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199177 tn?1490498534

TMJ

Hey everyone I was diagnosed TMJ last month after years of problems with my shoulder ,headaches earaches, vertigo, dizzness .There is very little care for people in my area for TMJ. I am having a splint made . I am hoping to chat with other people that know what i am going threw
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Avatar universal
I had the botox injections in my jaw joint and found no real relief after.  It was very painful at the injection site for weeks.  I am going in for another injection next week, and I am on a waiting list for surgery and getting fitted for my second bite plane.  Botox didn't work for me, but everyone is different!
Helpful - 0
748543 tn?1463446075
Appliance therapy can be very successful in treating most of the symptoms  you guys are discussing here. Read some of the posts placed by me and other clinicians like Dr. Mehregan,  right here on this forum. there is a lot of information that can possibly help most if not all.
All the best.
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964958 tn?1247312573
I was dignosed almost a month ago when I was over in Europe. It was kind of a scary experince because I am fifteen and it was the first time I had been that far away from home. I was with an educational group and one of my leaders ended up taking me. It was also the same day we had landed. I was told I was going to need extencive work done on my mouth. Over this past month I've just learned to deal with it. I don't think about it much exept when I am really in pain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
TMJ can be caused by either muscles or physical.....ie arthritis, bone problems. Stress is a big factor in TMJ problems. The more you are tense, the more your muscles clench, causing TMJ. That TMJ can be helped by relaxation therapy, biofeedbac, etc. If it is a physical/medical problem any of the above therapies won't help. Surgical intervention is costly, and at this time does not have good percentages for relief.

I have an internal derangment of the temporalmandibular disc. I will be getting a hard guard to wear 24/7, in the hopes it will re-align my jaw and put the disc back in place. If it doesn't, either surgery will be necessary, or wear the splint forever. Both poor choices in my opinion. An exam by a qualified TMJ specialist will tell you what type of TMJ you have, and the proper treatment.

Good luck to all who suffer from this, it really s u c k s.
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Avatar universal
i was diagnosed with tmj 2 months ago..every time i open  my  mouth wide my jaw pops and it hurts bad..i didnt think nothing of it i thought it was normal but when i went to my exam at the dentist he said i had tat so i was referred to a ortodontic for braces cuz they said it might help my bite and jaw but didnt guarantee it would work...i clinch and grind my teeth all the time..but i dont have insurance for braces and it is to costly
Helpful - 0
298029 tn?1211188840
Sadly, I have not been to my follow-up appointment because my insurance does not cover it and it costs $275 for just the visit. I can't afford that right now, being back in school and not making much money to survive. I am wearing my NTI devices at night. I stopped wearing the daytime one because it makes me look funny and I lisp
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
taxi , I heard the splint tends to work more for the muscular TMJ its sounds like yours has to do with the joints and the jaw itself Talk to a doc about it before you put 2000.oo into a splint
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I broke my jaw in car accident 22 yrs ago, they wired it shut for 6 weeks, and told me I would probably have TMJ issues down the road. That following year, if I ate salad with a vinegar based dressing, shooting needle type pains went from jaw to ear drum. I am told  there probably was a plugged or otherwise interfered with salivary gland. Good now, but anything taking lots of chewing like steak is very tedious, my muscles get all stiff. The botox thing sound interesting because I could kill two birds with one stone. They say it can help keep migraines away for up to 6 months! If contemplating the night guard, research it to be sure it wont change your bite like the ones they use for sleep apnea.
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199177 tn?1490498534
the surgery is very difficult ad the success rate is very low. It also depends what the problem is that is causing your TMJ is it the joints of the jaw or is it with the muscles in the jaw
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Avatar universal
I am 44 years old and have been dealing with TMJ since i was in my teens. Did physical therapy, bio-feedback, jaw exerice went to three different PT and had the nightgard.  This is the first I heard about surgery. I guess I just quit complaining. But now you have me thinking. One thing I do for pain is message my jaw after icing it for 20 min.  Oh also use the tens machine. it shoots little electric thought they area. didn't do a thing.
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199177 tn?1490498534
awwwe girl  have ya had a doc check it out
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298029 tn?1211188840
MY JAW IS CLICKING AGIAN. ****.
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199177 tn?1490498534
The ENT would not treat my TMJ
Avis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
One more thing try looking for an ear nose and throat specialist--they can also help with TMJ
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have tmj also----went to the dentist this week and he told me that I would have a guard in my muth at night to see how my teeth were.  He explained everything to me but I don't understand what the guard is for?  I have looked up lots of stuff over the years and have found some interesting info under neuromuscular dentistry.  They help relax your jaw to get it back in the right place.

