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I have been diagnoised with TMJ WAAAAYYYYYYYY back when I was about 14 or 15 years old.
Sometimes I go to open my mouth and it gets 'locked' in a half way there postion; or sometimes when eating something that takes a while to chew (ie: steak) my jaw gets 'tired.'
I also am a Singer and drama instructor by trade so I do a lot OF TALKING. My jaw has gotten 'tired' from singing.
About three weeks ago I thought I had a SEVERE ear infection. The pain was not there; and then it was. All of a sudden almost. I waited two weeks; then finally went to my doc.
He said it was not my ear at all; but TMJ AGAIN>>>>>>>>
I am so tired of it. I have no dental insurance. The doc prescribed antiinflammatories; but I can't really tell that they are helping.
I posted about a month ago in regards to MPV; and someone mentioned massage; but as appealing as that sounds; I just can't afford something like that.
Doc said heat would help; I put a heating pad on my pillow; and it 'maybe' helps a bit.
The pain is still there; more severe on left side than right.
What are some other home remedies?
What are the longterm effects of being afflicted with TMJ? I've heard horror stories of having my jaw broke and reset.
The 'clicking' has been a WAY OF LIFE. My jaw clicks each and every time I open my mouth. It just didn't used to hurt quite so severly.
On a scale of 1 to 10; the pain is averaging a 6 to 7 each day. Worse at night.
I swear I've been a trooper with this. 15 years is a long time to suffer with something; and I've about had it. They can wire my jaw shut and feed me intravenously if it will stop the darn pain!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any ideas on home help.
I am getting desperate.
In Reply to: TMJ posted by momof1 on February 17, 2003 at 20:20:00:
Hi momof1,
Have you read the TMJ archives on this website?
For some immediate relief, try getting some deep tissue massage of the jaw, neck and face.
For long term help, do the practice of Skilled Relaxation. Read the articles on the home page entitled "How to be Healthy" and "Skilled Relaxation." This is your home remedy.
To tell you the truth, the dentist can't give you any real help anyway. (I used to work for a dentist.) The solution is learning how and why you're tightening up your jaw muscles (and how to relax them -- Skilled Relaxation).
Best wishes,
Happygal (Certified Massage Therapist)
In Reply to: TMJ posted by momof1 on February 17, 2003 at 20:20:00:
Hi, Momof1... SR is pretty amazing. Try doing it 20" per day, twice a day. You most likely won't fix your TMJ clicking immediately, but it might very well alleviate some of the pain you are feeling. There are some good bits of information you can get from the archives that talk about TMJ and SR.
Good luck,
Martha
In Reply to: Practice SR posted by Martha on February 19, 2003 at 09:27:55:
Thanks Martha and Happygal.
I am going to look into this and keep you posted. As of today I am NO BETTER.
It is one of these 'life altering' pains you know. I sing and teach each day and if I stop using my jaw; I stop making money; etc; etc; etc.
So; I know my lifestyle (job) is aggrevating this condition; and really need to do something in the evenings to help move this along.
It is getting to the point where them 'breaking' my jaw and resetting it is starting to sound appealing. At least insurance would cover that I belive.
(that WAS a joke...(sort of)....)
I will get to practicing some SR.
I need it in otherways anyway.
In Reply to: TMJ posted by momof1 on February 17, 2003 at 20:20:00:
Hey momofl,
I'm really saddened to hear that you have a TMJ issue. It would have to be one of the most misunderstood problems alongside back pain. If people can't see it, then it musn't be there.
I am a Brass Instrumental Music teacher with chronic TMJ problems. Have you had an MRI yet? Atleast when I had mine I could see what the problem was. Not such an uplifting thing but it made everything a little more concrete.
Make sure that you find yourself a good TMJ specialist and go carefully in case they mention "surgery". I have a terrific TMJ Physiotherapist whom i see every week. We have worked hard together and managed to open my jaw almost 15mm's more.
From my research there is minimal positive outcomes from surgery and you would be better off trying SR, physiotherapy or massage. All can help though as you are aware they are expensive.
I haven't played my instruments since February last year which isn't a good thing for a musician. Thank God I work for the Government and all of my medical expenses are covered by Workcover.
I sing in lessons! Mmmm....Not such a good thing as this creates issues as well.
I can empathise with you and would love to know that there was a solution out there for a debilitating disease that is little researched.
Good Luck,
Jo
In Reply to: Re: Practice SR posted by momof1 on February 19, 2003 at 13:43:08:
A treatment that is simple, cheap and effective? How great is that?
I use it to control my chronic neck and shoulder pain which has gone away for the first time ever in years. I had pain every day for years and it went away fairly quickly. I initially began it because of twitching in my right thumb, which has also stopped. I am also hoping that it will help my TMJ which, like you, I've had forever. Luckily, I don't have pain yet and hopefully, the SR will help to control the clicking.
I have to find an article my husband recently read in the Wall Street Journal about using meditation to treat (successfully) hard-to-cure prostate cancer. Pretty amazing stuff.
SR takes dedication, time and faith. Just keep that in mind as you're doing it.
Good luck!
Martha
In Reply to: Re: TMJ posted by Jo Bo on February 19, 2003 at 19:56:09:
Hi momof1,
I agree with what Bo Jo said. Just a supplement: SR doesn't cost anything and after a few sessions with a massage therapist you can do a lot of self-help massage since the jaw is easily reachable.
Best wishes,
Happygal (Certified Massage Therapist)
In Reply to: Practice SR posted by Martha on February 19, 2003 at 09:27:55:
Thanks, Martha.
ANY condition can get so far gone that even relieving the causes will not cure it. So far, we are incapable fo reviving the dead!
However, eliminating the causes still will help the symptoms no matter how far any condition has progressed.
It is really too bad that people wait until much too late, having spent all their money and years of geteting worse, before they begin dealing with those causes.
Of course this is mainly because of the allopathic monopoly "trying to force the health care camel through the eye of the allopathic needle". The patients are just the victims.
There has never been any doubt that these approaches work--only whether people will be willing to do them.
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: TMJ posted by Happygal on February 20, 2003 at 08:02:22:
Hi Happy Girl,
The Physiotherapist that I see is trained in the Feldenkrais Technique. Do you know whether or not this is an avenue to pursue for TMJ? I know nothing at all about this art and after the physio has pushed and poked my face and neck she has mentioned a couple of times that she must show me some excersises. I think we run out of time in the sessions and she forgets.
Any other ideas for a musician in trouble?
Jo
In Reply to: Hapy Girl Re: TMJ posted by Jo Bo on February 20, 2003 at 17:36:27:
Hi Jo Bo,
I haven't personally experienced Feldenkrais. However I had one client with severe pain from bracing which centered in her neck and shoulders, and she was very much helped by Feldenkrais. If the therapist forgets to give you the exercises at the end of the bodywork session, next time you go ask for them at the beginning and be sure to write them down so you don't forget how to do them.
How do you feel after the Feldenkrais sessions?
Walt may be able to tell you more about Feldenkrais.
TMJ can also be helped by St. John's neuromuscular therapy. It works with the pelvis which start a distortion pattern that travel up the spine into the head and jaw. Look in your yellow pages for someone who does it.
Some deep tissue massage focusing on the jaw may also help relieve your symptoms.
I suspect it will take a while for you to unwind this problem. Are you also doing your SR regularly?
Best wishes,
Happygal
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