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Original poster

To Be At Crisis Point With TMJ Pain

86 replies

BeeDaisy · 31/03/2025 13:21

I am really struggling. I’ve been to the dental hospital numerous times to see the TMJ consultant and they just give me a mouth guard and send me on my way. It doesn’t nothing but cause even more pain.

The doctor just throws medication at me all of which I’m struggling with. I came off Amytriplyine because I couldn’t cope with the side effects. I’ve now had to do the same with Nortyriptyline.

I take cocodamol and naproxen daily. I try and take breaks at the weekend and switch to ibruprofen and anadin. Nothing fully gets rid of the pain.

I went to see an osteopath and felt relief for two hours afterwards. Unfortunately after this I was in agony much more than normal for 2 days and still counting.

I just don’t know what to do with myself anymore. I’m so fed up and sad about it all. Not a moment goes by when I’m not in pain. My sleep is disturbed.

I’ve been reading up on Botox and other private things but I’m worried I will pay all that money and it won’t do anything.

I am also worried about the damage all the painkillers could be doing to my body.

I also want dental treatment to make my front teeth look nice but no one will touch me whilst I’m in so much pain with TMJ.

Has anyone found a long term solution please? Or got rid of most of the pain?

It is really affecting my quality of life at this point.

I don’t know where to go from here.

OP posts:
Jerabilis · 12/04/2025 07:20

clickyteeclick · 12/04/2025 06:41

Amazing! So it improved the movement? Did you go private or with the nhs?

Show quote history

NHS - I think they've been really good. The doctor explained the reasons for wanting to take a conservative approach, in terms of trying drugs before Botox and surgery being only a last resort.

The initial wait from my dentist referral took a while but now I'm in the system it seems to be going well.

pambeesleyhalpert · 12/04/2025 06:51

Sorry that sounded unfair to the NHS, the only reason in this scenario that private was better is because we could do it there and then. The maxillofacial departments are absolutely incredible on the NHS

pambeesleyhalpert · 12/04/2025 06:49

I used to work in a maxillofacial clinic on Harley street and also 2 maxfax departments in different hospitals. The private tx is way way better. Get the Botox but go to a maxillofacial consultant do not go to a beautician. It works itl be money well spent x

clickyteeclick · 12/04/2025 06:41

Jerabilis · 11/04/2025 23:15

I have quite a lot of damage to my jaw which resulted in it clicking, moving oddly and regularly locking, along with the pain.

The muscles in my face and jaw were massive and under a lot of tension.

The Botox has really been transformative in terms of reducing the movement in my jaw

Show quote history

Amazing! So it improved the movement? Did you go private or with the nhs?

Genevieva · 11/04/2025 23:17

Myofunctional therapy?

Jerabilis · 11/04/2025 23:15

clickyteeclick · 09/04/2025 04:31

Can I ask if anyone who’s had Botox has it improved movement in your jaw? Mine locks and unless I do this weird unlocking thing to the side and open it (which makes a horrendous noise and pain) I can only open it a little way. Eating is becoming a nightmare and really embarrassing!
I’ve gone to the dental hospital numerous times ( waste of time), physio, private, few different splints which has made it all worse and had an mri scan. Botox is my only hope! But need it more for the unlocking as I’m kind of used to the pain now.
OP glad to hear you’ve noticed some relief! X

I have quite a lot of damage to my jaw which resulted in it clicking, moving oddly and regularly locking, along with the pain.

The muscles in my face and jaw were massive and under a lot of tension.

The Botox has really been transformative in terms of reducing the movement in my jaw

Jerabilis · 11/04/2025 23:12

I have TMJ, being seen under the NHS. I had an MRI , which identified damage to both my jaw (old traumatic injury) and to my neck.

They started by trying nortriptyline and it did help but not enough. They also referred me to a physio who gave me some exercises. I had Botox on my jaw under the NHS in February and have another session booked in June.

The Botox has been luge changing in reducing my pain and in how often my jaw would lock.

You need to push your NHS consultant as Botox should be available.

Mummabear04 · 11/04/2025 23:06

BeeDaisy · 10/04/2025 19:02

No I haven’t tried exercises. Do you think they will help?
I bought a mouth guard off Amazon that you put in hot water then into your mouth then into cold water. Had it in for 2 hours and it caused much more pain.

Straight up ice pack is the thing that has helped me most. I've a dentist made mouth guard and it hasn't done anything for me and I've been wearing it for basically a year. Sorry you're feeling so much pain.

HelenWheels · 10/04/2025 19:24

i definitely think you should try tmj exercises, @BeeDaisy
they worked for me, that and trying to relax and not have stress

Shegotanology · 10/04/2025 19:22

@BeeDaisy The ones you shrink at home are no good. You need a dentist-made one. It'll help with the grinding but they can cause pain for the first few weeks.

