HELP in TMJ SUPPORT Forum

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bite718	HELP	Lead	[-]
Member Posts: 57 (01/06/08 22:20:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Remove this ad Hi everyone I'm still using an NTI device. For awhile i was doing ok, pain was minimal. Recently i had a tooth fixed and since i've been having searing splitting headaches all day long. the dentist fixed the upper tooth in a way that it doesn't touch the bottom tooth, he says if it does touch bottom the tooth will crack again. the tooth is the upper back left tooth. my hunch is my bite has moved because of that, at this point i don't know what to do. my anxiety level has been rising and i'm taking vicodin just to cope. i have the vicodin for a different pain. btw i have the lidocaine patch for something else does anyone know how to use this TMJ. anyway i need advice feel free to comment
FPDChief	Re: HELP	#1	[-]
Posts: 815 (01/07/08 16:48:28) Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree, it does sound like your bite balance has been compromised, but sometimes just having your mouth open during a dental procedure can mess the jaw up also. Your muscle may now need to relax after the "trauma" of having your mouth opened wide. Why did your tooth crack in the first place? We are not supposed to ever bring our teeth together. I even read once where a dentist said that even when eating our teeth shouldn't touch. I found that interesting. The "rule" for our mouth's position is teeth apart at all times, tongue resting on the roof of the mouth and lips together or slightly apart, relaxed. Think about keeping the shoulders back and down. Are you a clencher/clincher or grinder? I personally feel more comfortable with a full mouth bite splint versus an NTI. I just didn't have the stability with the NTI in my mouth. If you're a grinder, I can see how grinding is still possible with the NTI. I would recommend keeping your stress level down. See if the dentist or doc will prescribe Valium or Xanax to take for a couple of weeks at bedtime. Use lots of moist heat. Get massages and/or hot tubs. You might even ask the dentist (or doc) to prescribe PT for a month or two to work the muscle back into shape. I hope something helps and helps soon. I know about the Vicodin for other pain. It just doesn't seem to work well for the TMJ tho, bummer. I did find Vicoprofen helpful sometimes when I was allowed to take it (I take arthritis meds now). Take care and let us know how you are doing. God bless... Carol
Delilah63	Re: HELP...oops wrong thread sorry.	#2	[-]
Member Posts: 19 (01/07/08 17:17:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I understand your frustration. I know of a couple of folks who have gotten better. One was on a bulletin board who went through splint therapy, then braces. Another was a gal at work that did nothing in terms of anything permanent. Permanent meaning surgery, of course, and repositioning splints. She took great care to not aggravate her TMJD, took a good look at her stress level (her mother was ill and she was the care giver), and eventually it went away. Everyone else that I know of still deals with it on some level. Many improve, some do not. Keep in mind that most people who improve stop coming around to the help boards and move on w/their lives. I believe the body wants to heal and will try to do so and keep some faith on that. I dont know the answer to whether or not youve had the proper treatment or doctor. Many TMJD cases are muscular, some are actual problems w/the joint. Problems can arise if muscle issues are treated as if they are joint issues and vice versa. My problems started around your age too. Since I dont know your symptoms I cant suggest what to try. I find that moist heat helps. I bought a Bed Buddy rice pack at Walgreensits $10 and you heat it in the microwave w/a cup of water. It helps relax the muscles. I take Advil and stronger pain killer if I flare up, which is usually around times of stress or around my period. I also have valium as a muscle relaxant/anti-anxiety when needed. My splint has helped me. I broke mine recently and had to go two weeks w/out it and that was scary. Nutrition is important. Limiting carbs, especially at night. I try to keep the dumb and dumber look on my face. :-) I do really, really wish early on in my TMJD experience that I would have tried harder and been much more viligent on the less invasive treatmentsnutrition, stress relief, stretching, yoga, rest and lots of massage work. I think I could have saved a lot of time, pain and money. Wrong thread...sorry
ginnic	Re: HELP	#3	[-]
Posts: 460 (01/09/08 02:41:53) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello, Regarding the Vicodin, I have found it does (usually) help for pain relief for my jaw pain........most of the pain I have had in past has been bone on bone digging/sharp type pain that is fairly constant and it has helped that. IF I have had muscular pain, usually secondary to the above stuff and then my muscles get tight/contracted feeling, I guess some Lorazepam can help, for me cold packs help more, and also I do some intraoral massage and go directly after the tight muscles - it is uncomfortable while doing it, but I can usually tell if I have hit the "right place" and I CAN feel the muscles let up and stop spasming. I used to take Flexeril for that, but found it pretty useless. Medications are SO individual though. What works for one, may not work at all for another..... Carol, I am curious, you mention our teeth should never be touching? I have never heard that..........but they HAVE to touch in order to chew! Now, granted there are times when we should NOT chew if the jaws have flared up so badly - that is when I go onto a liquid, very soft food diet.........but all in all to never have chewing or teeth touching seems - unnatural? As to Lidoderm patches - yes, I have some, for the jaw, yes, I use them. I think they can help at times. Just cut the patch into a better shape - I usually do pieces about 2x3 inches or so and slap it on my face right over the jaw/ear area and leave it on overnight. Good luck. This is not a fun thing, that's for sure....... Ginni in WI
