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My Recent Posts · (07/18/09

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Hi,
I was hoping to hear from anyone who has had a total jaw joint replacement by TMJ CONCEPTS? and what experiences did you have?

I live in Australia and my tmj problems began 10 years ago when I was 19. since then I have had my left tmj disc removed 6 years ago as it was damaged beyond repair and it is now fused as a result of having bone on bone for 10 yrs. i only have an opening of 10 mm Because of this my right tmj has been compensating for the left side and doing double the work for this whole time. I have lived with chronic pain as well as trigeminal neuralgia and am on a cocktail of meds that now do not provide me with any relief as my system has become tolerant to them (over a span of 10 years). My oral surgeon has recommended a total left joint replacement as this is the last resort.

My right tmj is now dislocating more and more each day but since i have to get my tmj prosthesis custom made in America from tmj concepts, it comes at a price. It will cost me around $15,000 Australian dollars, which no insurance covers, and money I don't have, plus due to insurance constraints I cannot have the surgery for another 12 months. I am worried that having to wait this long my right side is going to deteriorate rapidly. my surgeon doesn't really want to touch my right side (do any surgery) as he is hoping once my left joint replacement is done, the right will settle down and return to "normal" function.

I am just hoping to hear from those out there who have had tmj total joint replacements and the experiences that you have had, as well as ANY advice would be gratefully appreciated.
Cheers,
Carey

My Recent Posts · (07/18/09

Hello Carey & Welcome,

We do have someone who has Concepts. Ginni has recently reported having the surgery and she is doing well. She also knows others with good experiences.
She posted to our "Christensen Fossa Prosthesis" Thread. I had intended to ask if she was ok with moving her report to it's own thread and have not done that yet. Our Christensen Thread has some rather bad reports.

It appears the Concepts are a much better replacement.
Please read here.

http://www.tmjtalk.com/topic/377?page=9

I'm sure Ginni will be back and happy to talk with you.

I hope we'll be able to help and you are very welcome here.

Cymy Sue

My Recent Posts · (07/18/09

Hi Carey,

I wanted to tell you welcome to our board. I am sorry you had to find us due to TMJ problems.

I also need a TJR bilaterally, but I am unable to afford it due to the state I live in the USA has no mandated TMJ coverage. It is really weird in the US that we have states that mandate coverage and other states that do not mandate coverage of insurance. In the US all charges a few years ago hospital, anesthesiologist, surgeon and the making of the TMJ Concepts totaled around $100,000.00 US dollars for me. I had an estimate given to me from a surgeon that is well-known in the US in the state/city of Dallas, Texas named Larry Wolford.

I was told by another surgeon I needed a discectomy by the surgeon that did my unsuccessful TMJ Arthroplasty in the state of Arkansas. I decided not to have it done due worry of the problem you have now fusion of bone on bone. I knew if this happened I would need a joint replacement and would not be able to afford it.

I got in the shape I am by having dislocated disc for quite some time without any symptoms and clinching and grinding at night. I was curious if you might share what happened to the left side of your jaw. I didn't know if you had an injury or if it was just clenching/grinding. I also know have severed degenerative osteoarthritis in both sides. I have snapping and popping in my right side daily.

We had one lady from England that had a very successful replacement bilaterally with the TMJ Concepts. A lot of the time it is hard to find successful stories on the board due to people get well and don't come back or stay around to share their positive experiences with new patients, but they are out there. I know one of the big factors I was told was to NOT have several surgeries prior to the TJR. The more surgeries you have prior to a TJR it reduces your chances for a successful outcome. I have had only one and was considered a good candidate.

I hope you will keep us posted on your progress, and if you do eventually have a TJR on the left side any information would be greatly appreciated as we don't have many TJR patients stories on our board. It would help us out tremendously to follow the progress of a patient. Ginni would be a good person to talk to as she is also a surgical nurse plus a successive 3 week post op TJR patient.

Best wishes,
Michelle

My Recent Posts · (07/18/09

Hi Cymy Sue and Michelle,

Thank you for your warm welcomes. Well it is good to hear that tmj concepts have had a good response so far. i know it is early days but anything positive is good. Sorry to hear about your problems Michelle, it is a joke that tmj isn't covered by insurance. In 10 months I will be covered for everything except the concepts prosthesis and 3D CT scan and skull mould, so in a way I am lucky but it is still a lot of money.

My tmj problems began 10 years ago when an anaethetist over stretched my jaw for an intubation and dislocated my L tmj. The surgery was for my foot. I had no previous jaw problems until then. since then my L tmj just got worse. It began with the clicking and popping, which then lead to being locked shut with a 5mm opening for 5 yrs. Had 2 washouts of the joint which did not help at all, 2 arthroscopes of the joint, the first was useless b/c the equipment was faulty and nothing could be seen once the surgeon was in there. THE 2nd scope revealed that my L disc was damaged beyond repair. I went thru 7 surgical opinions, i did my homework and research as most surgeons wanted to do a discectomy and at that age, a ripe old 23 (lol) i didn't really want a discectomy b/c then I would be left with bone on bone which could lead to arthritis etc. grafts were talked about but to my knowledge and from drs, they were usually no good due to body rejection and other problems. Pain was a real big issue for me, i was on a cocktail of meds, was practically locked shut and quality of life was down the drain. I finally found a good surgeon and the plan was to reatach my L disc, but once the surgeon got in there the disc was irepairable so a discectomy was performed. post that surery my opening was better (from 5mm to 10mm)but pain wise a lot worse. so after 5 surgeries i was basically at where i started from but with much worse pain to the point where i began to pass out from the pain.

So fast forward 6 yrs to the present and I now have degenerative arthritis and ankylosis of my L tmj. the joint is now fused due to having bone on bone for the last 6 yrs and my minimal opening. as I said in my last post, my R tmj has become a massive problem now as it has been compensating all these years for the L not working. I have severe pain in my R tmj, clicking and popping of the joint, facial pain, trigeminal neuralgia, spasms, ear pain and the constant headache behined my R eye which I have had 24/7 for the past 10 yrs. it's like deja vu all over again but this time on my R side.

