Treatment for tmj?

[LittleTicker_no1]

Basically my jaw kept popping in and out of place more frequently since my second go at having braces, which finished up back a year ago or so but it's been getting progressively worse, notably since August I can't open my mouth properly anymore and no I haven't been diagnosed officially by a doctor, last time I went with two complaints, jaw and heart so she told me my heart one was more serious and ignored my jaw. My osteopath told me I had tmj back in December and has been providing temporary relief (an evening free of jaw pain) but I'm wondering what else can I do?

[LivingInHope]

Yes- and some of these suggestions are for more than just the bad days (such as the soft diet, for example):

A) Soft diet, avoiding nuts unless you crush them to powder or eat nut butter, raw carrots, chewing gum, chewy candy, granola bars, steak, and anything else that takes a lot of chewing

B) Making a conscious effort to relax the muscles in your face,
use moist heat (or not, if that gives you a migraine/headache),

C) Use a wrap around ice pak (velcro cover to keep it on in either the position of a mumps handkerchief of olden days or wrapped around in the position a gag making sure it covers your jaws, but covering your mouth unlike a gag.

D) Avoid singing, talking, or chewing too much

E) Keep slack-jawed, avoiding bringing or clenching your teeth together

F) If it's alright with your doctor- be sure and ask you cardiologist, take 600 mg of ibuprofen for inflammation when the pain is extra bad, but cyclic would likely be a bad idea (without even asking your doctor) right now with your heart problem, as ibuprofen can increase risk of heart attack, I believe.  

Alternatively, try a couple extra strength tylenol over the counter medication when the pain is bad.  And if the doctor will prescribe it for you and you have trouble sleeping with the pain, some diazepam for relaxing the muscles.

G) Avoid laying on your sides or leaning your face on your hand,

H) Try to practice good posture, and put two fingers on your chin when you yawn to try to prevent your mouth from opening too wide

[LittleTicker_no1]

Thanks for replying, I'm gonna wait until I get my heart sorted out but thanks again :) -on bad days, any ideas for temporary relief?

[LivingInHope]

I recommend you get a referral to a well-rated oral and maxillofacial specialist who specializes in TMJ- hopefully they will order an MRI to check on the discs as well as a panorex of your joints (x-ray) if they think it's more than inflammation and causing the difficulty w/opening (which is likely with your jaw popping in and out of place).