I'm 17 years old and I have had tmj for 2.5 years now. We havent figured out how I got tmj because I dont chew gum, and I deffinately do not clench my teeth. Well it turns out that I have the opposite of what most ppl have and instead of my jaw joint coming off the cartilage disk when I open my mouth it happens when I close my mouth. I have tried several different types of "solutions" and none of them have done any good. I started working with my orthodontist who had me try wearing a splint which made it worse, so he sent me to a tmj specialist at a local university, besides taking a huge amount of $$$ all he did was perscribe me pain medication and mussle relaxants, he also suggested I try physical therapy which didnt work either, he eventually gave up as well. Now im working with my dentist, he has been the most cooperative. He has created several different types of splints which aside from increasing the pain and making me talk funny, do nothing. He also tried several types of pain and muscle relaxant medications to see if I reacted to any of them, which I didnt, and now im being sent back to a physical therapist. Nothing seems to be working and I cant stand the pain anymore, not to mention my neck/back are sore, I have headaches 24/7, and im always getting vertigo (dizzyness).


If anyone has any suggestions on things I could do or suggest to my dentist I would appriciate it... Im only 17 years old and have had this for 2.5 years, im running low on hope and I dont want to spend the rest of my life on a soft foods diet becuase I cant chew anything without crying. Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated as nobody here knows what else to try.