Hi Duchessljb

I used to have that same problem with having to move your jaw around in order for it to open properly. It's a horrible feeling.

I know each treatment works differently for everyone. Heat therapy for me is very minor, as soon as I remove the heat from my face the pain returns.

In regards to wisdom teeth, that was actually how all my problems began. When I had them removed, my jaw wasn't put back into place properly, so it's been semi-dislocated for 8 years now.

One technique that helps (it relieves my pain for about 30 minutes) is to massage my face. This works when its the muscles that are causing me the pain, as it is today.

I had a bilateral arthrocentesis about 18 months ago, and its wonderful pain relieving effects are now wearing off, so I'm again searching for pain management techniques, and it's always great to hear of something that helps someone and giving it a go.

I've also tried accupuncture, which unfortunately didn't work for me.

Has your dentist ever suggested getting a mouth splint made for you? I used to have one, but it doesn't fit my mouth anymore, I'm currently saving for a new one.

Good luck with your TMJ.

Mel.

Hi, MelanieV!

Actually, this is going to sound weird, but I didn't post this as a new topic.

This was a reply to someone else that was having problems with TMJ after a root canal and filling issues (which is why there are questions in the second paragraph that seem to have come from nowhere...)

I was suggesting that she try heat therapy, have her wisdom teeth checked for crowding and to see if any of the other teeth had decay that might be causing the TMJ symptoms (because my own TMJ turned out not to be TMJ; it was referred pain from a dying tooth).

Thanks for the reply, though!

Hi Duchessljb,

That is weird, I wonder how that happened.

How relieved were you to discover it wasn't TMJ?

Oh, I was SO happy (especially after hearing some of the stories, here, about how some folks had been dealing with it for YEARS...).

Mostly, I was happy that we'd found a way to stop the pain, which was so bad I was taking vicodin every 4 hours anytime I was awake.

Although I never doubt the possibility that someone has TMJ, I always suggest that, if it came on after filling or root canal work, that they go and have the nearby teeth checked for decay, just in case it turns out that the symptoms were referred pain....