[HALLIEBETH87]

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

[krisakira]

I have it severely on and off. It causes me so much pain I cry all day sometimes.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Originally Posted by krisakira

I have it severely on and off. It causes me so much pain I cry all day sometimes.

the worst part is i cant afford the mouthpiece the dr says I need. the otc one I have only help so much which is very little. I don't have dental insurance. the dental school will help for cheaper...but I don't have money. :/ I feel at a loss. I feel like even though I know what is causing this it doesn't matter because I cant fix it. my insurance does cover chiropractic though. my friend with tmj said her chiropractor really really helps her with her pain and we were talking and she told me at this point what can it hurt if its the only avenue I have available?

[HALLIEBETH87]

Do you ever have pain all the way down to your shoulder and arm when you wake up?

[krisakira]

Interesting. The OTC mouth guard helped only sometimes for my TMJ... Yes I get pain down my neck and shoulders.. Depending on which side the TMJ pain is on, or both sides. And my cheek and teeth will hurt too. Bad headaches too. I'm sorry the mouthguard isn't working well for you. I don't have dental insurance either so I can't get one either.

[krisakira]

But I have never heard of going to a chiropractor for it. All doctors I see will not treat it, saying it is a dental problem, so I don't know how I could get a referral to the Chiropractor. Unless I get it from the dentist, but I don't have insurance so I can't get that. Darn.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have Medicaid medical insurance its not much but it does get some thing and it does cover some chiropractic. I know they do work for TMJ issues. It helps my friend with her TMJ related pain. My pain is on both sides but mostly on right.

I called the dental school today near me to see if I could get in just to see if they can help me in any way at *ALL* and I have to be referred there. They said the ENT who diagnosed me can refer me so I worked on that. It will be cheaper that way. So maybe there is hope? I clench during the day too so it is hard to get relief. I don't always know Im doing it. Also, I didn't have to have a referral to see this chiropractor I am going to see but maybe that is just where I am.

[atomicc]

I have it but not in a way that effects me too much. I had a few mouth surgeries stemming from a botched wisdom tooth removal !

[HALLIEBETH87]

I am glad it doesn't affect you too much!!

[technigal]

I have it pretty bad. Had to change jobs because of it. I see a specialist dentist who is a professor at the University and teaches courses on TMJ. I was also sent to a chiropractor who does mostly work on the jaw - it is mostly an internal massage on the jaw. I have a mouth guard that I rarely use now as my TMJ is mostly gone. When I started with the chiropractor I could open my mouth 18mm (normal is 45), within a few appointments I got to 28 and now seem to stay at around 35. I can eat anything I want now instead of soft foods.

[skyler143]

I have had TMJ for over fifteen years. Most every day i suffer with it. It is so bad that many jaw literally pops out of its socket and i have to hit myself hard in the jaw just to knock it back into place. If not, then my jaw is out of whack and the pain is unbearable and my jaw is stuck open and crooked. I would love it off anybody experiences this so severe and can give me some advice. Thanks to you all.

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[HALLIEBETH87]

Well I have never had to deal with the locking or cracking of the jaw. I know I have already explained but here are my symptoms:

pain in ear area
tense and pain in jawline
headaches
neck pain
soreness when chewing...I don't chew gum anymore!
sore teeth but dentist said my teeth are healthy
pain that radiates down my arm when I wake up sometimes

I see the chiropractor for a consult tomorrow about treatment. I chose this route first because I don't have access to dental treatment other simple cleaning and check-up. But, the ENT I saw...I requested him to refer me to the university dental school near me (its where I go to my pdoc actually!!) When I spoke with them, they told me the treatment there *will* be cheaper but they cant tell me how much of course. So, for now, I am just go through the motions to see what I can do.

Now, I have to wait for a student dentist to be set up for me. I was told it will take 1-3 weeks for an appointment to be made for me.

So...I have a question my fellow TMJ d/o sufferers.... :

Even though I may start to get relief from the chiropractic treatment, should I chose to do it, would it be worth my while to go ahead and try to go to dental school too??? I know my teeth are being damaged by the clenching...2 dentists and doctor have told that me so far. So if I can manage to get the mouth guard I supposedly need for cheaper (I am trying to save money for a better quality one..IM desperate!)....even though the pain may subside, should do it? Or should I just do the chiropractor route??

[HALLIEBETH87]

oh.my.gosh.

I have NEVER had my jaw pop. never! and then I just ate dinner and guess what? POP!

[technigal]

I did both. The chiropractor helped with the pain and the dentist did the night guard. Personally I think the chiropractor helped the most.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I saw the chiropractor today. he did all these weird movements with my face and jaw to see what shape it was in. he said its bad but not horrible yet. I found both comfort and fear in that! lol he also took xrays in my neck to see how it is aligned right now.

anyhow, I start on Monday and hes going to get their master herbalist to work with me to on natural things.

I feel really stiff and sore today. no fun.

this sucks. I trust him though. I know him from outside the office, this being a small town and also he told me he grinds his teeth and the other dr worked on him and the herbalist helped him!

[technigal]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

I feel really stiff and sore today. no fun.

this sucks. I trust him though. I know him from outside the office, this being a small town and also he told me he grinds his teeth and the other dr worked on him and the herbalist helped him!

The first few adjustments will leave you feeling sore but worth it in the end. Good luck.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Im actually really scared!!!!

[technigal]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Im actually really scared!!!!

Don't be, the chiropractor will only do what you can tolerate and it really does get better quickly. Most days after a treatment I was only sore for 30 minutes and nothing like the pain of TMJ.

[HALLIEBETH87]

how long does a session usually take?

[HALLIEBETH87]

yeah he told me its not fun working with tmj but he will work on making it feel better and that hopefully I wont want to slash his tires lol hes funny.

[technigal]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

how long does a session usually take?

about 15 minutes

[HALLIEBETH87]

good. not too long. im a nervous nelly.

[HALLIEBETH87]

IM starting to get really nervous. I am in a lot of pain today. I was even crying earlier. I cant stop myself from clenching! Ive applied heat and taken aleve earlier. I will try ice later.

How bad does it hurt the first time you go for treatment? please be honest

[technigal]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

IM starting to get really nervous. I am in a lot of pain today. I was even crying earlier. I cant stop myself from clenching! Ive applied heat and taken aleve earlier. I will try ice later.

How bad does it hurt the first time you go for treatment? please be honest

Honestly I don't remember. I remember being sore afterwards but nothing like the pain I had been in. I know that every time I made a noise during the treatment she would stop what she was doing. Good luck.

[HALLIEBETH87]

OMg Im so sore. He was really super nice. I was up all night in pain. I couldn't sleep. A part of that may have been nerves too but nonetheless I was in pain all night long.

He showed me my xrays they took of my neck. TMJ S. can cause you to have forward head posture....my neck is 4 inches forward from where it should be! So they have to work on my neck and my jaw. He did warn me its no fun when they work on your jaw muscles but omg it hurt so bad. Im almost embarrassed by the gasps and faces I made.
He was pressing on my jaw and making my open my mouth and I about died. After he was done he said I told you it wouldn't be fun.

Like I said hes nice and I *am* desperate but boy I am sore and not looking forward to this pain again.