[Aunt Donna]

Does anyone else suffer from TMJ? I have it and right now every time I eat, it hurts. I do have a mouth piece. Any replies would be welcomed.

[jerrymichele]

I have it, but it doesn't bother me. In my case it needs corrected with surgery. I'm not going to do it.

[Aunt Donna]

Do not even want to think about surgery. I'll eat soft foods all the time first. I have had it before, but that was years ago. This summer I kept going to the doctor complaining about my ear hurting. At first I had a throat infection that took two rounds of antibiotics to get rid of, then he kept checking everything until he found the source and it was the tmj back. He gave me medication for the pain but it doesn't seem to help much and I'm allergic to codeine. I have a check-up at the end of the month to see if my blood pressure meds need to be adjusted again and I'll talk to him about it. Thanks for the reply.

[Christina86]

I have minor TMJ I've got the mouth guards, which I wasn't using for most of the summer - now that school is back in though, I'm more stressed and my mouth hurts again! Time to use them again!!

[theotterone]

I clench my teeth at night, which causes TMJ symptoms. Due to being on stimulants, I have to watch how I hold my jaw when I am awake as I have found myself clenching my teeth without realizing it. Yesterday I got a hug from a friend, and my jaw popped! I've tried to get treatment for it, but keep getting bounced between the dentist and a regular MD doc.

[lynn P.]

Hi Faylowell,
I'm a long time sufferer of TMJ for 15yrs. I went through the same diagnosis problem as the other poster with doctors thinking it was my ear and throat - it was actually my jaw joint. I went to the othodontist and it's turns out I had an uneven bite line, so I got braces and had to have surgery to extend the lower jaw. I know it sounds scary but it wasn't as bad as I imagined it. I was wired shut for 2 months and pureed all my food. I'm glad I had the surgery because he said if I didn't I would end up with severe joint problems.

I have also found that putting ice directly on the jaw helps even though it hurts at first. Moist heat with those heat bags made with seeds inside also help and there are stretching exercises you can learn. The other poster made a good point about how it's good to be aware of how you have your jaw during the day - because we hold alot of tension in our jaws.

Several years ago I purchased this battery operated pen like device that works like acupuncture - you hold it to the skin and it gives a mild zap - it really works wonders in releasing the spasms in the muscle. After you apply heat or ice, open your mouth as far as you can and pull down from your chin and hold for 30 seconds - this will help stretch the muscles. Please feel free to PM me anytime if you need help.

[Rhapsody]

I've had TMJ for a few years now and I have found that wearing the mouth guard my dentist made for me at night while I sleep greatly cuts down on the pain I suffer from during the day.

[Amanda_1981]

I have tmj. I ended up having to get surgery for it this past April because the pain would get so bad. Now that I've had the surgery, the pain has subsided but my jaw still pops and I still get some pressure in my ears and my head but not nearly as bad as before. I also wear a mouth guard to prevent me from grinding my teeth at night. I hope your tmj gets better... there are some physio therapy exercises you can do to help with it and they can also do ultrasounds and accupuncture on your jaw as well to relieve the pain and pressure to avoid surgery.

[SUNNY2009]

Originally Posted by theotterone

I clench my teeth at night, which causes TMJ symptoms. Due to being on stimulants, I have to watch how I hold my jaw when I am awake as I have found myself clenching my teeth without realizing it. Yesterday I got a hug from a friend, and my jaw popped! I've tried to get treatment for it, but keep getting bounced between the dentist and a regular MD doc.

I have the same...finally got a night guard at the dentist and it helps a lot... kinda wierd because it is plastic molded to my mouth...I still clench but for whatever reason it takes the pressure off the jaw and wow - what a diff....I am suprised your Dr/dentist did set up up...I would inquire ...good luck

[VickiesPath]

I had plastic "stretchers" designed for me after I had a computerized assessment done on my jaw alignment two years ago. I had a plastic frame on my head and it was really cool, I could see a 3D illustration of my jaw and skull on the computer screen. The cost of the entire process was figured in with the cost of redoing my entire mouth because all of my crowns were worm down so far that they all needed to be replaced. My front lower teeth were so worn down that the replacement veneers were twice as tall. The realignment of my jaw and bite took five months.

After five months, I had all new crowns and veneers. The cost was the same as a new car. But I have to say that my headaches, jaw pain and bite alignment is 300% better. I actually have teeth on the bottom now. No more headaches and no more jaw pain. I think I'll get better mileage, too.

[Aunt Donna]

I appreciate all the replies. I have the mouth guard which helps, but I know it is coming down to me getting braces at the age of 42. My jaw doesn't pop anymore which helps. I just watching what I eat and trying not to tense up and grind my teeth.