Hi ellish,
a bite splint or mouth guard sounds like the best treatment to begin with. It definitely has the highest success rate. Please do not consider surgery. I have not heard of one person that was helped by surgery in the long run. For now, eat only a soft food, no-chew diet. Use lots of moist heat or ice and do not open you mouth wide for anything. Do lots of research and the following websites are excellent sources of info:

http://www.Tmjfacialpain.Com/tmjfacial.Htm

http://www.Nismat.Org/ptcor/tmj/

http://www.Tmjtmd.Com/treatment.Html

http://dmoz.Org/health/dentistry/condition s_and_diseases/temporomandibular_joint_syn drome/

http://consensus.Nih.Gov/1996/1996temporom andibulardisorders018html.Htm

take care and I hope the appointment on march 7th goes well. If the dentist does make a bite splint for you, make sure to give it at least a months try. There are several different kinds of bite splints and it can be difficult to know which kind is the best for you, and remember - a bite splint is as good as the bite splint maker.

I pray all will go well.
God bless...
Carol

Thanks carol, I will keep you updated! :d .