TMJ anyone?
 

:( For about a year I have suffered from TMJ and I can't afford the surgery or even the mouth gaurd! GAr it's just so annoying and painful and it's affecting every aspect of my life. I thought about going to a chiropractor but I've always been so skeptical. Does anyone else know of different treatments to have?

I know you can get cheaper guards at drug stores and stuff. Do you grind your teeth at night?

I am sorry you are suffering with TMJ. Have you tried any natural remedies? Just google 'tmj natural remedy' and maybe you can find some suggestions that might help. I am not really knowledgeable about TMJ but I will pray for you that you get better soon.

Only thing that I have learned with mine is to stay away from gum, taffy ect anything that forces you to use your jaw to much. Sometimes i give and chew a little piece of gum(dentyne size) but only for about 30 min until i feel my jaw tightening up. I need the guard as well, and tried the generic ones from the store but they were to thick. I can always tell when I'm stressed though cause I wake up knowing that I clentched my teeth all night long. I'm watching this thread just in case anyone has any other ideas

I've suffered (and I mean "suffered") with TMJ since I was 17 years old. If you can find a way to have the surgery, it will probably be worth your while. Since I've gotten older, it's become much worse. I can barely open my mouth enough for a dental technician to clean my teeth. Years ago, I wore a retainer over my bottom teeth, but it really didn't seem to help. The teaching group that my dentist back then belonged to wanted me to have the surgery then (that's been about 25 years ago), but back then it was experimental and I wasn't having any of it. I know that if mine gets much worse, I'm going to have to check into surgery. My worst fear is that I'll get old, be in a bed somewhere unable to communicate, and be in terrible pain and unable to tell anyone. I know that sounds weird, but only someone who has experienced this pain will know what I mean. People have committed suicide over TMJ.

I wish you luck!

I have TMJ as a complication of a headache/migraine problem. Honestly, I HIGHLY recommend a mouth guard. If I don't sleep with mine in I'm feeling it the next day. As gutu28 said above...even if you just get an inexpensive mouth guard from the drug store, it will be worth it. The only other thing that's been recommended to me is using a hot compress. Good luck!

I agree with AshDawn. Those mouthguards are LIFESAVERS! I have one that I got at Walgreens. You just boil it, and then put it in your mouth so that it conforms to your teeth. I think the thing was about $25. Using this has really reduced my migraine frequency AND the jaw pain.

Check out this link:

http://www.dentalconcepts.com/html/nightguard.html

That is exactly what mine is like. I totally clench my teeth when stressed. I had a night guard, but my daughter let our dachshund (that we had at the time) in our room and she chewed it up. Can't afford to replace it and tried those other athletic guards, etc. They just aren't the same and are too bulky.

I only chew gum occasionally and then just until the flavor is gone. When I chew anything I usually only chew on one side of my mouth if I use the other side my jaw pops in and out, clicks and hurts.

Thanks..
 

I have bought a night gaurd and it was just too big and bulky and it was the smallest one. I felt that my mouth was ever more sore when I woke up, but maybe I should try again. :( I too have heard HORRIBLE stories about others with TMJ and I just don't want to end up like that. :eek: I think 5 years of braces and a HORRBILE experiance having my wisdom teeth removed caused me to develop TMJ and then when my dad died it got worse. My sisters friend is a dental hygenist and she felt my mouth and stuff and she said that it doesn't look like I grind my teeth at night so I guess thats good but she said I could still be baring down. I've been praying because I do I do believe in miracles so I hope one day it will feel better and God will take my pain away. I'm just tired of not being able to get my mother on a good cheeseburger, chew some gum...although I've learned to keep a travel sized bottle of Scope with me :rolleyes: I hope all of you who suffer with this condition will get better soon because I feel your pain...if anyone comes across some good natural rememdies please let me know I'm currently searching google now.

Google
 

What would we do with out? Any way I ran across this article...and I've got so much new stuff to try! Hope this helps yall too

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/...oks/47/130.cfm

The most comfortable guard I've found is the one they sell in the sports stores for kids that play BB/FB - they are smaller and thinner than the regular mouth guards:)

I'll have to check that out!

If you are grinding your teeth along with the clenching you definitely want to do something about it as you will have dental problems in the future - ask me how I know...:(

What happened?
 

I'm curious to know :(

I had TMJ for years and found the best relief came from physical therapy, night guard and excercise. You need to first discover the activity causing your TMJ. Night grinding is only one cause. Mine began from a car accident (a year prior to any symptoms of TMJ) combined with a job at the computer (neck tension).

There are definately things that help, like no or less caffine, gum chewing. There is also a PT trick that helped me a great deal. I realized that I clenched my teeth when I entered the winter air (originally from TX, these New England winters are hard to take). My PT told me to curl my tounge and place it behind my top front teeth. It sounds weird, but works great. You can't clinch when you do this.

TMJ means tight muscles around your jaw joint. The popping soud is caused by the "ball" of the joint popping out of position (not a good thing). The way to relieve this problem is to stretch these muscles. Since muscle tension is a "snowballing" effect, it will also be felt in the neck, shoulders and upper back. A good PT will work on stretching these areas...something a chiropractor or sugeon cannot do.

