I thought that I would post my update about my tmj situation. This past weekend I have never done so many tests in my life. I had blood work, ct's, and mri's. Not to mention all the doctors I have seen over the course of 3 years. Turns out, what doctor after doctor have told me was wrong, and all it took was very simple tests. I have a condition called trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux). This gives you the similar pain like tmj, but it lasts longer and is more intense. There is little research where it comes from or why, but I believe it to be mal-practice. I'm almost positive my old dentist, who removed wisdom teeth (very simple), managed to cut one of the 5 major nerves in the cranium. If doctors can't find what's wrong with you, get checked for this and get second and third opinions.