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What treatments have worked? I've had luck with a few things, massage, chiropractor, accupuncture, heat therapy, biofeedback, valarian root, etc... but wondering if there is anything that I haven't tried. I went from years of dibilitating, life ruining pain, and am down to mild discomfort and just want to take that last little edge off. Thanks!
My TMJ was diagnosed by my dentist and was caused by clenching my jaw at night while I was sleeping. They made a mouth guard for me to wear while sleeping and I wore that for a couple of years. It worked! I do not wear it anymore and I rarely have any trouble with my TMJ anymore. But if I get my symptoms back for more than a day or two (earache mostly) then I just wear my mouth guard for a week or so and gone again.
I have had success with the both the mouth guard and chiropractor. I still have clicking, but rarely have pain. there are some exercises you can do as well. one is placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth. it does something to help stretch the area. it forces you to open your mouth and stretch!
I have had severe TMJ pain 24/7 for over a year and a half. Had to fight it by myself, and all that comes with it. People who do not know or understand think because I look fine, must mean there's nothing wrong! I found that the measurement of my occlusal is highly important to me, I have had some relief, but never has it gone away yet. I think when I get the proper denture fit, it will go away, but I have not made it to that point yet. I did find that there are many aspects to TMJ. It's not just stress and grinding, but over streching the joint muscle that dibilitates the neck and shoulder-blade muscles, let alone the ear canal pressure which messes with your equilibrium. I am trying yoga exercises now too, it helps some. There are 5 places in the US that have a system of measuing your facial muscle stress level, which helps with adjusting your aparatus to your specific needs. I dont have that website available, but one of them is in Pueblo CO. Thanks for bringing the subject up, it should be discussed, so when someone gets it, and cant get relief and are told they are just crazy, they can see they are not alone, and that it can lead to suicidal thoughts to get relief! I know that for a fact, I was there last year, I was alone and that was the worst thing I have ever had to face in my life. My general physician put me on celexa and other mental drugs, which left me with leg tremors and other neurological disruptions that came in addition to the TMJ related symptoms. I was willing to try anything to get some relief. I am still in ear pain, neck and shoulder dysfunction without full range of motion. I have had some adjustments that made improvements, but I am still working on affording a specialist who knows how to measure my unique size and shape needs. Stay strong and stay steady
Oh yeah, I am on my thrid mouth gaurd. I grind holes into them.
WOW!!!
I was going to say, I used to grind my teeth at night, until I told myself I had to give up the control I wanted in my life. Then it stopped.
Then again, I cannot seem to quit smoking, so....at least I was successful in quitting something. Good luck.
What treatments have worked? I've had luck with a few things, massage, chiropractor, accupuncture, heat therapy, biofeedback, valarian root, etc... but wondering if there is anything that I haven't tried. I went from years of dibilitating, life ruining pain, and am down to mild discomfort and just want to take that last little edge off. Thanks!
I don't have TMJ but certainly hold a tremendous amount of tension in my jaw. This has lessened alot since i started using a mouth guard at night.
I wasn't a jaw grinder but a jaw clencher and the mouth guard disallows this.
I don't know much about TMJ but maybe this would be helpful for you.
I have TMJ but not from grinding. From a car accident. I used a mouth guard as well but when the wisdom teeth came in and the braces went on, it no longer fit. Mine just constantly pops when I yawn or chew...or live.
I have had TMJ for about 12 years now. It all started in a weird way, overnight, and suddenly I had one-sided jaw muscle pain that has never gone away. Mine is only on one side. My jaw doesn't track right--I can even see this--and I always have a click when I open my mouth wide. The click started all of a sudden--overnight, too.
I haven't sought treatment for this, because I don't have pain very often, but when I chew my jaw muscle often feels overtired. I may seek treatment for this in the future.
I suffered from TMJ pain and had surgery to fix it 6 years ago. It wasn't very fun (6 months of my mouth banded shut and a no-chew diet), but definitely worth it. I know two other people who also had similar surgery. You have to be careful about who you see for treatment- a lot of dentists will say that specialize in TMJ, but actually don't. I actually went to one of the world's leading experts in TMJ surgery in Florida- Dr. Mark Piper. It's an expensive option, but it worked for me. If you're looking for more information or want to talk to others, Healia Communities is a great resource. You can join a community of other people with similar problems to share tips and advice and also get other medical information. I hope it gets better for you- I know how terrible it can be!
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