I'm sorry you are experiencing this.

The fastest temporary relief I received was from the TENS unit.. and back then they only had big white electrodes, which I wore on my face/jaw even though everyone stared at me...the relief was astounding. Now they have small beige electrodes that work well. (I still use TENS on my jaws) (TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator. Don't get a MUSCLE thing STEM?)

You need to find a DMD who specializes in TMD... not a dentist who might have taken a course or two. If you can find an oral surgeon with a good result rate, then ask him/her for a recommendation for the dentist. Oral surgeons don't make the splints and keep track like the dentist can, usually I think... they are too busy being surgeons. IF you can get a TOMO scan for the DMD to use to make the jaw splint, that would be best. It's painful in that they have to bend your neck way back to get a clear scan of the complete jaw...but it's so worth it. That will give the dentist the exact measurements for how far off the jaw is on each side, and allow the splint to be made perfectly. For me, even a slight thickness more than I need creates more pain. The tomo will also show if the tmd needs surgery.

Wear the splint 24/7 even if the dentist says only at night. Trust me... my team encouraged this and I did and got results much faster. It's just that most patients won't even wear it at night, much less slobber during the day while trying to function. It does increase saliva production. Depends upon how much pain you're in I guess. It decreases pain because it allows your muscles to rest, and decreases the bruxism...

If your dentist or oral surgeon can also suggest a physical therapist that they use and is skilled in tmd, then all the better. Stretching of the muscles and such and working out the knots has to be done. Learning how to do many of the exercises yourself is a must. Stretching and relaxing, and learning the "right" place for you to rest your jaw is a must also. Learning how to hold your jaw, your tongue, your posture with the neck and back...all important to easing the pain. This increases ROM and lowers pain, and decreases the bruxism.

DON'T EAT ANYTHING that hurts. The obvious foods like nuts, biting into whole apples, steak, candy, peanut butter stuff... etc I think you can know. I also have trouble with foods that "chew back" like bread crust. Anything that bounces back rather than breaks off for chewing is easier imo. I went on a soft diet for 2 years solid... ice cream, soups etc... stuff I could swallow... which I swallowed my food for years anyway because I couldn't chew...and of course got no nutritive value and gained weight that way.

There are many patients who even have the surgery to clean out the TMJs themselves but fail to do the exercises (they hurt) or limit what they eat...and then they need another surgery. Sometimes a few more surgeries until they get with the program. I adhered to everything my DMDs told me...and I've only had to have the one surgery. (Though I wonder sometimes now, after all these years, if a tune up might be needed? )

ICE packs or heat packs... for your tmjs and neck...

Stress management help from a T. Most ppl just don't realize how much stress they carry in their bodies... and now you just HAVE to become aware!