Will keep you posted as I hope you will do the same.
Take care,
Carey

My Recent Posts · (07/19/09

Hi Carey,
Glad you found our website. I am sorry I wrote such a quick email but so much going on in my corner of the world. We have had this board going on five years so I was very surprised when I heard from you after all this time. I am more surprised that you found an email that worked for me. LOL
I am sorry to hear you are still having problems. I was hoping that no news was good news. I had seen you post a few times on other boards but didn't know how to contact you without going against guidelines.
I hadn't seen Ginni's posts on the Christensen Thread but I am glad she is doing well. Cymy suggested moving her posts and I think that would be a good idea.
Anyway just wanted to welcome you to our board and any information you can come up with, feel free to post. Look forward to chatting with you.
Elaine

My Recent Posts · (03/21/10

Hello all,
Sorry for not dropping in more often. Life is a bit hectic, we have a new grandbaby in our family, and I try to spend time with him when I can!
Some of you know me from back when, some do not. Whatever, hope my brief update is good news for some of you who may be comtemplating a total joint replacement.

I had, briefly, TMJ problems starting in HS, after a horse riding accident. Did not make the relationship between the jaw pain and clicking right away to what happened (though likely it would not have affected outcome?). Continued on, the jaw kept clicking and popping, uncomfortable, but mildly so.

First forward to nursing school. Had my first closed lock. With information from an ENT doctor at the time, I was able to learn to do self cares to avoid major problems. Quit eating many aggravating foods etc.

Very stable for years, and if it got fired up, I just knew to back off, drink shakes and do soft food.

Suddenly in 2000 pain began in L joint and never stopped again. The next 9 years were a personal hell, frankly. Pain was not good and did not get better, it slowly got worse. First OS surgeon I saw finally did two arthrocentesis to try to loosen the joint up and calm it down with anti inflammatories. I had two scopes. First one found lots of adhesions and inflammation of joint, cleared them out. I felt better after that. Sadly it didn't last longer than a year. He was very reluctant to do another, though he finally did two years after the first one. He told me I needed to get a splint. I did. Did nothing for me. He referred me to another person whose only practice is TMD/oralfacial pain. She insisted on another splint.. By then I was SURE something was very wrong in my joints and no one was willing or able to acknowledge that.
Let us just say I left her practice after I felt she screamed and abused me verbally for not following her rules (whatever that meant) and I was insisting I did not have "classic" TMD stuff. I really already sort of thought my joints were in bad shape and needed a replacement of sorts. DJD is DJD, no matter if it is hips, knees, shoulders, etc.
Did lots of research and in talking to someone on the east coast who is a member of the Amercian Society of Tempormandibular Surgeons, he concurred I needed to see someone in that group - and turns out there was a doctor within two or less hours of my home.
Went to see him and the rest is history. After many more years of wrangling with my HMO, I did end up have a bilateral temporomandibular joint replacement on both sides using the Concepts joints. This occurred June 23rd, 2010. Surgery was about 9 hours (including wiring jaws together for intraop), etc. I was in hospital two nights for pain management - it was not too bad acutally, and I think I had less pain postop than I had been having preop. At least I knew it was a DIFFERENT type of pain.
Now, less than one year later I have had no problems. I can eat whatever I want. I can open my mouth. My talking is not a problem. My bite is fine. I can eat bagels, STEAK!,subs, chewy bread, licorice (!). The only thing I don't touch is gum and I gave that up in HS and could care less.

So for many people, there IS life after TMJ replacement and it can be VERY good. I would not personally hesitate to do it again!

Sincerely, Ginni

My Recent Posts · (03/21/10

Ginni,

Thanks so much for your report. I'm very happy to hear you're doing well.

We all appreciate you for coming back and letting us know.

Congratulations on the grandbaby. I have an eight month old grandson. ( we had 3 little boys in my family this past summer from July to Oct.)

Thank you again. The only way those who suffer TMJ problems can learn, is from others .....like you and me.

I got better after long term TMJ problems and many surgeries because I was forced to look elsewhere after being turned down for TJR's and you got better by having them done.

I suspect there are many ways from one end of the spectrum to the other and hope everyone finds their answer to a better life with all types of TMJD and after treatments that have not worked (this includes the bad doctors we've all met).

Please come by again when you have time.

Cymy Sue

My Recent Posts · (12/31/10

Hello Everyone! My condylar resorption is continuing to get worse and I have tried every noninvasive treatment possible. Surgery is my last hope. I am facing Total Joint Replacements (TMJ Concepts) with a doctor in Dallas. Has anyone else had this surgery at Baylor? If so, how are you doing? Are you out of pain? I would appreciate any feedback on this surgery and your recovery. THANK YOU SO MUCH

!

My Recent Posts · (01/03/11

Welcome Mccaulcm;

I have been told by a surgeon in Dallas that I need a TJR and I was going to do it at Baylor. I have heard good things about Baylor Medical Center.

After looking at cost and what my insurance would not pay I made the decision to go onto pain management and postpone the surgery as long as possible.

I would really like to know how you do with your surgery. Do you have it scheduled yet? I may have to have this done eventually despite all my prolonging and I would like to follow your progress.

Sincerely,
Michelle

My Recent Posts · (01/11/11

Michelle, I will keep you posted. I'll probably be having surgery in September. Hope you're doing well. All my best to you!

My Recent Posts · (01/15/11

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Hello all,
Just realized other day I am essentially 18 months postop my bilateral TJR with Concepts. Things are status quo, i.e. very good! I am still very happy with how it all went. My recovery was routine/unspectacular (this is a good thing!). I was off pain meds (MS Contin and Vicodin) within about 6 weeks - which did cause a problem with with I now realize was probably my body's reaction to going off too soon? I thought I had weaned myself slowly enough but was so glad to be DONE with those meds, I probably did it too soon. I had about a 10 day or so period of horrendous sleeplessness - delayed me going back to work as soon as I planned to - but I survived, got through it and am fine now. If I have any mild aches - which seem to be weather related - I take two aspirin. But since I take aspirin daily for arthritis in other parts of my body (neck,shoulders, thumb) it is usually something I do not think about. I still do stretching exercises for my jaw muscles whenever I think about it, usually daily, while on my drive in and out of work. I eat anything - I don't chew gum - I DO notice if I were to eat bagels a lot or do something dumb like chew a lot of toffees or licorice, I might feel a mild ache, but nothing I would do anything about. No noises out of the jaw. I can eat steaks and sub sandwiches and all sorts of stuff like that! I think my surgeon(s) did an excellent job and they are happy with the outcome. I will say (and they say) I went into this knowing full well it MIGHT not relieve all of my pain, but as my problem appeared to be purely mechanical (once it was diagnosed properly), I had a better chance than a pt with bad muscular issues or something similar. That is what I was told, at least. And, I went into it realistically - as a nurse, I must say I do see joint replacement patients who perhaps are not as realistic about their immediate postop course or even longer down the road - maybe not realzing (what the doctor says, they don't always hear right away) how long it might take to recover completely, the risks of things going wrong, my role in doing my PT exercises, etc.

