absolutly-- there is help i am more than willing to help you out of this. THe hernia has nothing to do with tmd. the rest of it soes though. you should look into neuromuscular dentists.

your pain level is not that bad actually. most of us are an 8 or 9 so count your blessings. you cant let tmd get you down. pm me and we can talk about your options. there is hope never give up on that .

actually the 3-4 is how it is at best, it gets unbearable daily. If you are still in so much pain how is there hope?

there is hope--im only in pain cause i had surgery not tooo long ago and am healing. but that is not a reflection on anything. there is hope i know cause i am for the most part pain and symptom free. i have bad days yes but that is from surgery
I know what works and doesnt work. i used to have constant headaches and pain. along with tons of other symptoms. im 100% better now. yes there is still work to be done but that is my part--eating well, exercise and such. you cant let tmd get you down. I have a feeling that its getting you down. yes it sometimes seems impossible that it will never end--but it will. let me help you--i know that i can.

Hi Jeremy, I'm so sorry that you are having to put up with this nightmare. Your symptoms definitely do point to TMJ. It's too bad you've had to do the useless doctor search. It's quite common for those with TMJ to spend a fortune on ENTs, neurologist and other specialist. It really bothers me that the medical field seems so uneducated and uninformed about the anatomy of the jaw.

Yes, seek a dentist who focuses most of their practice on TMJ. Neuromuscular dentists and Functional Joint Orthodic dentists seem to be the specialists to go to. But during your hunt for a good dentist, you need to help yourself and see if you can relieve some of those symptoms. I always tell people to use lots of moist heat and ice directly on the jaw joints. See a TMJ trained massage therapist or have your doctor refer you to a physical therapist. Get good sleep lying on your back (side is ok) with a good cervical pillow. Never sleep on your stomach. Eat softer foods and NO gum chewing. Cut out caffeine and add Super Vitamin B Complex and Magnesium to your daily diet. Watch your posture especially in front of the computer (see nismat.org/ptcor/tmj for some pics and basic info).

NEVER allow your teeth to come together. Keep your lower teeth relaxed with the tongue resting on the roof of the mouth. The lips should be closed (or slightly apart) and all breathing should be thru the nose. If your nose is a real problem, see if the doc can prescribe a nose spray for a while.

I'm probably forgetting a few things. When I remember, I'll let you know. Self help treatments work better in many cases than anything a doctor can do.

Regarding your grinding and the NTI splint. If you are a major grinder or clencher, the NTI won't be stable enough, plus, as you found out, if they are made too small -- crack! Whatever dentist you find will probably want to do a full mouth bite splint. Sadly, they are costly but worth it in the long run. There are some states where Blue Cross does pay for bite splints (durable equipment), but you usually have to fight for payment. Thankfully, Michigan is such a state.

Take care of yourself and I hope you get the help you need soon.
God bless...
Carol

headache is on day #5 from this.

I also have TMJ and as a result suffer from daily headaches, jaw pain, etc. I have found that one treatment that helps to relax the muscles surrounding the jaw is Cranio Sacral treatment. It is important to find a cranio certified therapist that is very familiar with TMJ and also works directly in the mouth. It is kind of weird the first few times but you will notice a significant improvement, (providing the cranio therapist is well trained).

Hope things get better for you!