Banner Sponsors

Tracy May 5, 2006

Hi gals!  Wondering here if anyone else on TT has TMJ (or lockjaw ) and has any tips on dealing with this.  I had gone to physical therapy for it a year ago and was doing well with stretching and strengthening exercises, but had to finally do to the dentist a couple of weeks ago...........now I'm back to square one with the pain and inability to open my mouth very far.  The pain is awful.........feels like a vise tightened around my head constantly.  I've been taking left-over Ibuprofen 800 mg THREE times daily just to keep this below migraine level.  And the headache/jawache doesn't ever go completely away!  I guess I'll probably have to go back to the doctor, but I don't want to.  They can only give me more pain meds and send me to physical therapy......... AGAIN!  The "best" part is that I have to go back to the evil dentist in a few more weeks.............my jaw can't wait!  

I'm being a baby here, but woke up with the headache again this morning.  I'm feeling like I can't deal with this!!   It's hard to function.    Anyone have any ideas?  I would be most appreciative of anything I could try.

:hug:
Tracy

DebbieD May 5, 2006

You're certainly NOT being a baby with TMJ!!!    :hug: My dad and brother suffer from this and its horrible.  Your best bet is massage, stretches, and acupuncture for pain relief.  You're right, the medical community will hand you pain meds for it, but until you can get those muscles to relax, the pain meds are only temporary. 

:hug: Sending massive  :hug:

Shari May 5, 2006

:hug:  :hug:   :hug:   :hug:   :hug:   :hug:       Sorry,this is all I can offer  :hug:   :hug:   :hug: 

Tracy May 5, 2006

Thanks Debbie!  I've not heard of acupuncture for this.......do your dad and brother have it done?  I'm not even sure if we have an acupuncturist around here.........will have to start looking.  The physical therapy I had before helped.......they concentrated on getting the muscles to settle down and sent me off with stretching/strengthening exercises to keep it that way.  Worked great until that evil dentist took me down again!    I'm trying to do the stretching ones, am massaging my own face and jaw, and taking lots of ibuprofen (which is going to kill off my stomach probably).  I guess I almost feel that the PT was a temporary fix too...........that cost tons of $$$ to boot!
My insurance company is going to hate me if I go through that again!

:hug:
Tracy

Chowlea Bears May 5, 2006

Tracy - in my experience - its dentists leaning on the lower jaw whilst working - that kills me too.  I use acupuncture, and have a physiotherapist 'move' my neck.  The pain is usually referred pain from the upper vertebrae in the neck, with the supporting neck muscles in spasm.  This may help you.

Sandra  :redface:

Tracy May 5, 2006

Shari--Your hugs help more than you know!!  Thanks! :hug:  :hug:

Sandra--That makes sense to me too.  And my neck is definitely involved.....it feels very tight.....I've been begging neck rubs from my family to the extent I might get choked instead of massaged one of these times!       I'm going to call my chiropractor today as well as look for an acupuncturist.  Thank you!! :hug:  :hug:

Donna May 5, 2006

Tracy,
It was the chiropractor that helped me.  I go see him after every dental visit.  At one point I was so bad that I had seen the chiropractor three times with no help then went for a massage and that did the trick.  My dentist says it is stress not his dentistry.  My husband begs me to find a new dentist.
Donna

gotobedbears May 5, 2006

Oh Tracy you poor thing!!!!!     

It sounds awful and i don't think you are whinging or anything - i would be hell to live with if i had to contend with TMJ syndrome!

I can't offer any advice i'm afraid sweetie but i am sending you BIG hugs and get well wishes.
:hug:  :pray:   

Can you still shout at the boys? Can you still eat chocolate? Can you still drink alcohol?
These are questions i need to know the answers to Tracy.

Penny     

Tracy May 5, 2006

Can you still shout at the boys? Can you still eat chocolate? Can you still drink alcohol?
These are questions i need to know the answers to Tracy.

Yes Penny...........to ALL of the above!! :crackup:  :crackup: Not sure that alcohol would be good with the pain meds though......although it is just Ibuprofen in huge doses!  Who cares about the lining of my stomach anyway......I'd feel better! :crackup:  :crackup: You know, I have been a bit on the grouchy side lately   ...............Hope nobody decides to cure me with amputation.......that would be 'off with my head'!  

Thanks Donna :hug:  :hug: ...........and I agree with your husband about finding a new dentist.  The man is totally discounting the misery you experience after seeing him........as it couldn't possibly be any of his doing!!  

I have just taken a step in the right direction by calling my chiropractor.  I never thought to ask before (and I see him once a month anyway :doh: ) but he can and does treat for TMJ.  I've got an appointment for monday morning..........why oh why does it have to be friday today with a whole weekend to wait!  Aack..........and OUCH!!  

:hug:
Tracy

Chowlea Bears May 5, 2006

Glad to be of some help

Sandra  :redface:

Eileen May 5, 2006

  Yow, Tracy, I don't know anything at all about Lockjaw, but it sounds very very painful!

I hope you get some real relief soon . . . . hugs and prayers in the meantime :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Eileen

JeannieB May 5, 2006

Hi,
Sorry you feel soooo bad I had a client from the veterinary office I worked at who had TMJ...and I got to see how bad it was for the nine years that we knew each other!  I wanted to add that we had a veterinarian who did acupuncture on dogs...and the results were fascinating!!!! I knew it worked when I saw a dog with a slipped disk and pinched nerves get up and walk after acupuncture! We had been treating the dog with medicines for months. He had not walked in weeks! That made a true believer out of me!!! :hug:  :hug:  Dogs don't lie or make up stuff!
JeannieB

Jellybelly Bears May 6, 2006

Yes Tracy and it is annoying and hurts and makes everything else around it hurt       I find I make it worse by clenching as I sew or compute.  One thing that has helped me before is Bowen therapy.  Little movements over the tendons and they loosen it up or something.  At home mum will massage around my jaw neck etc with a gel called feldene.  It numbs it.  Pressure points help too...
Good luck and hope you get some relief!!
xo Sarah

Helena May 6, 2006

Ouch, Tracy.... I really feel for you  :hug:. Fortunately I don't suffer from it but did experience it once, and strangely enough that was also after a trip to the dentist's. I was having work on the teeth at the back and had to keep my mouth wide for the longest time - consequently could barely open my mouth for the next week or two. Lots of soup and moaning for that period of time....  :crackup:

I'm sure the chiropractor will help, and having a quiet word with your dentist to explain what happens might help too. Sounds like you need to be able to close your mouth and move your jaw around as much as possible during treatment. And maybe ask if it's ok not to open your jaw to it's widest point?

Finger's crossed you get some relief quickly! 

Laniebears May 6, 2006

:hug: Hope you feel better soon... :hug:  :hug:

Delartful Bears May 6, 2006

Oh Tracy, how terrible for you.  I have never heard of it, but it sounds dreadful.  I am wishing you all the best - I hope you can find something that works for you.

Danni

Tracy May 6, 2006

Thanks so very much to all of you :hug:  :hug: ...................your well-wishes and advice about this problem of mine are so very much appreciated!!    

Had to say that   !

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Tracy