Does anyone suffer from TMJ?

weesophz

weesophz

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Ive had it for over a year now but it got worse over the past couple of months and i can hardly move my mouth to chew. Doctor referred me to an ENT specialist but that was ages ago..

allergic to cocodamol, ibuprofen makes my asthma a nightmare and paracetmol does nothing to lessen the pain.

While im waiting to hear from them, does anyone know of anything i can do to ease the pain?
 
I had excrutiating pain from a Jaw injury (being kicked in the face by a horse when i was young) and it went for 10 years with no pain... then all of a sudden I was in agony.

Got referd to EMT who said it was not my ears ( as they pain felt like it was from there) then refered onto a physiotherapist.

She said it was clearly my jaw as I could not fit 4 fingers in my mouth like a normal person can ( fingers flat, from pinkie to pointer finger vertically) I still cant :o

She gave me execises to do to release the tension in the tightend muscles. I was to move my jaw gentley from side to side 10 times, then up and down 10 times( not to where its pain full, but just enough to stretch out the muscules), then forwards and backwards 10 times.

I was suspicious of this, as after all this excutiating pain ( unable to eat, talk very much, yawn etc) how could simple excerices work. But sure enough... a few weeks later the pain had gone.

Now if i ever feel it coming back, I do the jaw muscle stretchy excersises again and its good as new :)

I dont know if this is the same thing as I was never diagnoses with a speific term, however its maybe worth a try if it is the same :)

Apparently this type of thing also happens to people who have not had a previous injury, those who tense thier jaw at night, or grind thier teeth. So maybe concentrate on relaxing your jaw at night too. I was tensing my jaw at night, just holding my teeth shut while I slept. Apparently this is not corrrect, and there should be a slight gap. So I also changed this habit :)
 
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im sorry to hear youve got this! ive had it the past 5/6 years and it is gradually getting worse e.g. hearing loss, headaches, muscle spasams.... i can dislocate my jaw to :) - freaks them out everytime and im told to put it back in!
i have 500mg naxopren painkillers taken with paracetmol...seems quite effective for 3/4 hours
i also had a bridge/gumshield made so stop me griding my teeth. i wear it on the bottom jaw and its about 1cm thick at the front cos my teeth dont meet up at the front, only at the back.
 
You are probably better to see your dentist who can either refer you to a consultant in oral medicine who will have lots of experience in TMD, or make you a splint to wear to help prevent grinding and clenching of the jaw.
You should also try not to open your jaw too wide and rest it as much as possible (no chewing gum)
 
Your initial point of call should be your dentist not your doctor for TMJ dysfunction.

Things you can do to help include
- regular analgesics (if able to take) for two weeks
- soft diet
- don't open your jaw wide - eg yawning - support your jaw with a fist under your chin if you do yawn
- avoid small repetitive movements. By this I mean chewing gum for a long time or possible habits like biting pens/nails etc.... Check out if you are aware of gritting (clenching) or grinding your teeth together when awake. You may not be aware that you are doing this but making yourself aware if the first step to stopping it. Often when tense - driving in traffic or on the PC (!)

Some folks grind or clench overnight - ask your OH if they are aware of you doing this or another sign is if your jaw is worse on waking first thing in the morning

However if your jaw problems have started just after an alteration of your bite (ie recent dental work like crowns/bridges/dentures) it maybe that you need to get these checked for occlusal interferences.

Your dentist will be able to examine you and go through all above with you and do various muscle checks and if indicated a lower soft bite splint will help your pain.

These things will need to be done before referral to a Oral Medicine/Surgery clinic
 
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alainax said:
I had excrutiating pain from a Jaw injury (being kicked in the face by a horse when i was young) and it went for 10 years with no pain... then all of a sudden I was in agony.

She said it was clearly my jaw as I could not fit 4 fingers in my mouth like a normal person can ( fingers flat, from pinkie to pointer finger vertically) I still cant :o

I dont know if this is the same thing as I was never diagnoses with a speific term, however its maybe worth a try if it is the same :)
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i was kicked in the face about 6 years ago but the pain in my jaw only started just over a year ago! then went away for ages now its back with a vengence.. Just tried that finger thing, i can only fit 2, 3 if i stretch (ouch..) scared to do any stretching incase i make it worse!

