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Q: Tmj ~ Living In Pain ~ Just the Gist of My Story
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TenaciousE
New User
I've been living with TMJ pain for about a year now. My story is unique and complicated just like all of yours so I won't go into right now. I am dealing with pain on the left side of my face that starts in the jaw and reflects muscle and searing pain in my temple down to my ear and along the side of my neck. It feels like its affecting all the muscle groups on the left side of my face and neck. It has recently become unbearable and its affecting my work and personal life. I have an appointment with a "REAL" TMJ Specialist next Thursday that I was reccommended to go see almost a year ago but instead chose to spend MORE money on going to every doctor under the sun to find an alternate reason for my suffering. Right now my focus is just to get rid of this pain and start my life again! Also to get rid of this splint that my dentist made for me that I feel is making my bite worse than it already is.
I would appreciate any feeback and personal stories that I can relate to. I feel so alone right now in this world and that I am the only one suffering without a cure, just dragging along each day and trying to make the best of things without going into complete depression and anxiety.
The hardest thing is that everything is going really well in my life but I can't fully enjoy it because of this chronic pain in my face.
Thanks
TenaciousE
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Replies(2)
catswold
Supporter
Hi TenaciousE,
You are NOT alone. TMJ is a nightmare that too many of us have to face everyday. For whatever reason, we have a hard time believing that the jaw joint could cause all the muscular pains that it does. And doctors don't seem to be aware of anything TMJ. They slough it off as "just dental," which means we end up with large medical bills and no pain relief.
After 27 years I think I finally understand the "why," but it doesn't make having TMJ any easier. It basically has to do with balance. There are so many different things that can go wrong or that can happen to us that throws this balance off kilter or downright damages it. Our bodies do a marvelous job in adapting but sometimes it just can't take it anymore. Oh, it is also "normal" for only one side of the head/neck/body to hurt with TMJ.
Have you been doing any of the self-help methods that are posted here sometimes? The list is a little long but they really do help. Following is some of the basic self-help information:
Use lots of moist heat and/or ice.
Use ibuprofen, IF you can, for pain and to reduce any swelling. Use up to 800 mg if you feel the need. Do not take Motrin/ibuprofen on an empty stomach and even though I don't know the exact amount, I wouldn't take more than 1600 mg a day.
Certain supplements are also very beneficial. Chelated magnesium (or just the regular stuff) can be very helpful if you are clenching and/or grinding your teeth at night. Try it even if you don't think you have night-time bruxism. Up to 1200 mg a day. Super vitamin B complex is another great one (for repairing, etc.). You might even try glucosamine, fish oil, calcium and vitamin d.
Anti-depressants can be very helpful for TMJ pain. It sounds crazy, but it does. If you don't want to find an anti-d that works for you (not all will), you might try St. John's Wort. It's supposed to be a "natural" anti-d.
ALWAYS check with your doctor about any vitamins and supplements that you plan on trying before you start taking them.
Stress. Poor Posture. These are TMJ's biggest enemies. Please believe me. I've gone through this for 27 years and rejected the stress and posture theories when I first heard about them. What a transformation when I finally made the changes. Even with all the damage done to my joints, the pain is now very manageable. Seriously!! Use any method to de-stress or relax that you can - hot tub, exercises, Yoga, massage therapy, etc.
Diet - liquid or softer foods for a few weeks (or months). No gum chewing, hard, chewy or gooey foods. Treat your mouth like it has been sprained (like a knee). Baby it. Rest it and that does mean to talk as little as possible.
Be careful about opening your mouth wide for a long period of time. Sometimes even yawning can cause the jaw to "catch."
I have to go back to posture as this is so very important with the computer age now. Evaluate how you are sitting in front of a computer or desk. Your back should be reasonably straight, shoulders back and down, neck and head over body with the chin down (not too far down). Be very careful to not thrust your neck/head/chin up or out towards the computer to see the screen better (or any other reason). No slouching. Go to www.nismat.org/ptcor/tmj website for more directions on proper posture and good basic info on tmj.
Get enough good sleep (like that's an easy one).
