[HALLIEBETH87]

Well it is has been misery lately with my jaw, the headaches, ear pain and even neck pain. I cant see chiropractor anymore. Now I have got to take the route of trying to get into dental school to get a fitted mouthguard and alleviate this craziness!

So, how many of you have been helped by the mouth guard. I can only get the otc one. I know melt it in hot water, etc.

Also what foods do you recommend me eating? And what ones should I avoid? I am finding relief with taking Tylenol and ibuprofen together. Aleve doesn't work for me. I don't have dental so I'm hoping the otc mouth guard works.

Pls any thoughts?

[HALLIEBETH87]

MY OTC doesnt help me. I got into my local dental school and they take payment so Im going to see a TMJ Dr. there. I feel blessed. Have you used ice? helps a lot!

[HALLIEBETH87]

Got my bite splint today! Geez it takes forever for them to get it adjusted just right for your bite! Im supposed to wear it every time I sleep and off and on sometimes the day this first month.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Anyone else? I was diagnosed with it today! It explains ALL of my issues I have been having!!!

Seems I developed this back at the end of June. The pain in the right side of my jaw came on suddenly!!

I was able to see the dentist soon after (few days), but on the next day, something popped on that side. It was twice, and it sounded LOUD, being right next to my ear.

She thinks the popping might have been it popping into place, and then that whole area was inflamed. She said there's a lot of muscles, tendons and ligaments in the jaw.

After seeing her, she said she didn't think I grind my teeth now. I've never done it, and I would have shown wear. I didn't get any kind of guard. She suspected it was from overstressing the jaw, biting down way too hard and that disc got dislodged.

I DO remember eating some really, crunchy stuff that day at lunch, and I could have been biting HARD without realizing it! Then, suddenly at dinner time, I could NOT open my mouth wide enough to put food in.

I was going to go to a specialist, but few dentists specialize in it. And even fewer take MediCaid. My health insurance would not cover it, as it is more of a dental thing according to my doctor. At this point, since I feel improvement each month, my dentist doesn't think I have to see anyone. I can still chew just fine, just not big chunks of anything.

I couldn't eat hard stuff like nuts until mid-August!!! Also, I can finally chew gum again, as that is hard on the muscles too.

I still can't open my mouth wide enough to eat a Subway sandwich like I used to!!!

It still bothers me after all this time, but it HAS improved a lot since that day. But slow and steady. Ice, Advil, and massage helped in the beginning. I would just massage that joint, and open/close my mouth a few times a day.

Fortunately, no jaw pain, no neck or head pain.....I often forget I have this TMJ thing, until I try to open my mouth wide enough for a Subway sandwich.

It feels like something is still trying to stretch out in there.

For a long time, I couldn't even open my mouth wide enough to YAWN. That was annoying!!!!!

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have Medicaid and saw a chiropractor for a while until I saw this dentist. Just so you know in going to a dental school and paying out of pocket. I do see a specialist but only because he's instructing the students working on the tmj patients. Anyhow chiropractor helped massage those muscles and relieve pain and symptoms a lot until I got this help.