bite718	Re: HELP	#4	[-]
Member Posts: 57 (01/10/08 20:36:55) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	hello everyone thanx for the advice, so far i've been trying heat and massage to the tmj joint, it helps also i have another nightguard that fits over the bottom teeth,and i wear that now during the day it helps to keep my top and bottom teeth from touching which lowers the amount of headaches i feel throughout the day. thanx also for the directions on the lidoderm patches
Michelle Denise	Re: HELP	#5	[-]
Posts: 6585 (01/11/08 17:42:42) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't know if you have any trouble having the lidoderm patches sticking on your face or not? I have in the past, so I have to take alcohol to make sure I get all the make-up residue and moisturizer off my face. I don't have oily skin. Actually it is rather dry, but the facial products I use won't let the patches adhere. I know I am coming in here a bit late. You mentioned wearing the lower full mouth piece helping with your headaches. Intially they had me wear mine 24/7 until my tmj got much better. I don't know if you have had yours adjusted in the last year or not but sometimes they need adjusted. As much as I have worn one I can always tell now when I need mine adjusted. My bite is pretty stable at this time. I hope things improve soon. Best wishes, Michelle
ginnic	Re: HELP	#6	[-]
Posts: 460 (01/11/08 19:51:31) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good point about the patches "sticking", Michelle Denise, and one I should have probably mentioned. I have found two things - - I do not use facial makeup, but I do use moisturizer(s) at my age <G>, and those probably should be cleansed off before applying the Lidoderm patch. -Also, since the patches are rather large and normally meant to be opened and used all at once - and since I (and presumably others who are trying them for jaw pain) need only a portion of one - I find that it is best if I cut off what I need to use, take the unused portion, place back in original packaging, roll top of that SHUT as tightly as possible, and then put the entire thing into a ziplock bag for storage. I DO find that as the remaining patch "gets old" i.e. has been removed from its original packaging, it does NOT stick as well as when it is first opened, even with the precautions used above. So if the "last portion" used falls off easily do not be surprised......... Wish they came smaller in size. And wish I could get them down "into" the joint area! Ginni in WI
Michelle Denise	Re: HELP	#7	[-]
Posts: 6585 (01/11/08 22:53:52) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I also noticed Ginni that the older part does not stick as well. I just thought it was in my imagination, but now that I think about it air does deteriorate everything. I don't use them a lot due to the fact I tend to wear make-up most days. When I am home all day I don't bother to put it on at all. The patches will not stay on with make-up at all. That is why it was so up front in my mind to mention it when I read through the threads today. Best wishes, Michelle
bite718	help	#8	[-]
Member Posts: 57 (02/11/08 08:56:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Just thought I would check in. First off thanx for all the suggestions The pain has leveled down to about a four, I see a pain specialist who relaxes my TMJ joint from inside my mouth, which is helpful. I've just accepted that I have some pain and I keep going. It's bothersome but not intolerable. Hope everyone can find ways to make this condition bearable. Take care
Michelle Denise	Re: help	#9	[-]
Posts: 6585 (02/11/08 16:10:50) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remove this ad Dear Bite, Thanks for checking in with us. I was talking to a member last week and I was just discussing how often I wonder how people do. We really never hear back too much from people you wonder if they get better or worse. I have often heard that TMJ will flair up and go away for so many people, and I hope that is what often happens to others. Please come back and check in when time permits. Your friend, Michelle
ginnic	Re: help	#10	[-]
Posts: 460 (02/11/08 23:18:18) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi, Regarding your pain specialist who can work on your muscles "from inside", you can learn to do that for yourself if you haven't already - and I think it is a good thing to know how to do! It can really be very helpful and esp if you ever get "stuck" somewhere like on vacation/in an airport etc and need to relax them - I find traveling must make me clench unawares.....probably all that time spent in frustrating lines at airports!!!!!!! Flying has become one of my most UNfavorite things with all the hassles (I understand the reason for the hassles, just doesn't make it any more pleasant!). Best of luck! Ginni