I cringe to read someone suggesting surgery. They haven't been treating TMJ with surgery for years. Please try alternative methods, as they work.
Boston has a great TMJ center. Try googling TMJ Boston and see what they have for advice.

Good luck,

one more PT thing you may want to try...

Place your thumb (from the opposite side of your body) into your mouth, placed on your back bottom teeth. VERY GENTLY and slowly push down on the furthest back teeth. This shoudl be a very small movement. You can do this a little each day and should find relief. Do not over do it, as it will be very soar.

I'm a teeth clencher at night but if I'm anxious or stressed I will do it during the day as well. I suffered with painful jaw, headaches and neck pain a lot. I finally have what is called an NTI, it's a guard but just a tiny little thing that is placed on your front upper or lower teeth. It's just enough to keep your teeth separated and relieve the pressure. It was around $300 but my insurance covered half. For me it was well worth it. It has made a huge difference in my life. Look it up online if you are interested in knowing more about it.

You wear down the enamel on your teeth and they become super sensitive. I have trouble eating hot/cold things because of it :(

My daughter's TMJ came on suddenly and her jaw basically locked. The next day she was to go to Europe so the dentist built her teeth up. She had been wearing braces for 7 yrs. Wore them until she was a senior in high school. The dentist was from our church and we thought he was an up and up person and knew what he was doing. Came to light he was not.:( Learned later that he had messed up others' mouths. One girl had to have her gums reattached. Consulted with another dentist & he sent Meg to a specialist. Found out that the seven years of braces had pulled Meg's jaw out.:eek: :eek: Whatever the specialist did worked but now she needs braces again. She wants to wait until she is out of pharmacy school, done with a 2 yr. residency, and has her own job with insurance.

I have been battling TMJ for two years. The night guard has helped me the most. Physical therapy with massage helped for as long as I was going, but there was no cure attached. You might try some massage therapy by someone experienced with TMJ. If you can save up, a mouth guard would be the most helpful, just be sure to go to a dentist experienced in TMJ. I am happy to answer any questions.

I have had TMJ problems for many years. I would not recommend surgery or any type of mouth guard that the dentist says will realign your bite (I spent $700 and it did nothing but cause more pain). I go to a TMJ clinic at the University of Buffalo Orofacial Pain Center and I got a mouth guard through there. Also, the specialist there told me to get in the habit of positioning my mouth in a relaxed position with my tongue on the roof of my mouth as if I am saying the letter "L". I also did very gentle stretching exercises where I would open my mouth a little bit then close it and work up over weeks/months until I could open it pretty wide (do this very gradually or it will give you pain and a headache). I also put some heat on mine sometimes when it really hurt. I get a migraine type headache, sore jaw, neck and shoulder muscles. I can't sleep now without my mouthguard. I hope this helps.

I must disagree with the poster who says they haven't done TMJ surgery for years. I had some done 2 years ago and know several people who have had successful surgery done within the last couple of years. It is not the same surgery that used to be done and is less invasive and less painful. I had disk repositioning done and it has helped considerably. I still have some problems and still wear my bite plate at night because I clench my jaw.

Prior to the surgery, the migraines were debilitating and I could barely open my mouth. Now, I am so much better. Rare migraines, I can talk just fine and it is the rare occassion (considerable stress usually) that makes me grab the moist heat pack. I have changed alot of my habits and that has also helped - no pillow under my head for sleeping, just a towel under my neck, sleeping on my back with a pillow under my knees, pressure point massage of my jaw and neck that I've learned to do myself, physical therapy to keep me in order when I'm stressed. I fortunately have good insurance to help with the PT. My bite plate was covered by my insurance, but my surgeon told me I could also use the ones that Walgreens carriesthat you boil and form to your mouth.

Check out this site for more info on surgery. Not everyone needs surgery, but when all else fails it is still a viable option.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/tmj/treatment.html

Just one comment about the previous post. On the package of those boil to fit night guards that you buy at the drug store, it says "Not for use by people with TMJ disorders." I tried one before I got my custom night guard and it caused pain like you would not believe. Do not use one of these unless your TMJ specialist says it is OK.

There is actually a great TMJ specialist in Atlanta you should go to. Let me know if you're interested and Ill try and find their number.

I'm sure some surgeons still treat TMJ this way, but I think the TMJ centers, such as the one I went to in Boston (and many other very good centers) would not advise it. I am glad to hear they are less invasive, but my sister almost died on the operating table years ago by a nut case Dr. who claimed to be an expert with TMJ. There are many trying to treat TMJ now, but I recommend going to a TMJ Center where they teach. I would give a huge "NO" to TMJ surgery. Surgery is treating the symptom, and not the cause. An appropriate night guard (made by a TMJ specialist) and PT should be the best approach.

It does take time to come out of the worse of it, but it is possible. It's something you'll have the rest of your life, but will be able to maintain it...keep it at bay.

For those who had surgery, I am glad it went well for you and wish you all the best for a continued recovery.

Eash person must seek their own counsel and do what is best for their particular situation.

Absolutely!