Help? Anyone?

[Locks5]

Well, about a month ago I was diagnosed with TMJ due to a slipped disc in my jaw. Lately, it's been getting worse. I've been having constant TMJ headaches which causes me not to focus on school work and things like that. I haven't been able to go back to my TMJ specialist because of the amount of money (I'm only 15 years old). I've talked to my mom about this and she says that insurance companies won't cover TMJ related problems. So, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for relieving some of the pain.

[SarahE86]

With the insurance, it's hard to get them to cover it. I went through two MRI scans just to prove to them that i am in pain and there was soemthing wrong. I've experinced migranes since i was 13 (23 now) taking asprin or medications like that helped my pain BUT i took it for so long it just created another health issue. Ulcers. TMJ doctors are rare and hard to find. I only had one in my insurance network and hed to go out of network for a second opinion. The second doctor told me it is treatable with physical therapy. The first one told me all i needed was a splint. If you are in so much pain be persistant. Call you insurance, medical groups. Your primary doctor will probably want to do CT scans or an MRI. The hardest thing is to get the insurance to understand it IS a medical issue not a dental.

[Cindee56]

Hi honey.  I'm so sorry.  I have this and I know how miserable it is.  You need to tell your mother how much pain you are in.  Tell her you really need help.  In the meantime, I use ice packs, Advil or Tylenol.  Sometimes it helps, other times not.

Try to relax your jaw.  Get enough sleep.  Also, just make sure the pain is from the TMJ.  It could be other things or migraines.  Does your insurance cover a neurologist?  They might help.

[scottma]

Place a piece of cotton roll between your front teeth and disengage posterior teeth contact may help relieve your tmj related symptoms. Once financially affordable, seeing a tmj specialist to receive definitive treatment is advised.

[Sandie7]

Believe me, I know what you are going through. I had to go to school as well with those darn headaches from my jaw. Just plain asprin seemed to help the most for me. I could not tolerate any big pain killers, the headaches would just get worse. I had to fight the insurance companies to get help and surgery. Its hard, but they're are a few insurances that will take coverage for TMJ. At the time I finally went to Healthnet Insurance and they covered for tmj.  I believe Bluecross and Blueshield now covers for tmj but you need to be referred by a primary physician. Healthnet is the same. What I did was find a tmj specialist who knew what primary physician (who was on the insurance carrier list) would refer me to him. And that worked for me.