Sounds kind of futuristic to me and I hightly doubt insurance covers it...but it is worth checking into---it is better than having your jaw wired shut.  I cant do that I only weigh 102!!!!!
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
Yes it is sucks. Bluez and always I clinch and doctor said I have arthritis in the joints and that my joint's are short .  i will try anything short of surgery at this point . I have heard of the boots . Has anyone tried physical therapy for it?
Avis
Helpful - 0
178107 tn?1315947630
I had TMJ for years and at age 26 decided to have my jaw aligned like you had mentioned.  It was pretty extreme, I lost 30 pounds on 4 weeks.  But I would do it again.  Not only was the cosmetic results great but I have not had anymore problems with TMJ.  I also use to have a terrible time with sinus infections, but after having my jaw aligned I haven't had one since.  That was 18 years ago and I am still pain free.  I haven't heard about Botox being used for TMJ, but that's great.  
Helpful - 0
230843 tn?1200197755
I've had TMJ for years!  It's horrible.  When I was a kid and being prepped for braces, my dentist told us that my jaw had all the makings for TMJ.  He said I may or may not get the disorder and any intervention he would do would be purely for cosmetic reasons at that time.  I was twelve and the "intervention" he proposed was surgically breaking my jaw and realigning it.  Ummm, we said thanks, but no thanks, not for cosmetic reasons...at that time!!  

If I could only go back in time.  It is horribly painful.  Headaches, (I think this is where I'm getting my migraines from).  Aching, constant popping, it doesn't lock, but it gets out of alignment and I have to grind it around to get it back in place.  If it's quiet, my husband can hear it popping when I eat. GROSS!!  I know I clinch, but don't know if I grind my teeth.  When I wake up my teech are sore.  I think I may be starting to grind though, because my front teeth have been sore lately in the morning and usually it's just the back where I would clinch.  

There isn't much that can be done, short of the surgery.  I just don't want to have that done.  But it would be a GREAT weight loss opportunity. hmmm. (rethinking).  My jaw would be wired shut for about 6 weeks.  The hubby might appreciate that too..lol.  Then I'd get carpal tunnel (sp) from all the nagging I'd do through post-it notes...hehehehe  J/K

I just heard that you can get BOTOX injections in the jaw for TMJ and it loosens up the jaw and provides pain relief.  Angie Everheart had this done on Dr. 90210.  She has it so bad she can only open her mouth wide enough to get two fingers in (when turned up).  She got relief right away, but only lasted two days if I remember correctly. Who says TV is a waste of time?  I am going to look into this a little bit more.  I think BOTOX is a little more affordable these days.  

Okay, I'm done venting...GREAT FORUM!   Yeah MEDHELP! Hope more people jump on!  
Helpful - 0
298029 tn?1211188840
I was diagnosed about a year ago. I had to go to a specialist about 30 miles from my home. not that far. I had a NTI device made for during the day and at night. Cost me $810. My insurance didn't cover it and it came out of pocket. i was supposed to go for a follow up visit 3 months later, but cancelled because visits are $225. I can't afford that. I'm already pissed about the NTI devices, because I feel at night guard from the pharmacy dept. would to the trick.

sorry for venting.

what exacly was the diagnosis...measurements, grinding, clenching, overbite, underbite,
just curious.

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