I recently saw the surgeon for a followup routine visit. I told him that even IF I ran into problems down the road - unlikely at this point, but hey, I have seen it happen with other joints - like a component breaks or a screw loosens etc and you need another surgery - while I would NOT be thrilled, I would be realistic enough to say these things happen AND I am so glad I was able to have such a time of COMFORT for so long! I also told them they were able to give me HOPE and that is something no other person I saw until I finally got in touch with the right people had even existed - which is what made it really hard. Losing hope is a horrible thing.

I wish the best to any of you who are considering this for the right reasons. It is not to be undertaken lightly, but for the selective group of patients by the right OS, it can indeed be a miracle! I thank the stars everyday for how mine turned out so well.

I am always willing to talk to folks about how this all turned out if it will help.

Sincerely, Ginni in Wisconsin

My Recent Posts · (01/16/11

Ginni,
I am really glad things turned out so well for you. It helps to know that there is help out there if you can find the right doctor, who knows what he is doing and obviously you did. I haven't had too much trouble with my jaw since my detox but I find my back pain is back full force. I blast myself with a tens and still doesn't kill the pain. Oh well what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. I have to look at that way I guess. The sleeplessness part really stinks. I wonder how many more days and nights before I can sleep? Tomorrow will be my two weeks but still having some horrible issues. Who would have known? I sure didn't.
Please don't be a stranger.
Elaine

My Recent Posts · (01/16/11

Hello

I live in Canada on the East Coast. I have been living in pain for years now. It seems it will never end but I know God has plans for all of us. I left my work at 42 years old and went out on Long Term Disability. My pain got worst all the time. I started having terrible headaches all the time, I think I was in my bed more than I was out of it.

I went to so many doctors, each of them sending me on to someone else. First I had a rib graft done in my right TMJ, as I have Degenerative Joint Disorder. I had that surgery and my pain got even worst. More & more drugs, none of which seem to do anything. I had a mouth guard with wires attached to what already was a bite plate made in 2001. That same bite plate is still in my mouth. I had Physio done including radiation to the jaw, ultra sound and acupuncture done, that lady finally told me I didn't have to come no more, that there was nothing she could do. Another Dr. wanted to do BoTox down my forehead, into my jaw area and down my neck. His next sentence was this may leave you paralyzed on one side of my face or maybe loose my speech and I sure was not taking that chance.After having this thing in my mouth now for more than two years, I would like to bury it in my backyard.

Some weeks I am in bed for three of four days at a time. I feel bad for my husband but he says he understands and will always be there for me. I just had an MRI done in Halifax NS and found out a have to have a Total Joint Replacement done sometime in the next few months. I say I am not going to think or worry about it but I find myself going there, wondering this and wondering that.

We watch Dr. Charles Stanley a lot on TV and he always says worrying and fearing will not get us anywhere. I know God has my best interest at heart and I can only hope and pray all goes well on this surgery. Once this surgery is done, I can now tell people I am screwed up in the head. The TJR system I am getting in out of Florida and the company name is Bionet. I am getting anxious about the surgery but I try not to think about it at all.

I would love to hear from anyone with this same problem. Sometimes you feel like you are all alone but as I said God is with each and everyone of us every minute of every day. I hope to hear a lot of positive feedback from you all.

May God Bless & Keep you all
Love & Prayers
Mollie

My Recent Posts · (01/19/11

Hi there, i cant beleive ive only just found this site. i have a few questions and was wondering if you guys can help me out (those who have had tmj concepts)

Heres my story:
So i am currently 22 years old and have had numerous surgeries re: my tmjs.
8 years ago when i was fourteen i got hit with a baseball bat on the left side of my face, it was purely accidental by my friend and i suffered 2 broken teeth and a few stitches, nothing major at all.

5 years later after no problems i started getting clicking jaw when opening and closing, every now and then it would lock whilst opening and i would have to hit my jaw or apply pressure for it to unlock and continue opening.
i saw doctors and dentists who said it was muscle problems and to wear a night splint gaurd which i did for 3months.

Then one day i woke up and my jaw was locked shut at 8mm was very bad pain in the right joint.

after an mri scan it showed the articular disc has slipped without reacapturing. i can only assume it was due to the tramua with the baseball bat that has caused this to progressively grow out of place???

Anyway my only problems with tmj are mouth opening and chronic pain at the joint. so since 2007 i first had a bi-lateral tmj arthroplasty on both sides. this worked fine for 2 weeks, then it got worse. i then had a minesectomy on the right side and arthroscopy on the left side.
a year later i was at the same point in regards to mouth opening and pain and was diagnosed with severe degenerative joints with active arthritis.
my mandible and temporal bones had fused together resulting in permantely lock jaw. my lower jaw would always deviate to the right when opening and i would also get muscle spasms just infront of my ear.

8 Days ago i had a total tmj replacement on the right side and a simple arthroscopy on the left. my face is still quite swollen and the inscisions are very eyesore and i dont think they will heal up well. 58 stitches and having been cut open many times in the same area im not suprised. i am using my therabite everyday and most evenings i can get it open to 14mm with the therabite and without it i can fit 2 fingers in my mouth. but every morning it seems to have reduced to 5mm. i can also hear very strange noises from the titanium implant like sandpaper when opening and even some clicking still.

i was very concerned about the risks involved with this and i heard a lot of contradictions to the surgery but i went with it anyway.
currently i have no chronic pain, only post op pain and pain when i open to the max (14mm) and my jaw is opening in a straight downward movement.

My surgeon also corrected my bite which feels very strange and to be honest i dont like it, my left side teeth meet when i bite but my right side there is a gap when i fully bite down meaning i cant eat or chew on that side. not really important right now as im on a very soft diet but i do hope this rectifies itself.

One big question i have, is it visible that you have an implant. i.e. the swelling has near enough gone but my right side jawline is very very promenent compared to the left. like you can see there is something beneath the skin, i can even feel the implant. i was told it will not be visible and my face will look exactly the same, will this settle down? is your face the same visibly as it was pre-op?
Thanks
Dean, 22, London, UK

My Recent Posts · (01/21/11

Hi, I am a newbie here. I had a bilateral total joint replacement on Nov. 20th 2002. My implants are from Tmj Concepts. I have chronic pain and will have it for the rest of my life. I will say that my pain really did not change that much from before my joint replacement surgery. I do take pain medication from a pain specialist to help deal with the severe pain. I cannot say enough great things about Tmj Concepts and their products. In the beginning I had so many questions so I called Tmj Concepts and spoke to Dave Sampson for over an hour. He answered every question that I had and then some. Since then I have spoken to him a few times and he has been very nice and helpful to me. If you are in need of a total joint replacement my advice would be to do your homework. Research, research and research!!! Do what you are doing right now, read other peoples stories and get your questions answered before consenting to any surgery. I had severe, I mean severe severe osteoarthritis. My surgeon said that I had the worst case he had ever seen in his whole life as a doctor. Even though I suffer with severe chronic pain I am so happy that I went with Tmj Concepts. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I will try to help in any way that I can. TmjTerri

My Recent Posts · (01/21/11

Hi everyone, I am new here.

