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neck strain and aggravated tmj going bad

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In september of last year I was in a car accident. The injuries didnt seem too severe at the time, but now its a different story. It seems im getting worse instead of better and im getting a little frustrated and I dont know where to turn. To make a long story short, it started out with a simple concussion, neck strain and aggravated tmj. A few months later I started getting these headaches from hades that made me wish I was dead. It was/is awful. Now, my right hand goes numb and so does my right leg, I have severe neck, back (low and mid) and shoulder pain along with the severe headaches and the rest. When will it end? Has anyone else ever been through anything like this? I go in next week for an mri of my neck and back to check for possible herniated discs as these symptoms tend to fit the description. Is there any hope. Im getting really depressed. Its awful when you cant even play with your kids. From what i've heard and read, I should be better by now and im not. Whats going on? Any clue? Suggestions? I just want some hope. Sorry for the rant. Just starting to feel a little hopeless.


Tracie
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First Helper Rtflynn
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replied March 20th, 2004
Advanced Support Team
Tracie-
yes it most certainly can get worse as time progresses! My aunt was also in the same boat as you. She had surgery on her back over 2 yrs ago. She was completely healed when all of a sudden she got into a car accident. Her back didn't hurt for months, but all of a sudden it started hurting from the accident. She went back into the doctor and in fact she did have some problems. These problems were not from her previous back situation, she was completely better after the surgery. The accident caused the new injury. It is hard for me to explain because I don't know all the technical terms. Haha. But is there anyway you can still sue? Maybe your doctor can prove it was from the car accident?

~sara~
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replied March 20th, 2004
Can Injury Get Worse Over Time
I had a car wreck in 1985, I have always had problems. I have a pinched nerve between c4 and c5 in my neck. I have been to the chiropractor (helped while I was going but got too expensive. Physical therapy, same results, same problem $$$$ I wish I could tell you it will go away but it won't. I have had a series of 3 steriod injections in my neck, this did no good at all. The best thing is stretching exercises for your neck. You can get a brochure from a physical therapist office for the right type of exercises to do. Moist heat, ice, and bengay are my friends. Rolling Eyes
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replied March 22nd, 2004
Extremely eHealthy
Yes,

it can get worse over time, we will insist on continuing with our lives & so ew keep being at risk & often further injure ourselves even just by walking sometimes!!