Don't give up on bite splints. A good one is worth it's weight in gold. Sometimes a splint will be purposely made to change a bite (repositioning splints) but in these cases, there should be a "next step" to fix the bite permanently but only AFTER you have no more pain and your bite feels stable with the splint in your mouth.
I hope and pray that the TMJ Specialist will be able to help you. There are some newer treatments that sound very promising. It usually a matter of finding the "perfect" specialist.
God bless you,
Carol
You are NOT alone. TMJ is a nightmare that too many of us have to face everyday. For whatever reason, we have a hard time believing that the jaw joint could cause all the muscular pains that it does. And doctors don't seem to be aware of anything TMJ. They slough it off as "just dental," which means we end up with large medical bills and no pain relief.
After 27 years I think I finally understand the "why," but it doesn't make having TMJ any easier. It basically has to do with balance. There are so many different things that can go wrong or that can happen to us that throws this balance off kilter or downright damages it. Our bodies do a marvelous job in adapting but sometimes it just can't take it anymore. Oh, it is also "normal" for only one side of the head/neck/body to hurt with TMJ.
Have you been doing any of the self-help methods that are posted here sometimes? The list is a little long but they really do help. Following is some of the basic self-help information:
Use lots of moist heat and/or ice.
Use ibuprofen, IF you can, for pain and to reduce any swelling. Use up to 800 mg if you feel the need. Do not take Motrin/ibuprofen on an empty stomach and even though I don't know the exact amount, I wouldn't take more than 1600 mg a day.
Certain supplements are also very beneficial. Chelated magnesium (or just the regular stuff) can be very helpful if you are clenching and/or grinding your teeth at night. Try it even if you don't think you have night-time bruxism. Up to 1200 mg a day. Super vitamin B complex is another great one (for repairing, etc.). You might even try glucosamine, fish oil, calcium and vitamin d.
Anti-depressants can be very helpful for TMJ pain. It sounds crazy, but it does. If you don't want to find an anti-d that works for you (not all will), you might try St. John's Wort. It's supposed to be a "natural" anti-d.
ALWAYS check with your doctor about any vitamins and supplements that you plan on trying before you start taking them.
Stress. Poor Posture. These are TMJ's biggest enemies. Please believe me. I've gone through this for 27 years and rejected the stress and posture theories when I first heard about them. What a transformation when I finally made the changes. Even with all the damage done to my joints, the pain is now very manageable. Seriously!! Use any method to de-stress or relax that you can - hot tub, exercises, Yoga, massage therapy, etc.
Diet - liquid or softer foods for a few weeks (or months). No gum chewing, hard, chewy or gooey foods. Treat your mouth like it has been sprained (like a knee). Baby it. Rest it and that does mean to talk as little as possible.
Be careful about opening your mouth wide for a long period of time. Sometimes even yawning can cause the jaw to "catch."
I have to go back to posture as this is so very important with the computer age now. Evaluate how you are sitting in front of a computer or desk. Your back should be reasonably straight, shoulders back and down, neck and head over body with the chin down (not too far down). Be very careful to not thrust your neck/head/chin up or out towards the computer to see the screen better (or any other reason). No slouching. Go to www.nismat.org/ptcor/tmj website for more directions on proper posture and good basic info on tmj.
Get enough good sleep (like that's an easy one).
Don't give up on bite splints. A good one is worth it's weight in gold. Sometimes a splint will be purposely made to change a bite (repositioning splints) but in these cases, there should be a "next step" to fix the bite permanently but only AFTER you have no more pain and your bite feels stable with the splint in your mouth.
I hope and pray that the TMJ Specialist will be able to help you. There are some newer treatments that sound very promising. It usually a matter of finding the "perfect" specialist.
God bless you,
Carol
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TMJWorld
Extremely eHealthy
just because there are so many muscles involved and they are spasaming i think you need a neuromuscular dentist. all that went away for me as soon as i started nmd.
if you need me im right here and feel free to pm me or email me at any time. use heat on those muscle spasms. makes the muscles relax. hang in there. if you need help finding a neuromuscular dentist let me know. im pretty good at it.
if you need me im right here and feel free to pm me or email me at any time. use heat on those muscle spasms. makes the muscles relax. hang in there. if you need help finding a neuromuscular dentist let me know. im pretty good at it.
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