TMJ Archives

TMJ and music

Since February 2002 I have been unable to play any Brass instruments. I find this tremendously disappointing as I am an Instrumental Music teacher and was constantly playing the French Horn, Trumpet and Trombone every day. I have experienced excrutiating pain in my left jaw and have been on a long term regieme of physiotherapy, pain killers, glucosamine and Voltaren. According tothe specialist I should consider taking up another instrument. Not such an easy thing after years of study. Both discs are in the wrong spot and cause my jaw to bite in a different pattern now and then. And last Tuesday I was at the physio's to have her poking around my neck and producing terrible pain. Is this it!! Is this all that I can look forward to? No music making, the possibility of disc removal and a lot of heartache. I would dearly love to have a chat to any musician out there who has experienced something similar. Any suggestions?
Sincerely,
Jo

Follow Ups:

• Re: TMJ and music Steve 17:43:05 12/21/02 (0)
• Re: TMJ and music (Archive.) Walt Stoll 09:02:27 12/21/02 (0)

In Reply to: TMJ and music posted by Joanne on December 20, 2002 at 09:29:31:

Hi, Jo.

The crime is that your TMJ had to have been there for at least 20 years (undiagnosed) for there to be disc damage like this.

Now you have very few options. Your best one is STILL serious SR if you will do it. You will know in about a year if you will be able to continue with your vocation. Let us know.

All the options listed in the bracing archives will still help reverse it a little and prevent more progression.

Walt

In Reply to: TMJ and music posted by Joanne on December 20, 2002 at 09:29:31:

Jo, I'm a brass player also and have heard of a colleague in the same situation.
She unfortunately was a flautist and ended up changing her profession Big move