Original poster
BeeDaisy · 10/04/2025 19:02

No I haven’t tried exercises. Do you think they will help?
I bought a mouth guard off Amazon that you put in hot water then into your mouth then into cold water. Had it in for 2 hours and it caused much more pain.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 10/04/2025 18:37

A friend of mine has her jaw replaced.

HelenWheels · 10/04/2025 18:19

have you tried exercises @BeeDaisy

TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 10/04/2025 11:23

Elsvieta · 09/04/2025 20:03

Botox has helped me a lot. My practitioner takes photos every time and it's clearly visible how much the big jaw muscles have gone down (so I look better too!).

My jaw muscles are big but the botox slimmed them too much, I felt I looked a bit strange and developed slight jowls. I'm not sure if it's dose-dependant... presumably not as it either paralyses the muscle or it doesn't I'd think.

Original poster
BeeDaisy · 10/04/2025 11:16

The pain at the moment feels mostly like my front teeth hurt. And it radiates all the way around my jaw.
The right side where the joint is normally hurts the most but since the Botox that seems less so now. If I hold my jaw open that hurts again.

My jaw is back to going into clench mode as its relaxed position. But the muscles at the bottom of my jaw are not as big as you’d expect from someone who clenches. I’m not sure why. When I clench the pressure seems to be more on my front top teeth and around that area.

I was told a while ago that the disc on my jaw on the right hand side was too far forward and this is causing the limited movements.

OP posts:
freefields · 09/04/2025 21:50

OP can you describe the pain a bit more? Where exactly is it and is it triggered by any particular movements? Can you open your mouth fully/ chew and is there any noise or grinding? I posted previously about my TMJ turning out to actually be severe arthritis within the joint meaning botox would not help but steroid injection into the arthrtic joint gave great relief. It is very important to really know what is going on in the jaw to guide the treatment. You have my sympathy it really hurts.

Thefrenchconnection1 · 09/04/2025 21:46

I have tmj. Similar story re: Pain. I had botox from a dentist twice and haven't had it for over a year. I'm mindful of where I keep my tongue, followed a soft food diet as well for first month

Gerwurtztraminer · 09/04/2025 21:31

BeeDaisy · 09/04/2025 07:13

So I think the 2 days of much less pain after Botox was a coincidence. I’ve had pain again since. So another thing that hasn’t worked for me.

Feeling pretty gutted especially when it cost so much too! Not sure where to go from here.

Botox can take up to 3 weeks to work to relax the muscle. Give it time.

I'm surprised none of the mouthguards have worked for you. Do you give them a decent try and not just give up within a few days. When I got my first it worked within 2 nights of wearing it but a recent replacement is a different shape and some of the pain returned for a while - I think it slightly change the resting position of my jaw compared to the earlier one and I need time time adjust.

Northstar1234 · 09/04/2025 20:33

My dentist recommended acupuncture and it fixed my TMJ within 4-6 sessions. It was driving me insane.

safetyfreak · 09/04/2025 20:12

I had a lot of issues with jaw pain, once so bad after Christmas I went to A and E to get stronger painkillers (dentist said I had no cavities, and I should wear a mouth guard, very helpful!)

Interestingly, the pain has reduced/stopped in the last couple months (touch wood) for me, I been feeling less stressed at work and I think this has caused me to not clench as much at night? I am not entirely sure. If the pain was still occurring, I would have tried botox next.

I know reddit have a TMJ forum, may be worth looking on there also for advice OP? I hope it stops for you too ☹

Elsvieta · 09/04/2025 20:03

Botox has helped me a lot. My practitioner takes photos every time and it's clearly visible how much the big jaw muscles have gone down (so I look better too!).

muddyford · 09/04/2025 14:26

I had acupuncture for mine. It worked within minutes and TMJ has never come back.

Original poster
BeeDaisy · 09/04/2025 07:13

So I think the 2 days of much less pain after Botox was a coincidence. I’ve had pain again since. So another thing that hasn’t worked for me.

Feeling pretty gutted especially when it cost so much too! Not sure where to go from here.

OP posts:
HelenWheels · 09/04/2025 05:25

i had exercises which cured it
it was due to stress

clickyteeclick · 09/04/2025 04:31

Can I ask if anyone who’s had Botox has it improved movement in your jaw? Mine locks and unless I do this weird unlocking thing to the side and open it (which makes a horrendous noise and pain) I can only open it a little way. Eating is becoming a nightmare and really embarrassing!
I’ve gone to the dental hospital numerous times ( waste of time), physio, private, few different splints which has made it all worse and had an mri scan. Botox is my only hope! But need it more for the unlocking as I’m kind of used to the pain now.
OP glad to hear you’ve noticed some relief! X

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