Could use some ideas... in TMJ SUPPORT Forum

Could use some ideas...

Author	Comment
TiffanyAAnn	Could use some ideas...	Lead	[-]
Posts: 730 (11/16/08 17:46:24) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Constant change is here to stay. Remove this ad Hey Guys: I've been away from the board for awhile and have been doing fine for the most part. As many of you remember I went through the splint therapy and then my orthodontist moved my lower teeth using a functional retainer. After that was finished he didn't make me a new splint. He tried to use my old one. I couldn't continue to wear it because it was made before he moved my teeth and everytime I wore it my teeth would shift and when I took it out I was back to the pain that I had prior to treatment. So, I just stopped wearing the splint. I did fairly well for quite a long time but I have been under extreme stress in the past few months and my jaw is hurting me alot. I believe for the most part I have moved past the point where my jaw pops when I open it so far so it no longer reduces. I found myself grinding alot at night and woke up one morning a couple of months ago to a nasty chip in the back side of my front teeth. Then my teeth didn't fit together properly and it's been kind of downhill from that point. I couldn't afford to put out another $500.00 or $600.00 for a new splint so I had my dentist make a splint that will at least protect my teeth from further damage but the pain and headaches are not helped by it. Do you guys have any ideas on what I might do to get back to a relatively comfortable spot? Sorry to write so much but any suggestions would be appreciated.
tackley		#1	[-]
Posts: 112 (11/17/08 05:03:01) Member I Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mo matter what you try, it's going to cost money ! That's the problem with TMJ. Good luck Kevin
Michelle Denise	Need a little bit more information	#2	[-]
Posts: 6580 (11/17/08 09:20:18) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dear TifffanyAnn, I am sorry to hear of your troubles. I know you don't need anymore. Could I ask you for some additional information? I am not sure I am clear on everything. Do you now have a full lower or upper splint that did fit, but it doesn't now because you chipped the front of your back tooth? Am I understanding you correctly? The splint won't fit due to chip in the front tooth? If so, have you checked around with dentist to see what it would cost to get it fixed? I was thinking you had a good dentist at one time that was very kind to you other than your orthodontist. Thinking of you my friend, Michelle
TiffanyAAnn		#3	[-]
Posts: 730 (11/17/08 22:56:03) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Michelle: I'm sorry I wasn't clear in my post. What happened was after I finished my splint therapy the orthodontist used a functional retainer to move my lower teeth. At the time he was moving my lower teeth he made me an upper splint. Once he finished moving the lower teeth I needed a new lower splint as I wear an upper retainer all the time. He was trying to save me money and attempted to use the same lower splint he made me before he moved the teeth. I tried to use it but when I slept with it in and took it out in the morning my teeth were really messed up because they have partly moved back into the position they were in prior to the functional retainer. I went back in a few times to the orthodontist and he tried to make it work but it was never right and he never suggested making a new one, probably because he knew that our finanaces are so tight. He's such a nice guy who seems to care as you know . Anyway, I'd been sleeping without any splint for several years and over time my jaw has been hurting more and more. And one morning I woke myself up grinding my teeth. Just about the time I became awake my lower front teeth grinded across the back side of my front upper teeth and chipped a piece off the back side of the tooth. I was so upset because I have invested so much money in my teeth, the same as most of you guys have and I figured that at the very least I needed to protect the rest of my teeth from further wear and chipping by getting a new splint. I thought I'd be okay if I just had my dentist make me a splint rather than the orthodontist because the one the dentist makes me is much cheaper and it does protect my teeth from further wear and chipping. But my jaw still hurts everyday. The whole bone across my cheek even hurts. I keep trying everything I can think of to get it to relax but so far, no luck. The splint the dentist makes is not built up like the ones Dr. L makes so it does not set my jaw in a place to relax. I guess I'm going to have to break down and buy a new splint from Dr. L. I still owe on the one my dentist made so I'm not sure what to do. It's making me feel like I wish I would just die because I feel so desperate. I know everyone on this board has been in this place at least once or even more than that. It's that place where you know you've invested a small fortune in your teeth and are still in pain. I'm sorry to be so long winded. I guess I just needed to vent to people who I know understand how I am feeling. Any ideas on what I can do to help until I can afford a new splint from Dr. L would be appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this small novel. Tiffany
Michelle Denise	What about this?	#4	[-]
