I'm sorry to say, but other than rashes, you listed tmj symptoms. Have you been checked out by your doctor, though? My tmj caused severe neck pains for me for years. I'm under control for the most part but it is hurting right now. What I want to suggest to you is physical therapy. It's imperative to get a therapist who is trained in tmj and has worked with tmj patients. You will probably need to get a referral from either your dentist or your doctor. I can't stress enough how much pt can help tmj. (if you find a good therapeutic, trained in tmj, massage therapist, they can be a god-send also.)
tell your dentist that it is a proven fact that tmj is one of the most painful disorders there is. I'm surprised at his attitude. Tylenol 3 and 4 has never touched my tmj pain. The only strong med that I have found to help sometimes is vicoprofen (like vicodin but with advil instead of tylenol). Have you tried any muscle relaxants like zanaflex? What about anti-depressants? They can be great pain relievers. Are you wearing a bite splint?
With tmj you almost have to find the right combination of medications for you and the right combination of doctors. I have a tmj dentist, family doctor and a massage therapist. I did have physical therapy and a pain doctor (neurologist). For meds I take prozac and since prozac can cause night-time bruxism, I also take a very small dose of buspar. I also take lyrica which seems to keep the pain at a more tolerable level when I do have it. And when necessary, I take vicoprofen and/or zanaflex. I try not to get to that point though. Right now I am doing rather well. I am concentrating on my posture (especially the head, neck and shoulders) and it has made a big difference. If you are thrusting your chin forward when at a computer monitor, you need to stop. This is very bad for your tmj. Relaxing your shoulders back and down is very important also. Relax your body. Use moist heat and/or ice.
I've given you a lot of information kind of jumbled up. I hope you can make sense and use some of the information. I hope and pray that you get some relieve from the pain.
God bless...
Carol
