TMJ Archives

TMJ - What should I do?

Dr Stoll

I am 22 years old and ever since i can remember (even when I was quite young)My jaw (only on the right side)would crack while chewing causing pain and sometimes cracking right out of place so my jaw was imobilised and stuck in a certain position. I went to doctors, dentists authodontists-No one knew or would tell me what it was.

About 3 months ago the pain in my jaw became constant (all the time) and even more excruciating while chewing. Then one day while eating it cracked out of place and this time i could not massage it back like I usually could. It was stuck, I could not talk, eat or move it at all. I went to my local GP and she told me I had TMJ and gave me 3 months worth of anti-inflamateries.

I dis-like taking drugs especially for such a long time and know that anti-infalmertries are not good for you. I take them some days when the pain gets really bad but don't want to take them all the time like she says, as I have put up with this pain for so many years I am now use to it but the severity of pain has gotten worse with time. The Doc also said it will probably be a life time thing and I will need to to take the medication through out my life.

The pain is now a constant one and i now also have pain in my right ear which I think is linked. When I asked my doctor if she thought i should have a scan or x-ray she said no.

Do you have any advice on what to do from here to try and get to the bottom of this?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Caroline Flynn
New Zealand

Follow Ups:

• Re: TMJ - What should I do? Terri-Lynn 11:32:21 6/11/02 (0)
• Re: TMJ - What should I do? Late case. Archive. Walt Stoll 08:06:38 6/11/02 (0)

In Reply to: TMJ - What should I do? posted by Caroline Flynn on June 10, 2002 at 19:36:12:

Hi, Caroline.

I think you are already "at the bottom of this". Unfortunately your docs have done their "worst" to delay your diagnosis and even now do not have a clue as to what to do about all the damage caused by the delay of your diagnosis!

First you have to get rid of your bracing that has caused all of this.

You already have so much damage to the joint that it is possible that replacement of the cartilege pads with plastic prostheses may be needed. Your present docs are the very last people you would need to even make that determination since they are so clueless.

You need to start collecting all of your medical records so IF this surgery is necessary your competent doc will have what she needs to know how to progress.

Let us know what you learn and how you do.

Make good use of the TMJ & bracing archives and glossary.

Walt

In Reply to: TMJ - What should I do? posted by Caroline Flynn on June 10, 2002 at 19:36:12:

When the jaw gets locked up like this, my expierence has been a person needs to detox there body a lot of the time.
I've seen vegetable juice fast for 10 days clear a lot of this up and doing enima's ect; SR. skilled relaxation is a big part of it also; Here i go again-Adding more water and less food intake helps!

Now emotionally, make sure you don't feel shut down in anyway with your sharing with things you might need to, it can cause this also;

Teeth being alined well; If missing one,[tooth] then over compensation on the other side of jaw can add to it somewhat;

This is what i've expierenced, areas that can add to this jaw locking; I'm sure you'll hear more from others.