I had Bilateral Total Joint Replacement surgery on 10/20/2009 using TMJ Concepts with a surgeon in Dallas, Texas. I endured a complication from the fat grafting of the surgery and had to go through major stomach surgery in 1/2010. The complication was a seroma had developed as a result of a blood vessel being damaged during the fat grafting procedure. Following the total joint surgery, I gained ROM, but it started decreasing overnight to presently 5mm. I am in more pain now than when I began the surgery and I just found out that the medications my surgeon has me on in Dallas has created Acid Reflux and possibly a hiatal hernia or ulcer. Due to my limted ROM, my GI doctor stated that if I need an Endoscopic procedure it will have to be done in Dallas under my surgeon's supervision. I am supposed to be heading back to Dallas soon for a manipulation procedure under sedataion to see what is causing all my complications.

I strongly advise anyone considering any type of total joint surgery to your jaw joints to do your research. There are so many patients out there facing serious complications following their surgery. The tough part is the average life of the prostheses is 10 to 15 years and the surgery has to be redone. Also, senstivity to the metals of the prostheses is another complication that I am presently getting tested for.

Is there anyone else out there experiencing similar complications following their bilateral total joint surgery? One thing I have learned is that no matter how world renowned your surgeon is and how many surgeries he performs, serious complications still develop after this surgery. When this happens, the patient is normally left abandoned with no where to turn.

My Recent Posts · (02/14/11

I have had my replacement joints for 19.5 years and am trying to find others who have had the joints as long. I am having a terrible time with cracking.

My Recent Posts · (02/22/11

Both of my surgeons after they did my surgeries ( 3 major surgeries before my total joint replacement by 2 different doctors) have both abandoned me. Now, I cannot find a surgeon in my area who handles tmj total joint replacements. I am SO scared that if my implant fails that I will have NO where to go. I am also like you, I have 10 times MORE pain after my surgeries then before. I must take pain meds for the rest of my life because of it. It sucks and it can get depressing if you let it.

My Recent Posts · (02/22/11

Hello to all of our new posters. I wish I could offer some advice. My story goes in the other direction.

Ginni, who posted above is the only person who has come back and posted about great results with TJR. She has done extremely well.

Diagnosed in 1977, I had non invasive treatments for about 10 years, many surgeries including cartilage grafts from 1988 through 1997. In 1997, everything was removed. I was left with nothing. The pain was unbelievable and I was in a permanent lock. My only option was Pain Management. In 2002, I thought I couldn't live with it any longer and requested TJR. I was refused. The surgeon was honest enough to tell me that he might could give me more function, but he was certain the pain would increase and he would not do that.

I started looking for help from any source I could find. I started with theraputic massage and then was fitted with a splint designed for people damaged by multiple surgeries and with no functional joints. I got better and rarely have even a slight ache.....almost 30 years after my diagnosis of TMJD. I can open about 30-34 ml. My case is probably unusual. Maybe not...most people who get better don't come back and let us know.

I pray for all of you an answer. I am so thankful I found one.

There is hope..........

I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier. I'm recovering from a Total Knee Replacement. Hopefully, this will go well.

My Recent Posts · (03/07/11

Hi Mollie,
I live in Winnipeg but had all my surgeries done in Montreal or Toronto. Dr. Baker in Toronto did my right joint replacement in 2007. He used a joint made by Lorenz which I'm realising from the info posted on the TMJ Assoc. website, isn't doing very well. I'm not doing very well either. I've needed both joints replaced since 1990 but managed to put it off until 2007. I can't say I'm better off for having had the surgery. I have been unable to return to my teaching job and take morphine everyday.
Do your research, read other people's stories and be very realistic about the chance of surgery not being the answer.
Make sure you get a custom made joint; don't settle for picking between smal,l med or large and make sure you have a good physiotherapist lined up for post op.
Blessings,
Adriana

My Recent Posts · (03/08/11

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Hi Carey,
Your story reads almost exactly like mine in terms of the state of your joints. I would call the TMJ association and ask their opinion on TMJ Concepts. They have a better sense than any of us as to what's happening with the various devices out there. All I know is that surgery has never been the answer for me. I was told, before my right TMJ replacement in 2007, that because of all my previous surgeries, the chances of it actually reducing my pain level was very slim. I heard them say it but couldn't believe it. How could finally getting a functional joint not help, not reduce the pain? It didn't seem logical to me.
The reality is that every time they cut through your nerves and muscles they make matters worse. Add to that.....they have to remove a muscle when they put in a prosthesis, because there is no where to attach it to, which reduces your bilateral range of motion. I was told by one surgeon that structurally I was running out of time. The joint had fused and there was next to no healthy bone to attach a new joint to. I live in Canada and unless I wanted to pay for the surgery myself I had to have it in the province where I lived at the time. For me this meant getting a LORENZ joint instead of a custom made joint. At the end of the day I don't know if it would actually have made a difference but what i do know is that I'm done with surgery. Never again. I'm worse off for it; I can no longer work and take morphine everyday and now worry about the long term side effects of having this foreign body in my system. 50% of people with this prosthetic have had it removed within the first 3 years due to pain.
I'm glad you're doing your research and asking questions. I wish I had.
All the best.
Adriana

