I think I have TMJ: Anyone With Personal Experience of this?

[JCMach1]

I have always had a funky jaw-- too small for all my teeth and sometimes it pops when I eat or yawn...

fast forward...

About a month ago I started to experience terrible shooting pains in my neck (causing headaches)... this has slowly gotten better. But, several days ago I get a shooting (read ice pick) pain in my right jaw joint which caused me to not be able to chew, etc.

That has died down now too, but that joint is still stiff and somewhat sore.

Anyone else have TMJ? Does this sound like your experience? And, just what the heck can anyone do about this?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. If you're in college, see the doc immediately.

This is why: http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/Bacmeningitis.html
It preys upon college kids usually, but anyone COULD get it.

If not, take your time. Either way, see a doc.

On edit: Nevermind. I missed the "month ago" part.

[JCMach1]

3. Not menningitis... this is something chronic going on

I am a professor at a university...

[Zuni]

7. I had viral meningitis once and it was one of the most miserable

things you could wish on anyone. Fever, brain swelling, unholy 24/7 headaches

[madfloridian]

2. Oh, my yes. I could write a book.

After many attempts at bite plates, etc, I now work just with a message therapist. She is excellent with the jar muscles, neck and back muscles which cause a lot of the problems.

I saw dentists who wanted to pull all my teeth and replace them, ones who wanted to grind down all my teeth.

The word is caution. Be careful that what you choose can be undone.

[AlCzervik]

4. Yes, i have put off the surgery for 2 years now

i always knew something was up but it was confirmed when i has a dental restoration, long story. Anyhow, my jaw pops and i get some pain from time to time, more on the right side then the left which as you may have found can make the whole side of your body ache. If you can get in to be looked at i would, i may have my surgery in March.

[Phillycat]

5. You have TMJ.

I do too. The only thing a dentist can do is break your jaw and realign it. Not hardly worth it unless you want to lose a lot of weight.

A physical therapist can do ultrasound treatment and muscle energy techniquest that I've found very helpful.

When you yawn, place your fist below your jaw so your mouth doesn't open wide enough to pop your jaw in and out. That will cause pain.

Good luck. You also might have your dentist look for evidence of teeth grinding. Sometimes TMJ and grinding go hand in hand.

[hlthe2b]

6. Do the various devices to prevent teeth grinding at night help?

[Phillycat]

8. Yes.

The mouth guards do work, but I had to get mine fitted at the dentists. The over the counter ones did not fit my mouth and they cut my gums and were too big for my mouth. The custom made ones are very expensive.

[hlthe2b]

13. Wow, I was thinking of buying the OTC kit--seems they have two sizes....

But, sounds like a gamble, hmm? How expensive are the custom ones?

[Phillycat]

16. About $300.

[JCMach1]

11. I don't think I grind my teeth...

so, it might be best to try some of the therapies first... I am treating it myself for the moment, but another bad flareup and I am off to the doc.

The other bad thing looking for a specialist is that I am in a country with only 4 million other souls.

There may, or may not be a TMJ expert here.

[LisaM]

9. I have TMJ and my (excellent) dentist has kept it at bay

by restoring my bite to normal. She is obsessed with a good bite and always had me biting down on things to adjust it. Now I barely have a problem at all. If your dentist isn't good with this, check with everyone you know and see if they have a dentist who is expert at this. The surgery is not only drastic, it's expensive and most insurance plans don't cover it (even though it can cause long term health problems.)

[hlthe2b]

14. Yes.. It would seem like they could "build" up areas that are uneven

to ensure a good bite, rather than doing things so drastic as pulling teeth, jaw realignment, etc. Like back surgery for disc disease to me-- something one does only as a last resort (as recent research seems to validate)

[Loki]

10. There are several things you can do right now

Try and give your jaw a rest by having a soft diet for a couple of days and take some anti-inflamatories like Advil or generic ibuprophen if you are not sensitive to that. Try not to open your mouth greater than l/2 to 1 inch as that aggravates the joint. Often, dentists will prescribe muscle relaxants and a mouth guard. You can get an inexpensive mouth guard at most sports shops for under $10.00 that you place in warm water and let it shape to your lower jaw. These should be worn at night. See your dentist as soon as you can. Most TMJ treatment is palative to help relieve the stress on the joint and reduce pain and discomfort. Hope this helps.

[JCMach1]

12. Definitely getting some good advice... thanks

didn't know there were so many people with this...

I did take muscle relaxants for awhile because my doc initially thought it was a pinched nerve in my neck.

[hlthe2b]

15. Robaxin (methocarbamol) is OTC in Canada, I know, but prescription

only in US. You might well find it in UAE pharmacies, JCMach1. It is a very effective muscle relaxant, often compounded together with acetaminophen (tylenol) or aspirin in OTC formulations.

[el_gato]

17. don't eat GrapeNuts