Pain with TMJ

S

samIam11

Cathlete
Does anyone struggle with this dont know all the technical...jaw thing...I know there are different types...mine seems to be that the ligaments on one side of my jaw are streched/looser than the other side so my jaw kind slips....Like if I lay a certain way...and I must grit my teeth at night cuz I will wake up in the middle of the night with excruciating pain by my ear and jaw joint...big time ouch.....freaked me out the first time it happened....

My dentist told me the soft food thing, no hard or chewy stuff...no gum....etc...but I think I need to take it to the next level...I find that if I clench my jaw (which happens a lot when lifting with fave Cathe)...it hurts and will bother me later in the day..

Anyone have any success with TMJ or have similar symptoms...I am open to all suggestions!!!

Thanks
Samantha
 
I had terrible TMJ trouble for a long time, I could not open my mouth very far without tons of pain, the dentist said the same thing to me only soft food and soup and then when I started to have hip pain I relied on Ibuprophin and I noticed that it went away after several months, I was told that gritting your teeth at night makes it worse, they do make special devices for people who suffer with TMJ, you only wear it at night. Now I only get TMJ trouble once in a great while now. I would ask your dentist about the mouth piece to wear at night. I would try the Ibuprophin for a little while it has helped tons.
 
I don't have TMJ but have chronic neck pain and carpal tunnel. What I've found after 10 years FINALLY that has helped alleviate my pain is Bowen Therapy. www.bowtech.com

For the first time in years, my pain medication has actually gone down rather than up.

Colleen
 
Samantha,

I can totally sympathize! TMJ can be painful, annoying, and scary!

When I was 8, I distinctly remembering lying in bed and yawning very wide when my jaw popped out of place. I was completely freaked out and had to move my lower jaw left and right to get it back in position. The right side of my jaw pops in and out of place every month for a few days. It seems to come and go.

If I open my mouth very wide, my jaw makes a popping noise, so I try to be aware of my yawns. Also, I don't grind my teeth at night, but I do clench my jaw. This also makes the symptoms worse. I haven't slept with a night guard, which I believe are similar to teeth whitening trays, because I find them to be uncomfortable.

A great website is http://www.tmj.org. There are lots of resources and tips. One of the best tips is not to rest your chin in your hand, something I was not aware of doing very often. As you know, some foods make it worse, so avoid super-chewy things like gum and candy.

As far as I know, there is no specific treatment for TMJ, and I have found that my dentists at least, have not been very sympathetic or attentive to it. Dental work makes me very nervous, because leaving my mouth wide open for a long period of time also causes my jaw to shift. There are options such as acupuncture and botox, and at the extreme, surgery, but these things scare me as well.

Please do check out that site. I think it will help.

Gina
 
Don't know if this will help but I have had problems with TMJ off and on for 10 years. ( I also tend to clench my teeth when I sleep.) Anyway, I bought something called Facial Flex from QVC. It is supposed to exercise your face and keep you looking younger. I got it because a caller said that it helped her TMJ. ( They were quick to make a disclaimer that they make no medical statements.) Anyway, I thought I would try it. You get to use it for 30 days; if you don't like it you can send it back. I tried it and it has relieved my pain. I also notice that if I do it before I go to bed, I don't clench my teeth. Hope this helps!

Jackie
 
I would really like to try that Facial Flex. I have such a bad problem with it, especially the left side, that my dentist has me going to a orthodontist and an oral surgeon to get surgery to correct it. I have a bite splint, I have worn it for probably 6-7 years, and I still have alot of problems. I also get migraines from it. My insurance does not pay barely nothing for all of this, and I am not really sure I want to go $10,000 in debt to pay for this, but I have to have some relief. It drives me nuts. My left ear is always clicking, and feels like I have water in it, and my jaw is very sore on that side. Thanks for the info. I will try to find it TODAY!!!!
Lori S.
 
Thanks for all the ideas--

I have pretty much stayed away from gum...chewy things...I think I clench my jaw at night...cuz the main pain is usually in the morning or I wake up at night with it...So I will look into the bite guard thing...

I find that laying on my side bothers it ...and laying flat on my back bothers it also...its like I want to hold my jaw in place cuz if it doesnt have the support on the one side it hurts...weird...

It doesnt seem like the medical or dental profession has found a good solution nor tend to focus on this problem...kinda like it's in your head...but when you think of it...your jaw does a lot!!!

Thanks for all the good product recommends...I will look into
Samantha
 
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