Author	Comment
Carey	TMJ TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT @ 29 (TMJ CONCEPTS)	Lead	[-]
Member Posts: 3 (07/18/09 01:21:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Remove this ad Hi, I was hoping to hear from anyone who has had a total jaw joint replacement by TMJ CONCEPTS? and what experiences did you have? I live in Australia and my tmj problems began 10 years ago when I was 19. since then I have had my left tmj disc removed 6 years ago as it was damaged beyond repair and it is now fused as a result of having bone on bone for 10 yrs. i only have an opening of 10 mm Because of this my right tmj has been compensating for the left side and doing double the work for this whole time. I have lived with chronic pain as well as trigeminal neuralgia and am on a cocktail of meds that now do not provide me with any relief as my system has become tolerant to them (over a span of 10 years). My oral surgeon has recommended a total left joint replacement as this is the last resort. My right tmj is now dislocating more and more each day but since i have to get my tmj prosthesis custom made in America from tmj concepts, it comes at a price. It will cost me around $15,000 Australian dollars, which no insurance covers, and money I don't have, plus due to insurance constraints I cannot have the surgery for another 12 months. I am worried that having to wait this long my right side is going to deteriorate rapidly. my surgeon doesn't really want to touch my right side (do any surgery) as he is hoping once my left joint replacement is done, the right will settle down and return to "normal" function. I am just hoping to hear from those out there who have had tmj total joint replacements and the experiences that you have had, as well as ANY advice would be gratefully appreciated. Cheers, Carey
Cymy		#1	[-]
Posts: 2283 (07/18/09 05:22:41) ezOP/Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello Carey & Welcome, We do have someone who has Concepts. Ginni has recently reported having the surgery and she is doing well. She also knows others with good experiences. She posted to our "Christensen Fossa Prosthesis" Thread. I had intended to ask if she was ok with moving her report to it's own thread and have not done that yet. Our Christensen Thread has some rather bad reports. It appears the Concepts are a much better replacement. Please read here. http://www.tmjtalk.com/topic/377?page=9 I'm sure Ginni will be back and happy to talk with you. I hope we'll be able to help and you are very welcome here. Cymy Sue Last Edited By: Cymy Sue 07/18/09 05:24:56. Edited 1 times.
Michelle Denise	Carey	#2	[-]
Posts: 6585 (07/18/09 10:42:42) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Carey, I wanted to tell you welcome to our board. I am sorry you had to find us due to TMJ problems. I also need a TJR bilaterally, but I am unable to afford it due to the state I live in the USA has no mandated TMJ coverage. It is really weird in the US that we have states that mandate coverage and other states that do not mandate coverage of insurance. In the US all charges a few years ago hospital, anesthesiologist, surgeon and the making of the TMJ Concepts totaled around $100,000.00 US dollars for me. I had an estimate given to me from a surgeon that is well-known in the US in the state/city of Dallas, Texas named Larry Wolford. I was told by another surgeon I needed a discectomy by the surgeon that did my unsuccessful TMJ Arthroplasty in the state of Arkansas. I decided not to have it done due worry of the problem you have now fusion of bone on bone. I knew if this happened I would need a joint replacement and would not be able to afford it. I got in the shape I am by having dislocated disc for quite some time without any symptoms and clinching and grinding at night. I was curious if you might share what happened to the left side of your jaw. I didn't know if you had an injury or if it was just clenching/grinding. I also know have severed degenerative osteoarthritis in both sides. I have snapping and popping in my right side daily. We had one lady from England that had a very successful replacement bilaterally with the TMJ Concepts. A lot of the time it is hard to find successful stories on the board due to people get well and don't come back or stay around to share their positive experiences with new patients, but they are out there. I know one of the big factors I was told was to NOT have several surgeries prior to the TJR. The more surgeries you have prior to a TJR it reduces your chances for a successful outcome. I have had only one and was considered a good candidate. I hope you will keep us posted on your progress, and if you do eventually have a TJR on the left side any information would be greatly appreciated as we don't have many TJR patients stories on our board. It would help us out tremendously to follow the progress of a patient. Ginni would be a good person to talk to as she is also a surgical nurse plus a successive 3 week post op TJR patient. Best wishes, Michelle
Carey		#3	[-]
Member Posts: 3 (07/18/09 21:04:49) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Cymy Sue and Michelle, Thank you for your warm welcomes. Well it is good to hear that tmj concepts have had a good response so far. i know it is early days but anything positive is good. Sorry to hear about your problems Michelle, it is a joke that tmj isn't covered by insurance. In 10 months I will be covered for everything except the concepts prosthesis and 3D CT scan and skull mould, so in a way I am lucky but it is still a lot of money. My tmj problems began 10 years ago when an anaethetist over stretched my jaw for an intubation and dislocated my L tmj. The surgery was for my foot. I had no previous jaw problems until then. since then my L tmj just got worse. It began with the clicking and popping, which then lead to being locked shut with a 5mm opening for 5 yrs. Had 2 washouts of the joint which did not help at all, 2 arthroscopes of the joint, the first was useless b/c the equipment was faulty and nothing could be seen once the surgeon was in there. THE 2nd scope revealed that my L disc was damaged beyond repair. I went thru 7 surgical opinions, i did my homework and research as most surgeons wanted to do a discectomy and at that age, a ripe old 23 (lol) i didn't really want a discectomy b/c then I would be left with bone on bone which could lead to arthritis etc. grafts were talked about but to my knowledge and from drs, they were usually no good due to body rejection and other problems. Pain was a real big issue for me, i was on a cocktail of meds, was practically locked shut and quality of life was down the drain. I finally found a good surgeon and the plan was to reatach my L disc, but once the surgeon got in there the disc was irepairable so a discectomy was performed. post that surery my opening was better (from 5mm to 10mm)but pain wise a lot worse. so after 5 surgeries i was basically at where i started from but with much worse pain to the point where i began to pass out from the pain. So fast forward 6 yrs to the present and I now have degenerative arthritis and ankylosis of my L tmj. the joint is now fused due to having bone on bone for the last 6 yrs and my minimal opening. as I said in my last post, my R tmj has become a massive problem now as it has been compensating all these years for the L not working. I have severe pain in my R tmj, clicking and popping of the joint, facial pain, trigeminal neuralgia, spasms, ear pain and the constant headache behined my R eye which I have had 24/7 for the past 10 yrs. it's like deja vu all over again but this time on my R side. Will keep you posted as I hope you will do the same. Take care, Carey
Elaine2004		#4	[-]
Posts: 2777 (07/19/09 15:52:59) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Carey, Glad you found our website. I am sorry I wrote such a quick email but so much going on in my corner of the world. We have had this board going on five years so I was very surprised when I heard from you after all this time. I am more surprised that you found an email that worked for me. LOL I am sorry to hear you are still having problems. I was hoping that no news was good news. I had seen you post a few times on other boards but didn't know how to contact you without going against guidelines. I hadn't seen Ginni's posts on the Christensen Thread but I am glad she is doing well. Cymy suggested moving her posts and I think that would be a good idea. Anyway just wanted to welcome you to our board and any information you can come up with, feel free to post. Look forward to chatting with you. Elaine TMJ Surgeries 1978, 1989, 1997 L5-S1 Back Fusion-2000 L4-L5 Back Fusion 2002
