Keep in mind TMD is a chronic pain condition -- You can't be getting treatments for it and eating nuts, etc meanwhile. Any hard food such as nuts or tough, chewy bread (bagels come to mind) or large sandwiches you have to open wide for will cause a complete flair up of pain. I stopped chewing gum and have been on a soft food diet for years. If I were to eat a bagel, I would have a swollen bloody lip from the lateral deviation of the disc.

Also, a popping sound is normal in most people whether or not that have TMD symptoms. The pop sound may be around forever -- don't let that be indicative of your progress. Continue the soft food diet for at least a month. Then try something and see if your symptoms flair up.

My TMD started from a traumatic injury.. I didn't get treatment for the jaw right away but 4 years later I am. I have been going to physical therapy a few times a week for about 2 months. In addition to working on my lock jaw/mouth opening/jaw pain, we are working on my posture because the stress on your back and neck with unload stress onto your jaw joints if your posture is off due to uneven stress on your neck and back.

About TMD surgery -- I think there are some that are minimally invasive such as the arthroscopy procedures to just wash the joint out. They do fat graft ones as well to beef up the disc and joint a little more to prevent arthritis. Much of the reason that jaw surgery is a bad idea is because of the recovery -- it's nearly impossible to restrict your jaw after surgery as you need it to eat, drink, and talk. I think the only procedure they will still wire your jaw after is called a Leforte, but I could be wrong.

TMD really sucks. I would take an aleve before the chiropractor and ice for 20 minutes after to reduce residual pain and soreness.