Posts: 6580 (11/17/08 23:38:33) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Okay, I understand now I thought Dr L did make you a splint after your treatment with the lower retainer. Do you think you could talk to the office manager at Dr. L's office and tell them your situation to see if they would let you pay out the retainer? He does this on braces, so I am thinking if you could maybe come up with 25 percent they would go ahead and treat you. I don't know how much the retainers there cost, because they never did break the fee down for me. I haven't been back into see him since he dismissed me. I am sure Dr. Money Hungry from Arkansas and my orthodontist were glad to see me go. I guess you have to continue to pay the other dentist since you see him for all your dental treatment. It is a really bad deal when we end up paying for procedures or splints when they don't work. It sure hurts in the pocketbook. As far as what to do until you can get a new splint have you tried taking any medications such as Klonipin or Valium to see if they would relax your jaw and your grinding activity at night? Maybe you have already tried medication, but I just thought I would ask. I take Klonipin and I think it helps some as I know I still grind or clench, but not every night and not as much. I will try to think of more ideas tomorrow when my head is more clear. Best wishes, Michelle
TiffanyAAnn		#5	[-]
Posts: 730 (11/18/08 17:43:55) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Michelle: Thank you for the reply. I still like Dr. L and think he is a decent person. I should have listened to my gut when he wanted to move my lower teeth and said no. My gut was telling me do not do it and like a fool a went against that. I know that my gut feeling is rarely wrong and that I can trust it. I just really wanted to believe the functional retainer would do the job which it didn't. He didn't want to do braces because I refused to have that surgery done. I am still glad I made that decision and I would still not have surgery done. I'm very definite on that. I'm pretty sure he was trying to save me money which is the reason he didn't make a new lower splint for me. But I will call the office and speak to them and see if they have any ideas or if they would be willing to see me and discuss what's going on and give me their idea of where I should go from here. TMJ is certainly not a disorder for the poor. It's a shame how insurance gets away with not covering it. But, don't let me get started on that. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. I do really appreciate it. I guess alot of the people who used to be on the board have moved on. But, I am always glad to see you.
Cymy Sue		#6	[-]
Posts: 7276 (11/18/08 19:18:29) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Constant change is here to stay. Remove this ad Hi Tiffany, It's good to hear from you. I am sorry it's due to a setback. I just wanted to let you know I'm still doing very well and doing nothing at this point except I'm still wearing the small, passive muscle relaxing splint. I'm almost certain I will have to wear it at night forever. If I fall asleep without it more than a couple of nights, the muscles start to tense up. It's held up very well. I still have the same one my dentist made for me 6 years ago. If you remember, I was in a (long-term) muscular mess and terrible pain when I got it and it started working very quickly. I know our conditions are different, but we all seem to end up with muscle problems, clenching, bite moving around ......... something similar to what I have might help. This type may not cost as much as some of the other's.......I'm not sure on that, but this one didn't cost like all of those I had before. I hope you're able to find someone to help you get back to being out of pain & comfortable. Cymy Sue
Michelle Denise	I meant to say splints	#7	[-]
Posts: 6580 (11/18/08 23:04:32) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dear TiffanyAnn, I meant to say I don't know how much the splints at Dr. L's office cost instead of retainers. I am sorry about that error. I guess I should of been in bed at that time. I think I was thinking so much about your functional retainer on the bottom to move your teeth forward. I know it was uncomfortable for you to wear all the time. I am sorry you didn't have the money to pay for the splint after you moved your teeth on the bottom forward. I can understand the situation you were in, because I have been there myself. I would really be surprised if the office wouldn't let you pay it out. I still like Dr. L too I think he was between a rock and a hard place since he gets all the referrals in our area from Dr. B. Please let me know what you find out from his office his staff is really wonderful. Oh yeah, my husband had to have a root canal and he went to the guy in Dr. L's office and he did a wonderful job for my husband. I think he comes down from Springfield so many days a week. I just wanted you to know we do have an endodontist in town if needed that is good. Hubby had a tooth that was filled just go bad. They told him the little holes in your teeth can get bacteria in them and get under a filling to the root and make it abscess. I had no idea this could happen. It seems something is always going wrong. We haven't finished paying off the credit card for all my reconstructive work I had done post surgery and braces. My teeth never did line up, so I had to have a build up/prosthedontic work done. As for the insurance I am hoping that if Hillary does get Secretary of State we will be offered the choice of private coverage or federal coverage. TMJ would be covered under federal coverage from what I understand. I don't understand why Dr L wanted you to have surgery? I didn't think you ever had a TMJ MRI, so how could he recommend surgery? Am I confused on that? Yes, people come and go from the board. I often wonder if they get well or just give up. I always ask people to come back post surgery or treatment to let us know how they are doing. Sadly, it seems very few do and I wish they would so we would have more information to give members. There are some still oldy but goody members from the beginning like Elaine, Cymy, Robin, Feelines, Jerry, Tackley (from the UK) and Mummsie comes and checks in when she can. Meg does the same as she is in school. Mummsie is very busy with three kids. Annie in Pain just had a new baby this weekend named Ava Marie. We have some new members that need help and I try to help as much as my condition will let me. Thank you for the kind words about me it is nice to be appreciated. Please let us know how everything works out for you. Cymy thanks for your input as you have many, many more years of experience than I do. Best wishes, Michelle Denise