ginnic	Update on my TJR	#5	[-]
Posts: 460 (03/21/10 02:31:48) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello all, Sorry for not dropping in more often. Life is a bit hectic, we have a new grandbaby in our family, and I try to spend time with him when I can! Some of you know me from back when, some do not. Whatever, hope my brief update is good news for some of you who may be comtemplating a total joint replacement. I had, briefly, TMJ problems starting in HS, after a horse riding accident. Did not make the relationship between the jaw pain and clicking right away to what happened (though likely it would not have affected outcome?). Continued on, the jaw kept clicking and popping, uncomfortable, but mildly so. First forward to nursing school. Had my first closed lock. With information from an ENT doctor at the time, I was able to learn to do self cares to avoid major problems. Quit eating many aggravating foods etc. Very stable for years, and if it got fired up, I just knew to back off, drink shakes and do soft food. Suddenly in 2000 pain began in L joint and never stopped again. The next 9 years were a personal hell, frankly. Pain was not good and did not get better, it slowly got worse. First OS surgeon I saw finally did two arthrocentesis to try to loosen the joint up and calm it down with anti inflammatories. I had two scopes. First one found lots of adhesions and inflammation of joint, cleared them out. I felt better after that. Sadly it didn't last longer than a year. He was very reluctant to do another, though he finally did two years after the first one. He told me I needed to get a splint. I did. Did nothing for me. He referred me to another person whose only practice is TMD/oralfacial pain. She insisted on another splint.. By then I was SURE something was very wrong in my joints and no one was willing or able to acknowledge that. Let us just say I left her practice after I felt she screamed and abused me verbally for not following her rules (whatever that meant) and I was insisting I did not have "classic" TMD stuff. I really already sort of thought my joints were in bad shape and needed a replacement of sorts. DJD is DJD, no matter if it is hips, knees, shoulders, etc. Did lots of research and in talking to someone on the east coast who is a member of the Amercian Society of Tempormandibular Surgeons, he concurred I needed to see someone in that group - and turns out there was a doctor within two or less hours of my home. Went to see him and the rest is history. After many more years of wrangling with my HMO, I did end up have a bilateral temporomandibular joint replacement on both sides using the Concepts joints. This occurred June 23rd, 2010. Surgery was about 9 hours (including wiring jaws together for intraop), etc. I was in hospital two nights for pain management - it was not too bad acutally, and I think I had less pain postop than I had been having preop. At least I knew it was a DIFFERENT type of pain. Now, less than one year later I have had no problems. I can eat whatever I want. I can open my mouth. My talking is not a problem. My bite is fine. I can eat bagels, STEAK!,subs, chewy bread, licorice (!). The only thing I don't touch is gum and I gave that up in HS and could care less. So for many people, there IS life after TMJ replacement and it can be VERY good. I would not personally hesitate to do it again! Sincerely, Ginni
Cymy Sue		#6	[-]
Posts: 7276 (03/21/10 03:38:07) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ginni, Thanks so much for your report. I'm very happy to hear you're doing well. We all appreciate you for coming back and letting us know. Congratulations on the grandbaby. I have an eight month old grandson. ( we had 3 little boys in my family this past summer from July to Oct.) Thank you again. The only way those who suffer TMJ problems can learn, is from others .....like you and me. I got better after long term TMJ problems and many surgeries because I was forced to look elsewhere after being turned down for TJR's and you got better by having them done. I suspect there are many ways from one end of the spectrum to the other and hope everyone finds their answer to a better life with all types of TMJD and after treatments that have not worked (this includes the bad doctors we've all met). Please come by again when you have time. Cymy Sue
mccaulcm	Total Joint Replacement w/ TMJ CONCEPTS	#7	[-]
Member Posts: 2 (12/31/10 00:00:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello Everyone! My condylar resorption is continuing to get worse and I have tried every noninvasive treatment possible. Surgery is my last hope. I am facing Total Joint Replacements (TMJ Concepts) with a doctor in Dallas. Has anyone else had this surgery at Baylor? If so, how are you doing? Are you out of pain? I would appreciate any feedback on this surgery and your recovery. THANK YOU SO MUCH !
Michelle Denise		#8	[-]
Posts: 6585 (01/03/11 15:38:52) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Welcome Mccaulcm; I have been told by a surgeon in Dallas that I need a TJR and I was going to do it at Baylor. I have heard good things about Baylor Medical Center. After looking at cost and what my insurance would not pay I made the decision to go onto pain management and postpone the surgery as long as possible. I would really like to know how you do with your surgery. Do you have it scheduled yet? I may have to have this done eventually despite all my prolonging and I would like to follow your progress. Sincerely, Michelle Your Signature ... Michelle
mccaulcm		#9	[-]
Member Posts: 2 (01/11/11 21:56:51) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Michelle, I will keep you posted. I'll probably be having surgery in September. Hope you're doing well. All my best to you!
ginnic	18 month update post TJR	#10	[-]
Posts: 460 (01/15/11 22:14:23) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remove this ad Hello all, Just realized other day I am essentially 18 months postop my bilateral TJR with Concepts. Things are status quo, i.e. very good! I am still very happy with how it all went. My recovery was routine/unspectacular (this is a good thing!). I was off pain meds (MS Contin and Vicodin) within about 6 weeks - which did cause a problem with with I now realize was probably my body's reaction to going off too soon? I thought I had weaned myself slowly enough but was so glad to be DONE with those meds, I probably did it too soon. I had about a 10 day or so period of horrendous sleeplessness - delayed me going back to work as soon as I planned to - but I survived, got through it and am fine now. If I have any mild aches - which seem to be weather related - I take two aspirin. But since I take aspirin daily for arthritis in other parts of my body (neck,shoulders, thumb) it is usually something I do not think about. I still do stretching exercises for my jaw muscles whenever I think about it, usually daily, while on my drive in and out of work. I eat anything - I don't chew gum - I DO notice if I were to eat bagels a lot or do something dumb like chew a lot of toffees or licorice, I might feel a mild ache, but nothing I would do anything about. No noises out of the jaw. I can eat steaks and sub sandwiches and all sorts of stuff like that! I think my surgeon(s) did an excellent job and they are happy with the outcome. I will say (and they say) I went into this knowing full well it MIGHT not relieve all of my pain, but as my problem appeared to be purely mechanical (once it was diagnosed properly), I had a better chance than a pt with bad muscular issues or something similar. That is what I was told, at least. And, I went into it realistically - as a nurse, I must say I do see joint replacement patients who perhaps are not as realistic about their immediate postop course or even longer down the road - maybe not realzing (what the doctor says, they don't always hear right away) how long it might take to recover completely, the risks of things going wrong, my role in doing my PT exercises, etc. I recently saw the surgeon for a followup routine visit. I told him that even IF I ran into problems down the road - unlikely at this point, but hey, I have seen it happen with other joints - like a component breaks or a screw loosens etc and you need another surgery - while I would NOT be thrilled, I would be realistic enough to say these things happen AND I am so glad I was able to have such a time of COMFORT for so long! I also told them they were able to give me HOPE and that is something no other person I saw until I finally got in touch with the right people had even existed - which is what made it really hard. Losing hope is a horrible thing. I wish the best to any of you who are considering this for the right reasons. It is not to be undertaken lightly, but for the selective group of patients by the right OS, it can indeed be a miracle! I thank the stars everyday for how mine turned out so well. I am always willing to talk to folks about how this all turned out if it will help. Sincerely, Ginni in Wisconsin
