Hi all I've been browsing your forum for a few weeks now and must say of all the places for TMD/TMJ I've seen this is a great one. I have some questions about treatments people have tried, but let me give you a bit of background first so you have an idea of where I'm coming from.
I was diagnosed with TMD back in November after having the condition worsen over the course of 4 years. I used to get muscle spasms in my back/shoulder on the right side, then began getting tingling in my hand, then my jaw started to pop. I'd get headaches every now and then and sometimes i would get dizzy or get a feeling like when you stand up to quick. A couple years ago when I complained of this they did all sorts of tests on me discovered I'd had mono (not even what they were looking for lol) and tested nerve damage, for fibridmyalgia, lupus and all kinds of other things, they couldn't find anything, but put me into physical therapy anyway which helped when i could pay for it (I was in college and planning a wedding at the same time, plus my mom was sick). I eventually gave up thinking it was something I would just adjust too and I was getting older
The worst symptoms ca,e last year when I finally decided to get all my dental work done, i had gone a couple years without insurance, and have a horrible soda habit. By August of 06 things like having a root canal started taking me out of my job for a week or more. I worked in a call center (which was propably a really bad idea for my jaw lol) - which I left in march because of stress and stress on my jaw. Anyway, once they actually figured out the problem, i went on heavy pain meds which actually really helped but left me in a stupor. They put me on FMLA through work and I had excellent insurance that covered TMJ/TMD. They fitted me for a night guard and with in weeks I was off of the heavy medications and wasn't taking the 8 -16 Ibuprofen I'd been taking. The symptoms all started getting better and I felt great, till about a month ago. I haven't changed anything I currently do in terms of when I got the mouth guard my died began to include more soft foods but I wear it 24/7. I also go back monthly sometimes more often for checks on my guard to make sure my bite hasn't changed. I'm not sure why all of a sudden it seems to be getting worse again (still not nearly as bad as it was, but not as great as it was either). My husband and I want to start planning for kids so my TMD DR is pushing for me to go see an orthodontist to try to get this taken care or. I don't want braces. I don't think they will work if the biteguard isn't working. I've been doing research and am beginning to try some alternative things (including some mentioned on this board). But I was curious if anyone had had luck with a change in diet that eliminated excess sugar/caffeine/salt. This is healthy anyway and I've seen cites recommend it, but no one comment on how effective they've found it. Same with exercise, like normal aerobic exercise or light weight lifting, especially with excersises for posture. Actually i've heard great things about improving posture lol, but not about general excesise and if it helps or changes in normal diet when it comes to sugar/caffeine changes. Any help would be appreciative if anyone has information on alternative methods such as diet/excersise and things not involving medication or braces. I will get braces if it becomes a must, but I want to make sure it can't be managed through other means first and my dentist just kinda threw a mouthguard at me. It did help muchly, but now I realize pain may have made me rush into things Sorry for the long post