TMJ Archives

TMJ

My daughter, age 23, has just been diagnosed with TMJ. See still has a few days before seeing the oral surgeon she has been refered to. The pain medications that she was given don't seem to put much of a dent in the pain she is experiencing.

Over the last few days, she has gotten very little sleep, and since she was having trouble getting in to see her primary care physician, ended up in the ER the other morning just to get something for pain.

I have been reading the posts on TMJ and was wondering, as a very short term, temporary measure, if an over-the-counter mouth piece intending to prevent grinding the teeth during sleep would help relieve some of her pain. I realize that something made especially for her would be more ideal, but we are concerned right now with trying to help her with this terrible pain she is experiencing right now.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Follow Ups:

• Re: TMJ Cindy 12:20:26 8/06/01 (0)
• Re: TMJ (Archive.) Walt Stoll 08:19:50 8/06/01 (0)

In Reply to: TMJ posted by Tricia on August 04, 2001 at 07:51:43:

Hi, Tricia.

At 23, your daughter has to want to know about her options. Neither YOU or I can do this for her. Surgery has NEVER been a solution to TMJ! It only has the potential of making it incurable.

"To a hammer, everything looks like a nail." The oral surgeon will suggest surgery; guaranteed.

If your daughter wants to know her options, have HER spend a few hours on the archives about TMJ & about bracing.

Then, if she has questions, have her post them on the BB.

Your love and caring will be hopeless here, SHE has to take the bit in her teeth OR suffer the consequences.

Walt

In Reply to: TMJ posted by Tricia on August 04, 2001 at 07:51:43:

The right chiropractor may possibly be able to help to alleviate your daughter's pain. You will need someone that knows how to go inside the mouth and break the muscle spasming there, as well as adjust from the outside (not just the jaw, but the occiput and neck. I know, I've been there. My dentist wanted to send me to an oral surgeon but I didn't want to go in that direction. A physical therapist I saw thought my jaw was unstable and that I needed to see another TMJ specialist. I didn't do that either, since I had already seen a number of them and their treatments weren't helping much.
I went to a chiropractor...One session with this chiropractor and I was fine. The pain stopped, I could chew again. I did have a night guard made by my dentist which I wear at night. And I am still chipping away at chronic bracing. The chiropractor had told me that I could save money on the nightguard by just going to a sporting goods store and buying a generic plastic mouth guard which you then place in hot water and mold to your teeth. However, I felt more comfortable having one professionally made.

Wishing you the best in finding the appropriate treatment for your daughter.