TandD said:
im sorry to hear youve got this! ive had it the past 5/6 years and it is gradually getting worse e.g. hearing loss, headaches, muscle spasams.... i can dislocate my jaw to :) - freaks them out everytime and im told to put it back in!
i have 500mg naxopren painkillers taken with paracetmol...seems quite effective for 3/4 hours
i also had a bridge/gumshield made so stop me griding my teeth. i wear it on the bottom jaw and its about 1cm thick at the front cos my teeth dont meet up at the front, only at the back.
Click to expand...

yeah my ear is starting to hurt really badly, and the muscles in my cheek keep spasming :( ive only got it on one side but i can feel problems starting on the other side now as well :( yeah my aunt had that splint thing, she never wore hers though.. maybe ill get one too!
 
weesophz said:
yeah my ear is starting to hurt really badly, and the muscles in my cheek keep spasming :( ive only got it on one side but i can feel problems starting on the other side now as well :( yeah my aunt had that splint thing, she never wore hers though.. maybe ill get one too!
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the ear pains the worst! where my jaw is crushing my ear canals i cant hear much any more, but also it hurts like someone stuck white-hot pokers down there!
i have heard of a new surgury that little plastic tubes are put down ears to hold the ear canal open, but not approched my consultant about this yet.

ive got to the point where i have spasms all over my body, mostly eyes, shoulder and arms......but ive been known to collapse when a leg gives way!
i wear my splint at night....not a cool look! so no way am i gona wear it during the day! but ive already bitten through 2......hospital wasnt toooo plzed when i went back with the 2nd snapped in 1/2 :/

ive heard that hot/cold treatment works well and no chewing gum!!!!!
 
TandD said:
the ear pains the worst! where my jaw is crushing my ear canals i cant hear much any more, but also it hurts like someone stuck white-hot pokers down there!
i have heard of a new surgury that little plastic tubes are put down ears to hold the ear canal open, but not approched my consultant about this yet.

ive got to the point where i have spasms all over my body, mostly eyes, shoulder and arms......but ive been known to collapse when a leg gives way!
i wear my splint at night....not a cool look! so no way am i gona wear it during the day! but ive already bitten through 2......hospital wasnt toooo plzed when i went back with the 2nd snapped in 1/2 :/

ive heard that hot/cold treatment works well and no chewing gum!!!!!
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yeah mine gets like that too, i jumped in work today cause it felt like someone had just stuck a pin i my ear, its getting really bad :(
oh dear, glad im not that bad.. yet! haha yeah i heard theyre not that glamorous! i have to admit im always chewing gum, makes my jaw so sore but i think im actually addicted to it!
 
I've had this for years. My jaw is clicky and often very painful. I'm convinced it's also linked to my chronic sinusitis I've had for the past couple of years.

My dentist got me a splint which goes on my top front teeth. I think the NHS charge for that "band" of treatment was around £210. It's not attractive and i cant speak with it in, but it helps slightly as one part of my problem was clenching, and sometimes grinding, at night.

I'd suggest a check up with your dentist to see what they think.
 
another thing that i find really painful is LOADS of talking/singing, so try to not talk to loudly and keep mouth movements to a minimum. i cant bite apples etc due to the shape and movement of my jaw... most of my food is also in really small pieces, or doesnt need chewing, so i dont need to use the muscles to much!
can i be really rude and ask how old you are roughly? only tmj became apparent in me when i was 11/12 - im 17 now - and ive been told that probably wont grow out of it till 35/40...
 
The splints aren't that bad..least a good one isn't. It should be hard acrylic so you can't eat through it and will reposition the jaw to a neutral position to deprogramme the muscles (in theory anyway). You can have the acrylic trimmed so only a couple of millimetres come over the edges of your teeth with the rest on the biting surfaces and inside.
Don't over stretch the jaw and try to open it in a straight line with no deviation to the side.

Have you had your wisdom teeth checked recently? Pain can be similar. Really you have to go to the dentist. We're very friendly you know :)
 
Sorry for hijacking here OP as I can't help you at all except offer sympathy and hopes that you get relief.

