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

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

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.

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!!!!

Speak soon

xxxx

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.

dear people,
steroid shots into joints is local to that joint. maybe some moves further . but it is not systemic. it is not like taking prednisone daily. so do not worry about getting fat or other symptoms of steroids taken every day. i have had many shots for rotor cuf also bad knee and while it can't be done too often it does not go through system. luke meehan boston

I have had the steroid injections and they really helped me alot. It lasted almost 2 years and now I need them again.

I had steroid injections in my tmj and it lasted almost 2 years. It was really worth it to me. I had much less pain.

pla38