I've had jaw problems for about 10 years. I was able to deal with them until about a year ago, when I started developing intense pain that lasted for 2-3-week periods, and then started lasting longer. I saw an oral surgeon who made a splint. I initially experienced some relief, but after wearing it for about six months, I woke up nearly every morning with my loud popping in my right side. I was always able to manipulate my jaw to get the popping to stop.
I was referred to another oral surgeon. An MRI revealed displaced discs on both sides and osteoarthritis on the right side. He suggested I stop wearing the splint. That helped, but my jaw would occasionally lock temporarily while eating, and there was a lot of popping. He suggested an arthrocentesis procedure, saying that it would likely improve my situation and at the very worst, my jaw would remain the same. Well, not exactly. I came out of the procedure with a permanently locked jaw. My previous jaw opening of 56mm became about 35mm. I can't get a sub sandwich into my mouth, or anything really beyond a normal sandwich.
The most recent MRI shows "anterior subluxation of the right temperomandibular disc without reduction" and "minimal sclerosis of the right mandibular condyle (is) suspected." I have no idea what this means in layman's terms, but I know my jaw is locked. My oral surgeon said there are adhesions preventing the disc from returning to its previous position. He suggests three options: (1) he could put me under mild anesthesia and try to manipulate the disc into position (he tried unsuccessfully a few times in the office); (2) he could do a 2-hour surgery in which the disc is pulled back into place and attached to my jaw with a Mitek anchor; or (3) I could wait and gradually my jaw opening would increase but the disc ultimately would tear away, leaving me with bone on bone.
I did some research on the Mitek surgery, and the reports were not good. Some people suffered irreversible nerve damage to that side of their face. Many others found that the anchor tore away. I am reluctant to do any surgery, particularly after this supposedly minor arthrocentesis went so horribly wrong, but I also have been warned that bone on bone isn't good. This is impacting my life tremendously, so I sought a second opinion.
The new specialist said a lot of people misunderstand the discs. They aren't like a train running on a track. They can get out of place sideways, too, and in multiple angles. He says he believes there are some adhesions that are preventing my jaw from opening. He disagrees with the previous oral surgeon, who claims that if I wait too long, the disc will tear away and leave me with bone on bone. He doesn't believe a splint would help me, unless I am severely grinding or clenching, and even then it would do nothing to open my jaw. He also says that although he has done the Mitek surgery multiple times, he has yet to see permanent benefit. He's not big on it and doesn't recommend it for me. He is reluctant to do surgery because he says the joint does not like to be invaded; there is no direct blood supply to the joint.
He says he could do an arthroscopy, but that would be more to see what's there than actually repair anything. He says the downside is that you can't see behind the instrument when it's in there.
A few days ago, he injected painkiller around my jaw and asked me to manipulate it. He then injected it right into the jaw and I did the same. The largest opening I could manage was 42mm.
He said I could just live with this; many do. There might be medical developments down the road that could do wonders. I don't see an arthroscopy in my immediate future. And I DEFINITELY am not going to do the Mitek unless my condition worsens dramatically and I am in severe pain, or if I read more positive reports about it.
Your thoughts? Thanks for any help you can give. Blessings.