I am posting to ask if anyone can help me, I was going to post about this today as I have been thinking about it for a while and had noticed it more than ever lately.... I have my jaw pretty much always clenched, I don't notice that I am doing it for a long time and then suddenly I notice it and then relax it. It doesn't matter where I am or what I am doing whether it be cooking, typing, reading, driving etc. when I release it I can feel how strongly I have been clenching.

No pain as such but it can't be good can it? Why do I do this. Also potentially dumb question - could it be related to my back pain?
 
jnhuk said:
Your initial point of call should be your dentist not your doctor for TMJ dysfunction.

Things you can do to help include
- regular analgesics (if able to take) for two weeks
- soft diet
- don't open your jaw wide - eg yawning - support your jaw with a fist under your chin if you do yawn
- avoid small repetitive movements. By this I mean chewing gum for a long time or possible habits like biting pens/nails etc.... Check out if you are aware of gritting (clenching) or grinding your teeth together when awake. You may not be aware that you are doing this but making yourself aware if the first step to stopping it. Often when tense - driving in traffic or on the PC (!)

Some folks grind or clench overnight - ask your OH if they are aware of you doing this or another sign is if your jaw is worse on waking first thing in the morning

However if your jaw problems have started just after an alteration of your bite (ie recent dental work like crowns/bridges/dentures) it maybe that you need to get these checked for occlusal interferences.

Your dentist will be able to examine you and go through all above with you and do various muscle checks and if indicated a lower soft bite splint will help your pain.

These things will need to be done before referral to a Oral Medicine/Surgery clinic
Click to expand...

Yes to this, and yes STOP chewing gum you are making it far worse by that.
As a dental hygienist and a sufferer myself another tip is hot clothing your jaws several times a day will relieve the pain and if you can cope deep heat on your jaws.
With regards to a splint for the night. Often it's about breaking a habit. So starting of with a lower jaw soft splint, they are easier to get used to. Then if not enough result a Michigan splint for the upper jaw (hard acrylic) might be a better option.
Make sure your dentist is happy fitting them propperly however or otherwise see a oral and maxillo facial surgeon or a prosthodontist because not done properly will cause even more problems!! Hope you feel better soon
 
Kikke said:
Yep but the issue is not TMJ ( because it's the joint name) but TMJ disorder or TMD ;)
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I know Kikke which is why in my first post I called it TMJ dysfunction or as you say disorder but the recent poster asked what TMJ was so hence my response and I know the OP had just TMJ in the title but they are not dental professionals.
 
Just to give a perspective on dentist fears. I have really good teeth. If I hadn't fallen down the stairs/horse rearing/face first into the ground due to alcohol then I would have no fillings. As it is I have two eye teeth with extensive (and expensive) work on them. It isn't nice, I'll give you that. But dentists really do not want to hurt you. The anaesthetics are not so bad, if you think about the needles it is scary but the actuality is ok. If they aren't enough the SAY they will give you more and analgesics if necessary.

I know phobias are difficult to rationalise your way out of but please try to give your dentist the benefit of the doubt. They really do their best for you and will try to help you out as much as possible. If you have pain in your jaw or teeth then the sooner you go to them the sooner they can fix it and the less they have to do. Give them a chance.
 
My dad is really scared of the dentist so the GP gives him 2mg of valium to take before his dentist appointments to chill him out and it really helps. He has to be driven there and picked up (obviously!) but is is worth considering if you have a serious phobia which would put you off getting treatment.
 
Another brief hijack.

My OH had fairly extensive orthodontic work as a teenager and now can only get his teeth to open about 3cm apart. Watching him try to eat a burger is almost painful as he literally can't get it in his gob to take a bite off it. When he yawns he kind of yawns sideways as he can't open his mouth like a normal person.

His orthodontist has said that is pretty much how it has to be but I find it weird that there isn't anything that could be done?
 
There is a lot of people who have never heard of this problem.

I too have TMJ and have had it for almost 4 years now, and am undergoing (private) dental treatment from a ‘specialist’ dentist who specialises in jaw joints, bite alignment etc. I have also seen a jaw specialist in East Grinstead. I’ve had approx. 4 hours of dental work already this week. I too wear a splint and have to have at least one chiropractic treatment (with adjustments in my mouth) a week because my bite issue(s) aggravates my neck, shoulder, pelvic etc. I also massage my face/jaw as directed by my Chiropractioner (Cranial treatment too).