TiffanyAAnn		#8	[-]
Posts: 730 (11/19/08 18:30:47) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Sue: If you a way that you can take a picture of your splint so I could see what type you are using that would be helpful. If you don't, don't worry about it. I think I might be the only person left on earth who does not a digital camera and am unable to load pictures on my computer. It sucks to be poor. Thank you for the update on how you are doing. I know that you like me, Michelle, Elaine and others have been through quite a bit of treatment and have suffered more than our share of pain. Michelle: Oh you know, I'm almost 100% positive that Dr. L would let me pay out the splint on time. It's just that I worry I won't be able to make the payments. With the way insurance turns over in January I end up having to pay out alot more money for my prescriptions and other medical costs so the first 3 or 4 months of each year I am terribly strapped for money. I will contact his office when I get brave enough and inquire. They will probably let me come in and discuss it with him and not charge me for that visit. Dr. L really is a nice man who I really feel cares for his patients and has compassion for those suffering who have little money. He saved my life when he made me my first splint. I mean, truly...I was in so much pain I was on the verge of taking my own life so he did save my life and he did get me out of pain. I won't ever forget him for doing that for me. He didn't even require a down payment from me. So, for now I will use the splint my dentist made and in 3 or 4 months when I get that splint paid off I will contact Dr. Ls office and get an appointment to speak with him and make me a new splint. I just need to be patient which is sometimes really hard for me. Thank you both for your replies and your concern. You are both such sweet people. It makes me feel fortunate that this board is here and we can always come back here and talk with others who understand our pain and frustration. Thank you so much, Tiffany
Cymy Sue		#9	[-]
Posts: 7276 (11/20/08 02:50:59) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tiffany, I do. I took some of it when it was relatively new to show Elaine the size. I took these a few months back when someone was asking how thin it is, how it works and other questions. My bite. Closed mouth with splint in. Open. (sorry, it's gotten a little discolored over time) This one is Dr. Menchel's base splint. His idea's are very similar to my dentist's about TMJ and muscle problems. I had a couple of other's by well known doctors. They're all very similar and based on the same theories. (I can't find them right this minute) I hope this helps. Cymy Sue
Cymy Sue		#10	[-]
Posts: 7276 (11/20/08 03:16:18) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Found another.....It's Dr. Maury Hafernik's. It's a little different due to being a top fit, but he uses the same methods as the many dentists who make these. (mine included) Dr. Maury Hafernik Splint Fabrication Articulator & Face bow http://www.tmjtherapy.com...rapyfortmj.html#Directive This is a facinating picturtorial showing the steps to make splints that fit and work. His website has a lot of information and practical answers. he explains simply "why" & "how" a splint should work. Splint Therapy * The jaw joint should be in socket when all the teeth come together. * All the teeth should come together at the same time. * If I or anyone else is going to help someone, then it is imperative to produce a bite (occlusion) that does do the 2 things listed above. * The easiest way to instantly establish a proper bite that coexists with the jaw joint being in a correct socket is by making a splint. * A splint is really just an artificial bite. When the jaw closes, the opposing teeth strike the surface of the splint and this establishes a bite different from that which the teeth do. http://www.austindental.com/splint.html
Michelle Denise	Cymy	#11	[-]
Posts: 6580 (11/20/08 07:10:42) Senior Member * Moderator * Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Constant change is here to stay. Remove this ad Cymy, Thanks for all the informative information you posted that should be a really helpful post for in the future. I hope there is some way we can pull it out of achieves if needed.. You put a lot of work into it. TiffanyAnn I forgot about the changes in the Medicare/Medicaid program and drug benefits. My husband was telling me something about a problem called "The Doughnut Hole." I think I know what you are talking about with the deductible and out of pocket cost with drug benefits. You are perfectly correct it does suck to be poor. I have been there for many years I was until my husband got this last job ten years ago, and I am 45. I grew up with no health coverage. I am on a new medication called Enbrel. I got my first shot last night by myself. It was a self injection of 50mg. due to an auto-immune disorder. I have rheumatoid arthritis. This medication is $1,500.00 a shot week, and I need one every week 50 mg. On the Humera my insurance declined it; it was that price. I looked online and I can't see where Enbrel is any cheaper, but my insurance wants me to try it first. At least Enbrel gave me a free month free until I can get my insurance and copay figured out. They have prescription assistance for the first year. I am going to need it. Tiffany please let me know if there is anything I can do to help out. Your friend, Michelle

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