bite718	Re: help	#11	[-]
Member Posts: 57 (02/13/08 08:57:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi I'm curious who taught you how to massage the joint from the inside, I was taught to massage the tmj joint on the outside and then lowering my jaw using my thumb counting four breaths after. It sounds like your method from the inside would be more direct and beneficial. Please respond
ginnic	Re: help	#12	[-]
Posts: 460 (02/13/08 14:07:02) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello, I was shown how to do the intraoral massage by the first PT person I saw for the TMJ stuff. I know others have mentioned they do it on occ. So, if my explanation isn't clear, maybe someone else can help out here?! Take your finger and slide it back past your upper teeth into where the "pouch" sort of forms where your upper and lower jaws meet "behind" the teeth line.........and aim a bit upwards....(this may be individual?) and kind of push/poke around......you will probably feel a resistance, sometimes depending on how your muscles in there are, it can be softer or it can be like a rock! Just push onto that area.......maybe move your fingertip around a bit? for a general massage in that area. If your muscles are at all sore/tight, believe me, I think you will "know" when you have found the area cos it may not feel really great to push on that spot! But if you do gentle massage and sometimes just take and press slowly and steadily on the tight muscle area it will soften up and give way. This may make more sense if you have ever had a massage bodywise with the therapist doing muscle release/trigger point work - the tight muscle will "give way" to the pressure. Sort of like doing acupressure only on the obvious site of the soreness/problem. It may hurt while doing it, and it MAY hurt afterwards for awhile. But it DOES relax the muscles and for me, it seems to help when they are in spasm. Good luck, and like I said, hope this helps and is understandable. Or, hopefully someone else will jump in and give a better description. Ginni in WI, off to see my OMFS guy shortly
feelines	Intraoral massage	#13	[-]
Posts: 1878 (02/13/08 14:37:05) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A chiropractor did this on several different spots in my mouth a long time ago but didn't show me how to do it myself. It hurt but did seem to release trigger points, so I fooled around with trying it myself. Later on, a PT worked on one specific area that was very painful to indure but it did help. I haven't had anyone instruct me on how to do it myself. I think Ginnic does a pretty good job of describing it. I have an tendency to unconsciously press on sore points wherever they are and do kind of a self-shiatsu massage. When I take time to do it consciously and spend more time at it, I often get good results....
lu jones	Re: Intraoral massage	#14	[-]
Posts: 3162 (02/13/08 16:12:09) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yes, a gal I went to for a massage did this for me a couple times. I try and do it when my jaw gets really tight. The first time she did it I hurt for some time. The second time I felt so good and I had so much energy. The last time she did it I think she was too rough. It felt almost bruised. I haven't had a chance to go back to her. Too much going on in my life at this time. Lu
Michelle Denise	Re: Intraoral massage	#15	[-]
Posts: 6585 (02/13/08 16:39:21) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I went to a licensed massage therapist that had TMJD. She had tmjd due to a car wreck and was married to a chiropractor that helped her so much with her tmjd with adjustments. I guess he taught her how to do this procedure. The licensed massage therapist did this one me for about two minutes. She acted like she was afraid she would hurt me due to my muscles being too tight. I don't really feel like I gained anything. I went for about ten sessions, and now I am just in as bad of shape or worse.
ginnic	Re: Intraoral massage	#16	[-]
Posts: 460 (02/13/08 21:18:38) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dear Michelle Denise, Did the PT do an ultrasound on your tight muscles? I wonder if that would help? Sometimes that "deep heat" gets to places nothing else can seem to reach.............. Ginni
Michelle Denise	Re: Intraoral massage	#17	[-]
Posts: 6585 (02/13/08 21:59:01) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remove this ad Dear Ginni, No, I only went to physical therapy two times in 2003 after I started seeing my neurologist/physiatrist. I had my failed surgery March 12, 2003. The gal ended up hurting me bad on the first appointment, so the second appointment she just gave me hot packs and a tens unit for the hour. Honestly, I am at the point where I am not any good until noon. It takes me that long to get my medication into my system and to get my headache under control. I am embarrassed to admit it, but it is true most days. If I have an early morning appointment for instance around 9:00 or 10:00. I have to take a shower the night before. I get up at 6:00 a.m. take my medication with coffee and sit an hour at least. Then I get ready and curl my hair, put on my clothes, and try to get make-up on for the day. At times I take my make-up with me. It has become a challenge. I am thinking about seeing a chiropractor, but my copay is 40.00 a week with Blue Cross and Blue Shield that gets pricey every week. Michelle Denise

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