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I think I have TMJ (headaches, pain in face, teeth etc.,
tinnitus), one of my doctors said my problems come from my t-m joint. I would like to try the trick with the eraser, but I need to know the specific size of the eraser pieces and how the consistency should be like (soft ?). I live in Germany, so I guess we have different brands of erasers over here. Any other advice would also be greatly appreciated, I have not found a doctor knowledgable about TMJ here in Germany yet.
In Reply to: TMJ and Eraser posted by Susanne Denninger on March 06, 2000 at 09:25:00:
Hi, Susanne.
First, to resolve TMJ, you do not need a professional. All you need to know is that your teeth should not touch when you are not using them and practice SR at least twice a day.
All the rubber (eraser parts) are for is to remind you not to let your teeth touch. The piece you need is about 1/4 inch thick and firm enough that you do not disintegrate them, with your habit of allowing your teeth to touch, before you see the benefit. So that you do not have to watch them every second to keep them between your teeth, you will need a piece that is about 1/2 inch square.
In the meantime, a series of Rolfings would probably resolve the problem at once.
See the glossary for any unfamiliar terms.
Let us know how you do.
Walt,
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser posted by Walt Stoll on March 08, 2000 at 08:26:48:
Hi Dr. Stoll,
thanks a lot for the advice. During the day I watch very carefully that my teeth don't touch. I have had the "clenching" problem about 15 years ago with lot's of pain in
my teeth until a clever dentist finally told me what the problem was.
Since then, I'm aware of this problem, so I watch what I do with my my teeth. This time it seems to be more sophisticated. I catch myself when trying to clench a couple times per day, but immediately release the pressure then. Can you be "clenching" without your teeth actually touching, or just touching for a second ?
During the night I wear a device which looks like a plastic cover over the teeth in my upper jaw (is that what you would call a nightguard ? Sorry, but I'm not very familiar with medical terms in English). I wake up quite often "chewing" on this device. I don't know yet what "rolfing" is, but I will find out.
Thanks again and greetings from Germany
Susanne
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser posted by Susanne Denninger on March 10, 2000 at 12:09:19:
Hi, Suzanne.
As you may know, I am still learning. I am now well aware that the day I stop learning is the day I die.
Just about 2 years ago, I learned that people CAN be bracing in their head and neck with their teeth NOT touching. The Rolfing will help those people (See the glossary for how to locate a Rolfer in your area and a book that explains how it works.)
You broke the habit of letting your teeth touch without getting rid of the total body bracing that caused it. Congratulations on your discipline--most people would not be able to do that. You need SR to finally get rid of the body burden of bracing that you have become used to carrying.
When you are finally are free of that you will feel as light as a feather!
Please share with us what that feels like so as to help others who are carrying the same burden without knowing it.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Walt Stoll on March 18, 2000 at 08:29:50:
Dear Dr. Stoll,
aren't we all learning something new almost every day ?
Unfortunetely, I'm not 100% controlled, i.e. I occasionally do clench my teeth (e.g. at night). I have a device to put on my teeth, but it rather protects my teeth than stop me from clenching. So I really have to work on the causes (at least some of them are well aware to me).
I have started to attend a kind of an exercise class for the back, which teaches me to sit, stand, walk properly (i.e. how to fight gravity in a proper way) and it also includes simple relaxation techniques (e.g. based on breathing).
I have read some info on the web regarding rolfing and it looks like the therapy I have started (it was recommended by someone who had tinnitus herself) is quite similar to rolfing. They call it something like "Muscle-Function-Therapie) and they press very hard and those muscles which are "contracted" and carefully but persistently try to "loosen" the contaction. Yesterday, the therapist was working on my jaw and I could really feel how the tension gave up a bit step by step. Also, they do not just work on the muscles in the neck and on the head but all the way down to the hips. I'll ask next time if this therapie is somewhat relatet to rolfing, it really looks like at least elements of rolfing are included. If this therapie doesn't help me break my "body bracing", I'll contact a rolfer here in Germany (I have found an address of someone who is not that far away).
I'll let keep you informed about my progress (I really hope there will be progress).
Greetings from sunny (looks like spring is finally coming) Germany
Susanne
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Susanne Denninger on March 21, 2000 at 06:07:10:
Hi, Susanne.