Try (for long term healing & pain relief) sam-e200-400mg pd, also one tablet twice a day of 650-1000mg each of glucosamine & chondroitin combined.
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replied March 22nd, 2004
Experienced User
I to was in an auto accident dec 1999, and for the first two years I had severe headaches, they were so bad I wanted to die, I was diagnosed with cervical radiculapathy, 3 bulging disc, degenerative disk disease, and arthritis in my neck, I was confined to my house 24-7 nothing I did or took would take the pain away, at that time my son was 9 and I felt horrible I couldnt do anything with him I became very depressed, and nasty to everyone(not intentional) I was in so much pain. I will say its been 4 years and knock on wood im 80% better , after getting many cervical injections im able to controll the pain with aleeve, and my headaches arent that often, so for me in time I did get better it took a long time but it can happen hang in there, thats a place I never want to be, I was involved in another accident 2002, now I have herniated disk in lower back maybe in another 4 years ill have my life back, I wish you well and hope you start feeling better soon if you need any more info pm me id be glad to give you more advice.
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replied May 2nd, 2004
It can and will get worse. If your not correcting the cause, it stays as a weakness in the body, and any stress, physical, emotional, or spiritual can cause it to decline. We need to start accepting that pain is the messenger and not the problem. Your sensory system helps your internal environment addapt to your external environment. When there is a problem (cause) its sends a message to your brain so you can correct it. Most people don't they just find ways of shutting off the alarm. If you don't correct an area, the rest of the body is now open to accept the abnormal biomechanical stresses, and they now start to break down. Chiropractors are trained to look for this intererence, and help you to correct the cause. It will always take time because the body heals at its own pace. Sometime I hear people say it was working, but they stopped because it was a big expense, and then go on looking for a magic cure. Health is not bought, it's built, and will take time and money. Find a good chiropractor that can coach you back to health as your body heals itself.. Any concerns e-mail me
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replied June 15th, 2008
Neck and TMJ, car accidents and bike accidents
I broke my jaw in my teens (bike accident), started having marriage destroying neck issues in 30's. Discovered jaw displaced foward 1 inch (never fixed right); major implications for neck. In 40's had 3 neck surgeries-- all that fAILED (screws broke) because of torgue on neck from jaw imbalance, a condition they call Dystonia (rare). My advice, talk to lots of different doctors, research the best in each field in your area. DO NOT DO ANY INVASIVE SURGERIES! They can go wrong and make a bad situation worse. Find a good psychiatrist and get an antidepressant that helps with pain (Cymbalta, and/or Remeron a good combo). Try the topical cream TOPRICIN (try this first before any of others). Find a chiro or a PT who will use heat, electrical stimulation and ultrasound. I also go to a Pain Management doctor who does trigger pt injections with a phenol/botox blend (Steroids can actually do more damage and have side effects that are not widely discussed) REPEAT, DO NOT GO NEAR INVASIVE SURGERIES- the jaw and the neck both involve delicate balance of muscles that are too easily messed up. Surgeons will tell you surgery because that is what they do!
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replied April 16th, 2009
jaw splint & wisdom teeth removal
See a dentist for a jaw splint & maybe wisdom teeth removal. Both seemed to have helped my son's TMJ. He's still recovering from the wisdom teeth extraction. The 1st week was a bear, and he's now on his 2nd antibiotic, which is upsetting his stomach. However, after 8 days, he started getting better from the surgery, and he's no longer getting the severe headaches he was getting before. The jaw splint avoids the clenching of his teeth he was doing at night. TMJ is terrible. It can cause pain in jaw, neck, teeth & severe headaches, plus stresses the rest of the body out. Good luck to you!
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replied June 26th, 2009
The best way I've found to deal with pain is to find a dentist, doctor, and/or physical therapist who can diagnose based on patient symptoms in addition to x-ray and other test results. Then, treatment needs to be conservative. Don't try anything that is not reversible. Learn relaxation techniques such as meditation,and use therapy (heat, ultrasound, electrical stim) to relax painful areas and strengthen associated muscles with prescribed exercises. The body has a remarkable way of treating itself when given time and relaxation. Avoid activity that worsens pain and be patient and let your body find its natural balance.
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replied December 22nd, 2010
This really helped with my TMJ. Usually TMJ happened because problem with neck, even if you do not have pain in neck and you have lots of pain in the jaw but the real problem is really in neck. Jaw gets pressure and jaw becomes out of place and gives constant pain.

Do not loose your hope. My pain was there since 8 years, and it went away after physical therapy in 3 weeks.


1. Get physical therapy to your Neck by physical therapist.
2. 1. Get physical therapy to your Neck by physical therapist.
3. 1. Get physical therapy to your Neck by physical therapist.
4. 1. Get physical therapy to your Neck by physical therapist.
5. 1. Get physical therapy to your Neck by physical therapist.
6. 1. Get physical therapy to your Neck by physical therapist.
7. 2. get physical therapy to your jaw. But Neck therapy will help you more.
8. 2. Fold Towel in 3 fold from short side and roll tightly and put underneath your neck while you sleep on your back. Your neck and jaw will feel so good and jaw will be strenthened. Do not sleep on side but sleep on your back with folded towel underneath your neck.

I did not feel this good in last 5 years, always had headache, but after my neck - physical therapy my pressure in jaw is gone.

I wish you all the luck.
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replied August 31st, 2011
ok, please i need to know right away. I have been cracking/popping my back and neck for a while now, and im getting all kinds of pain including- extreme headaches; stiff back and neck; hardly can walk now. Please help me, to whomever reads: Please reply back any medicine/stretches/ect that i should use. Or should i go straight to a doctor imediatly? PLEASE REPLY! ! ! Thank-You For Whom Replies
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