I suggest that you ask your dentist to refer you to a dentist who specialises in this area as not all dentists do. The guy in East Grinstead has a practice in London and is VERY good. (He has clients that go to him from overseas as well) – and would recommend him to anyone who needs further help in this area. He altered the thickness of my splint down to make it more comfortable and it made a huge difference in just a few hours. My dentist is now working on my teeth to build them up. He does a lot of jaw work but he’s finding me challenging.

I have a leaflet on Cranio Facial Distortion – see this website http://oxfordchiroclinic.com/custom_content/c_19048_cranio_facial_distortion.html
I can’t seem to download it from the website! If you would like the leaflet, then do please email me greysmeadow100@aol.com

The leaflet covers: Cranial Balance, Facial Distortions, Temporo Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction, Normal and Abnormal Bite, Balanced and Imbalanced Neck and Cranium, Normal and Separation of the Sacro-Iliac Joint, Effects of TMJ Dysfunction, Correction of TMJ.

My GP prescribed me Amitriptyline (which is an anti depressant) as the pain was terrible at the time. I’m currently on Cuprofen max strength and paracetamol BUT I don’t take the full dose.

Eat very soft food, no chewing on lamb chops, T bone steaks, chewing gum, crisps, crunchy salads or hard fruit like apples, biscuits, wine gums (but plenty of wine! Lol) The less chewing is the better.

Good luck and wish you well to those who have this jaw problem. xxx
 
I have it as well, was diagnosed a long time ago. Used to have an acrylic splint but have lost track of it. It didn't stop me from grinding / clenching at night, but it did stop me from damaging my teeth doing it, and it supported the TM joint, which therefore put less stress on the facial muscles.

It's flared up very very badly today - and I made a mistake last night - I ate a bag of toffee (Thorntons Toffi-Chocs). I am really dying today, to the extent I thought maybe I should go to hospital, the pain was so extreme - stabbing /aching pain all down the right side of my face and into my neck, jaws, my gums and teeth. Codeine, ibuprofen, paracetomol - all taken - but nothing is helping. I've been icing the right side of my face, but that hasn't helped much either. I'll try heat next, pop some more painkillers and hopefully it will be better tomorrow morning.
TMJ isn't nice, it can be helped but not cured.
Does anyone know of a TMJ specialist in Hampshire? I would go to one if I knew where to find one.
 
Have to say I feel so so bad for anyone with tmj, I had a really painful nerve in my jaw for a week or so earlier in the year. I took the top doses of painkiller, kept my face on a hot water bottle and relaxed my jaw but was still crying with the pain :( chewing was out of the question because even drinking was agony! Was so relieved when it stopped hurting and it hasnt hurt since, but wouldn't want to live with it long term! Can't even chew on that side anymore just because I remember the pain ..
 
Andiamo said:
I have it as well, was diagnosed a long time ago. Used to have an acrylic splint but have lost track of it. It didn't stop me from grinding / clenching at night, but it did stop me from damaging my teeth doing it, and it supported the TM joint, which therefore put less stress on the facial muscles.

It's flared up very very badly today - and I made a mistake last night - I ate a bag of toffee (Thorntons Toffi-Chocs). I am really dying today, to the extent I thought maybe I should go to hospital, the pain was so extreme - stabbing /aching pain all down the right side of my face and into my neck, jaws, my gums and teeth. Codeine, ibuprofen, paracetomol - all taken - but nothing is helping. I've been icing the right side of my face, but that hasn't helped much either. I'll try heat next, pop some more painkillers and hopefully it will be better tomorrow morning.
TMJ isn't nice, it can be helped but not cured.
Does anyone know of a TMJ specialist in Hampshire? I would go to one if I knew where to find one.
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Naughty Naughty Andiamo but would murder a toffee right now...recommend that you soften them up in the microwave before sucking on them next time......I have strapped an ice pack to my face and neck before now but only got better when it defrosted!.... heat may be better next time.

Have you tried googling jaw joint dentist, hampshire. The guy I have seen in East Grinstead would probably know as he holds teaching clinics and dentists attend them from all over the place.

Gosh its amazing the number on here who are suffering from this sodding problem.
 
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