TMJ Archives

MRI of TMJ

Hi, I just had an MRI of the TMJ and it shows only fragments of cartilage that is supposedly responsible for my pain. I have incredibly sharp knife pains through the joints after eating or basically any movement. They suggest surgery to remove the fragments. This will leave me with no cartilage in the joint. Can a joint function properly without carilage? I have tried glucosamine and nothing seems to help. Has anyone had this problem? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Follow Ups:

• Re: MRI of TMJ (Archive in TMJ.) Walt Stoll 14:26:21 3/19/02 (2)
  • Re: TMJ question for Dr. Stoll Lisa 09:10:03 3/20/02 (1)
    • Re: TMJ question for Dr. Stoll (Archive in TMJ.) Walt Stoll 08:38:31 3/21/02 (0)

In Reply to: MRI of TMJ posted by Lisa on March 18, 2002 at 15:45:37:

Hi, Lisa.

Too bad the diagnosis was not made long ago!

Your only choice now is to do the surgery. You might also ask for a polyethylene prosthetic pad implantation.

In the meantime, the same thing that would have saved you can still be done to improve the results of the surgery:

Elimination of bracing (the cause of the condition) by practicing SR and taking 750 milligrams of glucosamine sulphate twice a day (to repair the cartilege you may have left).

Let us know how you do.

Walt

Follow Ups:

• Re: TMJ question for Dr. Stoll Lisa 09:10:03 3/20/02 (1)
  • Re: TMJ question for Dr. Stoll (Archive in TMJ.) Walt Stoll 08:38:31 3/21/02 (0)

In Reply to: Re: MRI of TMJ (Archive in TMJ.) posted by Walt Stoll on March 19, 2002 at 14:26:21:

I didn't realize that there were cartilage implants now. I have heard only horror stories from people who had them years ago. My dr. said that if there is nothing there that the bones will calcify and harden. I am afraid that now that there is no cartilage that the joints will wear completely. Is it true that the bones can harden to the point that they will not wear down anymore? thanks.

Follow Ups:

• Re: TMJ question for Dr. Stoll (Archive in TMJ.) Walt Stoll 08:38:31 3/21/02 (0)

In Reply to: Re: TMJ question for Dr. Stoll posted by Lisa on March 20, 2002 at 09:10:03:

Hi, Lisa.

You need to get this technical explanation from your surgeon. Be sure to record your questions and his response. Not only is this why he gets the big bucks but because every case is different. This explanation must be to YOUR satisfaction and not just to HIS.

Without regrowing the cartilege, just proven to be possible within the past year, or placing a polyethelene prosthesis, the bone on bone articulation will continue to wear away until the joint is no longer functional.

This is why it is so sad that EVERYONE is not telling their patients that bracing is the cause and SR is the answer, long before things get to this point.

Walt