Hi everyone (judy, diggers, carol and
everyone else who has the misfortune to be
reading this) !!!
Was just wondering if anyone had had
steroid injections into the tmj area. I
saw my surgeon on monday who admitted to
me that after 3 surgeries and 2 years in
and out of hospital I am back where is
started (minus my left tmj). Carol you
always said surgery was not the best
option because of the failure rate, well
in my case that is indeed correct. My
surgeon has now decided on 3 months of
steroid injections into the area where my
tmj used to be, this apparently will
quicken the healing process with regard to
the scar tissue. He is still talking
about further surgery at a later date, but
I have decided enough is enough. I am
also seeing him on april 6th with regard
to the rapid deterioration of my right
side. Surgery is def. Not an option for
me anymore, I have had in total 147
stitches in my face and neck, and its
taking its toll (i need more make up than
I used to). Have you heard of anyone who
has had steroids injected directly into
the jaw area?? It's apparently not very
nice but I am desperate for any relief, as
I cant use my left side at all at the
moment.
Take care everyone
samara xxx
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 03-15-06 16:43pm
I'm so sorry samara. I would prefer to
be wrong about tmj surgery.
I had a type of cortisone injected into my
jaw joint a couple of years ago and did
not notice any help. How old are you?
Do you have a weight problem? If you are
on the younger side, steroids can
deteriorate your body over years if taken
too much. I don't know what the "too
much" is though. My tmj doctor didn't
want to do a cortisone (a type of steroid
I think) when I first asked in my 40's.
He felt I was too young. Steroids can
also make you gain weight.
Because of your situation and if you are
in pain, I think I would take the steroid
shots. But you need to do what makes
"sense" to you and will help you the best.
The shots do hurt so ask the doc if you
can have nitrous gas or even a valium an
hour or so before getting the shot. The
very first shot I had actually felt good
(an anesthesia was used, not steroid or
cortisone). It surprised me. The
needle going into the joint felt good.
How strange. I've had a few since then
and they have all been buggers. Once,
some fluid got into my ear. This for
someone who has a phobia about water in my
ears, ewwwwwe.
Sheesh, I shouldn't be scaring you to
death, sorry. It only lasts a minute.
It might be a blessing if your right jaw
is deteriorating. Tmj pain is caused by
all the little things that happen when our
bite/jaw is out of balance. I know
others are living without jaw joints and
they are pain-free, so maybe your body is
trying to balance itself out, heal itself.
Of course, this is all a wild guess.
Well, not about the balanced bite/jaw.
I sure wish doctors knew what they were
doing before they cut us up. I
definitely feel for you.
Are you going to pt or mt? These would
help you get some function back. Also
help with any pain you are having. What
about pain management?
I sure hope and pray that you get the help
you need soon.
God bless...
Carol
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sexyscot76
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 64 Location: SCOTLAND
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Thanks Once Again Carol Posted: 03-15-06 17:01pm
Hey carol,
these injections sound painful but I am
determined to have them, hell the pain I
have suffered over the years, this should
be a breeze. I feel very bitter at the
moment, my surgeon assured me the last
operation would work, he stood over my
hospital bed and told me so. Living
without my left tmj is horrible and so
painful, I have no use on that side,
sometimes I look like I have had a stroke
(my face kinda slides when I am tired), I
am so scared that I lose my right tmj as
well ! I am 38 and feel like I am 105
years old, I have a full time job and
thankfully a wonderful husband and twin
daughters, I am not overweight so hope
that these steroids dont make me put on
the pounds.
Take care and I send a little prayer up
every night for all that suffer this
horrible disorder.
Samara xx
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tealady
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 36 Location: uk
Samara Posted: 03-16-06 15:50pm
Im so sorry to hear that they cannot do
any more for you in the way of operations
for your tmj.I chatted with someone who
had steroid injections into the joint and
although she said it was painful having
them it worked quite well afterwards.My
memorys bad I thought you were waiting to
have another op. I know how you feel
about how you look im the same but you
sound like youve got a wonderful husband
and twins, how old are they?.I am addicted
to painkillers I was told last time I saw
my dr in liverpool because ive been taking
them so long and the next one up is
morphine but what then?.Its terrible when
even talking hurts, no one understands
unless they have it.When will the
injections start? And is there nothing
else they can do for you, maybe if you
went further afield and got a second
opinion.I was even thinking about plastic
surgery (not that I can afford it) and if
they could somehow straighten my face,i
have no confidence its a hell of a thing
to have.Good luck with the steroids, I
really hope they work for you, take care
judy.
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digby_uk.
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 8 Location: West Yorkshire, UK
Posted: 03-23-06 12:25pm
Hi sam,
i am sorry things haven't worked out!!! I
wish I shared your outlook with regards to
the steroid injections..... Am petrified
of needles although i'm a total and utter
wimp!! I'm sure you'll be fine!!
I know what you mean by no more
surgery…. I’ve just had my recent
arthrocentesis on monday am hoping that it
will work in the long term…. If not I
will give the re-surfacing a try as my
family keep reiterating I have come too
far and owe it to myself. However, it can
be very difficult to remain focused
especially when all this is so very time
consuming and being humans we all want
control over our lives and well we simply
don’t…. In my case I suppose having a
surgeon who isn’t arrogant and quite
down to earth just makes that whole thing
bearable!! If the resurfacing doesn’t
work…….Thats it I need some closure in
my life and start living. I’ve had 5
surgical procedures in 6 months and also
been through cold turkey (never taking
morphine again!!!)
let me know how you get on……….
P.S if it helps picture your surgeon as
being fancy dress or something to that
effect whilst he is administering the
injections trust me it works for me!!!!
After seeing all the posts about tmj I
wanted to post about a treatment that is
90% effective. I actually called and
talked to this dr for several minutes on
the phone, as I am considering treatment
there, and he was very willing to answer
my questions etc.
Here is a link to the website. Http://www.Drmccarty.Com/tmj.Ht
m
