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cornomama4
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 11:40pm | IP Logged
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I'm having serious TMJ. Here is a lengthy post I put on a local HS group board. Not very interesting unless you've had it/have it.
****I'm hoping someone out there might have had some experience with
TMJ...actually, I hope if you had it that it's GONE now. I've been having
episodes on and off since I was 22, but after my wisdom teeth were removed
everything seemed to clear up. Then about 4 years ago my jaw started
popping when I ate chewy things like sourdough rolls or something. In
March of 2006 I had my first cavaties filled (5, thank you very much) and a
couple months after that work was done, my jaw sort of locked up where I
could only open it half and inch (are you getting all this?). So the
"specialist" at my regular dentist wanted to make a splint to keep me from
clenching and grinding at night for...$750! Insurance doesn't cover that.
So I found some one who did it for $290, but first had me take steroids for
2 weeks and a lot of Ibuprophen because he felt I had actually injured the
muscles and needed to heal them before I even worried about the splint.
So things cleared up in about a month. Then I became pregnant with #4 and
discovered my stress relieving vice/pregnancy craving was dry Frosted Mini
Wheats..like a whole box almost every day for about 4 months! (I only gained
30 lbs. with that baby...go figure). So he's born and in like 4 weeks the
old jaw is locking up again. First couldn't open then couldn't close. Now
I can open, but something has "popped" and I can't align my teeth..doesn't
close on the left side.
Sorry to go on and on, but I'm a little freaked out, because it hurts
sometimes even talking and sometimes I think I'm feeling dizzy and have ear
pain from it. I'm seeing an oral surgeon, but I couldn't get in until the
17th! I saw my regular Dr. a few weeks ago, and he recommended a TJM guy
here in Westerville, but again this route is not covered by insurance. I
don't mind paying if it who I see can help, but I smell quackery. I
remember seeing a documentary about TMJ and this poor woman could even
function, because she had lost the cartilage cushion in the joint and had a
nerve getting bumped everytime she moved.
Anyway, anyone who is still reading and has had/is having this problem, I'd
love to hear any advice or recommendations about what you did/are doing.
Several people at work have gone to this accupuncture guys (Master Chen?)
and think I should see him, but I'm a little nervous to go that route,
though I do think accupuncture/ body alignment therapy is valid. I think my
crunchy food days are over, and since I quit smoking (2 years now!) I guess
I'll have to find another stress release.....oh no!! I might have
to..EXERCISE!!****
Any help from anyone here would be great. Also prayers for a good attitude as I try and find answers. TIA
cm4
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folklaur
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| Posted: Sept 06 2007 at 11:58pm | IP Logged
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Prayers for you!!! I have had TMJ for years, but only since having my first root canal a year ago, it has flared up something horrible. It hurts back into my ear, and sometimes I will get a headache that is almost worse than the migraines I get. I hope you get some good advice!!! I would like to hear what people have to say too...
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Stephanie_Q
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 6:42pm | IP Logged
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I was diagnosed with TMJ AFTER 8 years of wearing braces to correct and overbite and openbite. I had my wisdom teeth out when I was 13. All that shifting around messed up my bite so it was putting stress on my jaw and causing trouble. They made me a bite plate when I was in junior high school to align my bite and allow my jaw to relax at night. I'm not sure if it is the same as your "splint" because it just fit over my bottom teeth and had grooves in the top where my top teeth fit such that my jaw was relaxed when I bit down. Anyway, I "lost" it in college and my bottom teeth just shifted around (they're not straight anymore) such that my bite is "normal" again and I haven't had trouble with pain, popping or locking since then. I don't know if that helps, but it's what I've experienced with it so far...
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Anneof 5
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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I have had TMJ for years and eventually ended up going to a clinic at our local university dental dept for help several years ago. I had horrible headaches and ruined my stomach from taking so much ibuprofen just to get through the day. I had to have a splint made and wore it for about 6 years and then had another one made which I wore up until earlier this year. I went through PT twice for it. Anyhow, the dentist I now see recommended I get an NTI which is a nighttime device worn on the two front teeth which helps keep the back teeth from clenching/touching at all. That cost about $400 and was not covered by insurance. But it has helped a lot as there is no pressure on the back teeth at all (which you still get with a splint) which is where most of my problems were.
But I also have to be careful what I eat, no hard crunchies or chewy things, gum. And I also have to do stretching exercises with my jaw. My posture has a lot to do with it too as does stress level. But I will have to say the NTI has made the biggest difference in my pain than anything I have tried in the past 15 years.
Good luck!
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Fuzzy
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| Posted: Sept 07 2007 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
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Hi cm4,
I have worked in the orthodontic field for about 10 years, and we have treated TMJ patients, including my sister, Jenn. I am not an expert, but I do know a little.
My sister JennGM has has MANY TMJ problems, and wears a splint 24/7. Do you still wear a splint? Jenn wears it while she eats, which is the time your jaw has the most activity, and if you are not careful with what you eat (bagels, gum, etc) it will make things worse.
I think your appointment with the oral surgeon will be very enlightening, and will answer many of your questions, especially if he is a specialist for TMJ.
The most important thing, as others have said, it to be sure you are exercising your jaw easily, and giving it something to relax on/with. If you have a splint that props your bite open, or allows your jaw to sit in a different position, it will help a lot. The more you wear it, the better it can be. I have heard good things about an NTI before as well. You can also try some warm compresses to help. Definitely take something for the pain.
I hope this helps.
__________________
 Fuzzy
Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
Fuzzy Memories
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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 10 2007 at 12:56pm | IP Logged
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My TMJ is almost cleared up now. I had an injury to my jaw in my 20s that caused bad alignment, and stress just aggravated it. I had daily headaches and frequent migraines for years. At age 32 I wore braces to help this problem and then this splint that held my bite in a certain position that it wouldn't lock up or click.
I'm really pain free. I only get some little aggravations in eating the chewy foods and having some stress. I'm actually going to switch from the 24 hour appliance and only wear the nighttime guard, NTI. My husband is now wearing it with good results.
There are many approaches to treating TMJ. I met some quack doctors who wanted thousands of dollars for treatment. Insurance doesn't like to cover the problems because it's such a vague problem.
See if you're clenching at any times during the day. That is a big cause of TMJ pain. Nighttime is the worst offender, because you don't know if you you are clenching or grinding. Some of the "rubbery" mouth appliances actually encourage clenching, so I wouldn't recommend that kind. My splint is a harder plastic.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: TMJ-long post