From what you are describing so far, you WILL have progress!
Walt
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Walt Stoll on March 22, 2000 at 09:16:46:
Dear Dr. Stoll,
thanks a lot for the encouraging words. Today I had a really bad day, terrible headaches and lots of tinnitus, so I really need some encouragement.
It actually looks like the eraser trick helps me somewhat,
I'm just using one piece and balance it between the teeth. From time to time I swap it to the other side. Does that
sound okay ? With two pieces I just didn't feel comfortable and with just one piece, I can also use it in public (everybody will think I'm eating a piece of candy).
Best Regards
Susanne Denninger
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Susanne Denninger on March 22, 2000 at 12:25:37:
Hi, Susanne.
I would worry about imbalance with just one piece of eraser. I would sooner see you using much thinner pieces and smaller ones than just using one.
How are you doing with your SR?
Have you considered Rolfing for temporary relief while your SR is working??
Walt
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Walt Stoll on March 23, 2000 at 11:06:03:
Dear Dr. Stoll,
I've tried two smaller pieces, but to me it looks like the pain is just moving to a different area (I think the muscle is called "Temporalis Anterior"). At the moment, I'm wearing my "nightguard" during the day, I hope that's better than nothing. After doing a lot of research on the web, I have found a group of dentists here in Germany who seem to specialize on those kind of problems (like TMJ) but from a very holistic point of view (i.e. don't just look at the teeth and the jaw but at the whole body) and I have made an appointment with such a dentist for next week.
Regarding SR, I honestly haven't been very successful. At the moment my pain and my tinnitus are so bad that I have big difficulties to relax. I've tried a warm bath with relaxing music, breathing etc., but I'm not very successful.
Any specific recommendations here ? I've always been a very active person, so I find relaxing very difficult. What I find relaxing is talking to friends and the sound of water.
I've found a web page which has the sound of water as the background noise (http://www.tinnitus.co.uk/) and I have that page open while working on the computer.
Regarding Rolfing : I've found some excellent articles re. Rolfing on the web (in German), also about rolfing and stress. It really looks like the therapy I'm currently doing has at least elements of rolfing. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask my therapist last time, but I will ask tomorrow.
One more question : I currently have a throat infection and my pein/tinnitus symptoms are really bad. Does one have anything to do with the other ?
Greetings from rainy Germany
Susanne Denninger
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Susanne Denninger on March 28, 2000 at 02:53:14:
Hi, Susan.
Yes they do. Chronic muscle tension in this area greatly restricts the venous return and so causes congestion and a reduced immunity in the area.
If you have read much on the BB about SR, you know that some people have trouble learning SR and need a specific massage schedule for 2 weeks to get enough relaxed that they can DO it. Talk to your "Rolfer" about it and have him help you through this stage.
From sunny Florida,
Walt
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Walt Stoll on April 01, 2000 at 07:33:23:
Dear Dr. Stoll,
there is a group of dentists in Germany who are knowledgable about TMJ (actually TMD) and I have visited one this morning.
She said I have a real (i.e. dental) TMJ problem since my lower and upper jaw don't fit. My upper front teeth are not in a straight position, they are like leaning forward, therfore I have to pull back my lower jaw.
She does recommend to continue with the muscle therapy, but
She said that muscle/relaxation therapy will not help long term as long as the tooth gearing problem is not resolved.
What's your opinion on this ?
Best Regards
Susanne
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Susanne Denninger on April 04, 2000 at 13:14:30:
Hi Susanne,
Curious, did the dentist offer an opinion as to why the teeth aren't aligning properly? In other words, if the problem is fixed dentally, I'm wondering if there is some other mechanism going on in your body which may pull the alignment out again.
Karen
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and Eraser---Nugget and Archive under bracing and TMJ. posted by Karen on April 04, 2000 at 14:03:38:
The dentist said this kind of mismatch is hereditary. My teeth were "corrected" when I was a kid (I had braces), but maybe not enough. Furthermore she said that the teeth are moving again when you get older.
I bet I have had this tooth gearing problem for quite a while but only by now the muscle tension go so bad that I started having problems.
Regards
Susanne
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