Elaine2004		#11	[-]
Posts: 2777 (01/16/11 01:13:29) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ginni, I am really glad things turned out so well for you. It helps to know that there is help out there if you can find the right doctor, who knows what he is doing and obviously you did. I haven't had too much trouble with my jaw since my detox but I find my back pain is back full force. I blast myself with a tens and still doesn't kill the pain. Oh well what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. I have to look at that way I guess. The sleeplessness part really stinks. I wonder how many more days and nights before I can sleep? Tomorrow will be my two weeks but still having some horrible issues. Who would have known? I sure didn't. Please don't be a stranger. Elaine TMJ Surgeries 1978, 1989, 1997 L5-S1 Back Fusion-2000 L4-L5 Back Fusion 2002
mollie	TMJ Talk	#12	[-]
Member Posts: 1 (01/16/11 17:45:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello I live in Canada on the East Coast. I have been living in pain for years now. It seems it will never end but I know God has plans for all of us. I left my work at 42 years old and went out on Long Term Disability. My pain got worst all the time. I started having terrible headaches all the time, I think I was in my bed more than I was out of it. I went to so many doctors, each of them sending me on to someone else. First I had a rib graft done in my right TMJ, as I have Degenerative Joint Disorder. I had that surgery and my pain got even worst. More & more drugs, none of which seem to do anything. I had a mouth guard with wires attached to what already was a bite plate made in 2001. That same bite plate is still in my mouth. I had Physio done including radiation to the jaw, ultra sound and acupuncture done, that lady finally told me I didn't have to come no more, that there was nothing she could do. Another Dr. wanted to do BoTox down my forehead, into my jaw area and down my neck. His next sentence was this may leave you paralyzed on one side of my face or maybe loose my speech and I sure was not taking that chance.After having this thing in my mouth now for more than two years, I would like to bury it in my backyard. Some weeks I am in bed for three of four days at a time. I feel bad for my husband but he says he understands and will always be there for me. I just had an MRI done in Halifax NS and found out a have to have a Total Joint Replacement done sometime in the next few months. I say I am not going to think or worry about it but I find myself going there, wondering this and wondering that. We watch Dr. Charles Stanley a lot on TV and he always says worrying and fearing will not get us anywhere. I know God has my best interest at heart and I can only hope and pray all goes well on this surgery. Once this surgery is done, I can now tell people I am screwed up in the head. The TJR system I am getting in out of Florida and the company name is Bionet. I am getting anxious about the surgery but I try not to think about it at all. I would love to hear from anyone with this same problem. Sometimes you feel like you are all alone but as I said God is with each and everyone of us every minute of every day. I hope to hear a lot of positive feedback from you all. May God Bless & Keep you all Love & Prayers Mollie Last Edited By: mollie 01/16/11 17:47:30. Edited 1 times.
fiesta1600.fordfiestasicom...		#13	[-]
Member Posts: 4 (01/19/11 19:20:34) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi there, i cant beleive ive only just found this site. i have a few questions and was wondering if you guys can help me out (those who have had tmj concepts) Heres my story: So i am currently 22 years old and have had numerous surgeries re: my tmjs. 8 years ago when i was fourteen i got hit with a baseball bat on the left side of my face, it was purely accidental by my friend and i suffered 2 broken teeth and a few stitches, nothing major at all. 5 years later after no problems i started getting clicking jaw when opening and closing, every now and then it would lock whilst opening and i would have to hit my jaw or apply pressure for it to unlock and continue opening. i saw doctors and dentists who said it was muscle problems and to wear a night splint gaurd which i did for 3months. Then one day i woke up and my jaw was locked shut at 8mm was very bad pain in the right joint. after an mri scan it showed the articular disc has slipped without reacapturing. i can only assume it was due to the tramua with the baseball bat that has caused this to progressively grow out of place??? Anyway my only problems with tmj are mouth opening and chronic pain at the joint. so since 2007 i first had a bi-lateral tmj arthroplasty on both sides. this worked fine for 2 weeks, then it got worse. i then had a minesectomy on the right side and arthroscopy on the left side. a year later i was at the same point in regards to mouth opening and pain and was diagnosed with severe degenerative joints with active arthritis. my mandible and temporal bones had fused together resulting in permantely lock jaw. my lower jaw would always deviate to the right when opening and i would also get muscle spasms just infront of my ear. 8 Days ago i had a total tmj replacement on the right side and a simple arthroscopy on the left. my face is still quite swollen and the inscisions are very eyesore and i dont think they will heal up well. 58 stitches and having been cut open many times in the same area im not suprised. i am using my therabite everyday and most evenings i can get it open to 14mm with the therabite and without it i can fit 2 fingers in my mouth. but every morning it seems to have reduced to 5mm. i can also hear very strange noises from the titanium implant like sandpaper when opening and even some clicking still. i was very concerned about the risks involved with this and i heard a lot of contradictions to the surgery but i went with it anyway. currently i have no chronic pain, only post op pain and pain when i open to the max (14mm) and my jaw is opening in a straight downward movement. My surgeon also corrected my bite which feels very strange and to be honest i dont like it, my left side teeth meet when i bite but my right side there is a gap when i fully bite down meaning i cant eat or chew on that side. not really important right now as im on a very soft diet but i do hope this rectifies itself. One big question i have, is it visible that you have an implant. i.e. the swelling has near enough gone but my right side jawline is very very promenent compared to the left. like you can see there is something beneath the skin, i can even feel the implant. i was told it will not be visible and my face will look exactly the same, will this settle down? is your face the same visibly as it was pre-op? Thanks Dean, 22, London, UK
TmjTerri	My Bilateral Total Joint Replacement Was On Nov. 20th 2002	#14	[-]
