Talk

Flip

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

TMJ - how to deal with pain at night?

8 replies

pigsinmud · 15/02/2013 09:40

I have had problems with my jaw for years - very clicky. However, it got much worse about a year ago. My dentist said it was TMJ and that my jaw deviates when I open it. He gave me some exercises and said that there wasn't much that could be done. He suggested a mouth guard for nighttime, but I wasn't keen as I had one years ago and used to take it out in my sleep!

Now the pain is waking me up frequently at night. I tried ibuprofen, but no good. The pharmacist suggested ibuprofen with codeine - no change. The pain is mainly in that joint, but sometimes it spreads to a headache or neck ache....like now as I have been fiddling with my jaw! I can cope with the pain in the day. In the day it is a dull throb, which worsens when I eat (i eat a lot of porridge & soup now!), but at night when it wakes me up my jaw feels really stiff and hurts when I open my mouth - almost like some arthritic problem. I think it's worse when I'm stressed, but I'm stressed because I'm tired and so it goes on....

Should I try going to the gp to see if he can suggest some painkillers? My friend, a nurse, said I probably needed something with a muscle relaxant in it.

OP posts:

Report

shitmagnet · 15/02/2013 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pigsinmud · 15/02/2013 11:20

Thanks. I had decided to try the night guard again. My next check up is in April and I was going to mention it then. I hope the materials have changed in the past 20 years - I hated it.

I hate having things in my mouth - apart from food! - it makes me want to gag, but that's a whole different issue! I imagine that is why I was taking it out in my sleep. When I discussed it with the dentist, he made a good point which was that I didn't know when I was taking it up in the night - might be 10 minutes after I went to sleep or 10 minutes before I woke up! If the latter, then I was getting all the benefit from it.

OP posts:

Report

shitmagnet · 15/02/2013 11:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMorton · 15/02/2013 15:44

A Lucia jig is very small, ask your dentist about this. They're not suitable for everyone but as a first line for TMJD I usually make one for my patients.

Report

silverangel · 15/02/2013 17:48

I was offered valium to take at night when mine was really bad. It wasn't an option for me as I had baby DTs but would maybe work for you, even if only for a few days to get the joint out of spasm.

Report

BonnieWeeJeannieMcCall · 17/02/2013 16:13

I've had surgery for TMJ and it's been bliss ever since. I still can't open my mouth quite as much as a "normal" person, but I can eat normally and the horrible, horrible pain has gone completely.

Only 2 nights in hospital, but I was off work for almost a month afterwards. I have the same scars as if I'd had a facelift; in my hair diagonally down to the top of my ears, then in a straight line down in front of my ears - virtually invisible.

Report

saxony · 19/02/2013 17:07

Hi I had TMJ a few years ago. I was referred to a specialist who gave me a mouth guard for night and also a series of physiotherapy exercises. My jaw also deviated when I opened my mouth and it would only open a small amount. Pleased to say i was eventually discharged but I still have a dull ache in my jaw joint at night if i sleep on my side.
I hope yours eases soon
x

Report

pigsinmud · 22/02/2013 20:45

Thanks for all these messages. I am going to ask for a night guard when I go to the dentist in April. It is going to be bad tonight....got earache and headache already plus stiff neck.