. For whatever reason, I have found Ibuprofen to be more effective than Aleve (just remember to take with lots of water, preferably food). Be gentle with your jaw and neck for a while. Softer foods, no yawning, gum chewing, less talking, good posture (especially in front of the computer) will also help along with adding Vitamin B Super Complex and Magnesium to your daily diet.

I hope and pray that you will find the help you need. SOON!
God bless you,
Carol

Hello everyone. I have actually had some relief for the past week or so. It seems this unusually long flare up I've had is finally calming down to a bearable level. I feel it. But it's improved from the time I last wrote. This alone makes me grateful, especially to feel like a woman in her early thirties should. I do have an upcoming appointment at the doctor. I am considering asking for something to help prevent it from flaring up as badly as it did (awful). Because they think it's a combo. of atypical facial pain and tmj; I'm considering asking for something for nerve pain in hopes of trying to prevent this from occurring at severe levels again. I actually dread it. I'm a busy wife and mother of a mildly autistic child, thus I need to be myself and function well, of course. I am going to try the heat and ice combinations also. I appreciate everyones advice and will keep in touch. Thanks again,

Autistic child? i love them I work with the develpmentally disabled so i know what its like to not be able to focus. if you need help with him behavioraly feel free to ask. ive had to take a course on behaviroal management for work.

i am seventeen and i have had sever chronic facial pain (in mouth, jaw, head) a permanently dislocated and disintegrated jaw since i was twelve.
i have seen over 20-25 doctors, tried multiple rounds of physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, splint therapy, ultrasound therapy, everything and anything you can think of, i've done three or four times.
i am currently on a cocktail of daily medication that barely manages the pain... SOMETIMES. even my vicoden prescription doesn't work well.
when i was twelve, my jaw locked shut for 6 months, with no history of trauma, stress, grinding, etc.
while my jaw no longer locks, the constant dislocating whenever i open or close my mouth (even slightly), chew, talk, yawn, ANYTHING is still excruciating, as well as the constant flow of pain to the rest of my face (my ENTIRE face), including my eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth, and all of my head.
the dozens of xrays reveal no tumors, no abnormal growths, nothing.
my pain is off the charts, according to the oral surgeons, dentists, orthodontists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and jaw specialists that i have seen. and while i am a candidate for surgery, no one will touch me... my problem is too advanced.