Member Posts: 2 (01/21/11 02:19:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi, I am a newbie here. I had a bilateral total joint replacement on Nov. 20th 2002. My implants are from Tmj Concepts. I have chronic pain and will have it for the rest of my life. I will say that my pain really did not change that much from before my joint replacement surgery. I do take pain medication from a pain specialist to help deal with the severe pain. I cannot say enough great things about Tmj Concepts and their products. In the beginning I had so many questions so I called Tmj Concepts and spoke to Dave Sampson for over an hour. He answered every question that I had and then some. Since then I have spoken to him a few times and he has been very nice and helpful to me. If you are in need of a total joint replacement my advice would be to do your homework. Research, research and research!!! Do what you are doing right now, read other peoples stories and get your questions answered before consenting to any surgery. I had severe, I mean severe severe osteoarthritis. My surgeon said that I had the worst case he had ever seen in his whole life as a doctor. Even though I suffer with severe chronic pain I am so happy that I went with Tmj Concepts. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I will try to help in any way that I can. TmjTerri
KarenGeorge	TMJ Concepts Complications	#15	[-]
Member Posts: 1 (01/21/11 17:47:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi everyone, I am new here. I had Bilateral Total Joint Replacement surgery on 10/20/2009 using TMJ Concepts with a surgeon in Dallas, Texas. I endured a complication from the fat grafting of the surgery and had to go through major stomach surgery in 1/2010. The complication was a seroma had developed as a result of a blood vessel being damaged during the fat grafting procedure. Following the total joint surgery, I gained ROM, but it started decreasing overnight to presently 5mm. I am in more pain now than when I began the surgery and I just found out that the medications my surgeon has me on in Dallas has created Acid Reflux and possibly a hiatal hernia or ulcer. Due to my limted ROM, my GI doctor stated that if I need an Endoscopic procedure it will have to be done in Dallas under my surgeon's supervision. I am supposed to be heading back to Dallas soon for a manipulation procedure under sedataion to see what is causing all my complications. I strongly advise anyone considering any type of total joint surgery to your jaw joints to do your research. There are so many patients out there facing serious complications following their surgery. The tough part is the average life of the prostheses is 10 to 15 years and the surgery has to be redone. Also, senstivity to the metals of the prostheses is another complication that I am presently getting tested for. Is there anyone else out there experiencing similar complications following their bilateral total joint surgery? One thing I have learned is that no matter how world renowned your surgeon is and how many surgeries he performs, serious complications still develop after this surgery. When this happens, the patient is normally left abandoned with no where to turn.
dieckmann	TMJ Concepts	#16	[-]
Member Posts: 1 (02/14/11 19:51:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have had my replacement joints for 19.5 years and am trying to find others who have had the joints as long. I am having a terrible time with cracking.
TmjTerri	I feel the same way...	#17	[-]
Member Posts: 2 (02/22/11 06:13:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Both of my surgeons after they did my surgeries ( 3 major surgeries before my total joint replacement by 2 different doctors) have both abandoned me. Now, I cannot find a surgeon in my area who handles tmj total joint replacements. I am SO scared that if my implant fails that I will have NO where to go. I am also like you, I have 10 times MORE pain after my surgeries then before. I must take pain meds for the rest of my life because of it. It sucks and it can get depressing if you let it.
Cymy Sue		#18	[-]
Posts: 7276 (02/22/11 10:26:44) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello to all of our new posters. I wish I could offer some advice. My story goes in the other direction. Ginni, who posted above is the only person who has come back and posted about great results with TJR. She has done extremely well. Diagnosed in 1977, I had non invasive treatments for about 10 years, many surgeries including cartilage grafts from 1988 through 1997. In 1997, everything was removed. I was left with nothing. The pain was unbelievable and I was in a permanent lock. My only option was Pain Management. In 2002, I thought I couldn't live with it any longer and requested TJR. I was refused. The surgeon was honest enough to tell me that he might could give me more function, but he was certain the pain would increase and he would not do that. I started looking for help from any source I could find. I started with theraputic massage and then was fitted with a splint designed for people damaged by multiple surgeries and with no functional joints. I got better and rarely have even a slight ache.....almost 30 years after my diagnosis of TMJD. I can open about 30-34 ml. My case is probably unusual. Maybe not...most people who get better don't come back and let us know. I pray for all of you an answer. I am so thankful I found one. There is hope.......... I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier. I'm recovering from a Total Knee Replacement. Hopefully, this will go well. Last Edited By: Cymy Sue 02/22/11 10:37:30. Edited 1 times.
vanineveld	Lorenz TJR	#19	[-]
Member Posts: 2 (03/07/11 20:21:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Mollie, I live in Winnipeg but had all my surgeries done in Montreal or Toronto. Dr. Baker in Toronto did my right joint replacement in 2007. He used a joint made by Lorenz which I'm realising from the info posted on the TMJ Assoc. website, isn't doing very well. I'm not doing very well either. I've needed both joints replaced since 1990 but managed to put it off until 2007. I can't say I'm better off for having had the surgery. I have been unable to return to my teaching job and take morphine everyday. Do your research, read other people's stories and be very realistic about the chance of surgery not being the answer. Make sure you get a custom made joint; don't settle for picking between smal,l med or large and make sure you have a good physiotherapist lined up for post op. Blessings, Adriana
vanineveld	There is no miracle cure	#20	[-]
Member Posts: 2 (03/08/11 09:46:42) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remove this ad Hi Carey, Your story reads almost exactly like mine in terms of the state of your joints. I would call the TMJ association and ask their opinion on TMJ Concepts. They have a better sense than any of us as to what's happening with the various devices out there. All I know is that surgery has never been the answer for me. I was told, before my right TMJ replacement in 2007, that because of all my previous surgeries, the chances of it actually reducing my pain level was very slim. I heard them say it but couldn't believe it. How could finally getting a functional joint not help, not reduce the pain? It didn't seem logical to me. The reality is that every time they cut through your nerves and muscles they make matters worse. Add to that.....they have to remove a muscle when they put in a prosthesis, because there is no where to attach it to, which reduces your bilateral range of motion. I was told by one surgeon that structurally I was running out of time. The joint had fused and there was next to no healthy bone to attach a new joint to. I live in Canada and unless I wanted to pay for the surgery myself I had to have it in the province where I lived at the time. For me this meant getting a LORENZ joint instead of a custom made joint. At the end of the day I don't know if it would actually have made a difference but what i do know is that I'm done with surgery. Never again. I'm worse off for it; I can no longer work and take morphine everyday and now worry about the long term side effects of having this foreign body in my system. 50% of people with this prosthetic have had it removed within the first 3 years due to pain. I'm glad you're doing your research and asking questions. I wish I had. All the best. Adriana

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