TMJ pain

[AmericanLemonade]

Hi,

I've posted on this subject before - so sorry if I'm being a bore, but I am having a nasty flare of TMJ. My jaw, ear, eye, everything on the right side of my face hurts to the point of tears.

I've taken all the painkillers i can for now, i am using a tens machine and have an acupuncture clip and a special pillow thing.

I had an mri scan in September and I'm due the results in December, I have everything crossed that they will operate and fix my face! I would honestly let them remove all my teeth if that would help... I'm desperate.

I dont really know why I'm posting here, I've tried everything and I've suffered on and off for years. I dont really want or need advice (unless someone has something innovative that will change my life!) I'm just fed up and in pain. I'm also a key worker so have to go to work tomorrow...I'm just miserable!!

Can you all come and be really funny and witty and cheer me up and not expect anything clever in return? Or post photos of your pets? Convince me to chop all my hair off? Anything!!

You have my sympathy op. Last time I was on a train with my 2 kids my son age 11(loudly) asked what STD meant ... I had a moment of pure panic as my 9 yo was much too young for this conversation... so I asked what he meant... he passed me the train ticket... STD = standard fare. kids!

Nice save Lolly
When my DD(9 now) was little I took her with me into a public loo where I had come on.
"Mummy...you've pooed in your pants?!"
I did a lot of frantic stammering while people in the next door cubicles had a good laugh...

Have you looked at botox to relax the muscles I am currently in a similar boat and gping through referrals process.

If you are on Facebook there are a couple of really supportive and informative groups if you search for "jaw surgery"

Have you tried mouth guards and / or relaxants?

Mine was so bad I couldn't open my mouth properly for months so you have my sympathy.

The drs have suggested botox might be an options, I'm just hanging on for my appointment to see what theyll do.

I am on a couple of TMJ facebook groups, if you can direct me to any good ones though that would be fab!

I have a mouth guard but cant take relaxants unfortunately. I have really limited opening too, it's just miserable.

I suffer from this also and it gives me terrible migraine. A friend recommended a physiotherapist who does online therapeutic Pilates sessions that specifically address this. It was miraculous.

I’m sure you’ve tried anything and everything but if you’ve not tried that I would recommend giving it a go. I was totally cynical but it was instantly effective.

Are u able to take ibuprofen?? Try and rest the jaw as much as u can like no opening wide to yawn and don't chew chewy foods...I would say Botox and hang on for ur results...have u been to a dentist as there's all different kinds of mouth guards that can be made xx

I will look into that, thank you

Out of hours Dr with some sort of magic injection in your arse was the only 'cure' for me... No idea what it was though, muscle relaxant or pain killer I assume?

If it makes you feel better, I had my 1yo playing naked in the bathroom the other day as I tried desperately to get a wee sample from her... After the longest hour ever, she stopped playing and had a concentrating face on... And she shat the biggest poo ever, half on my hands (was holding the silver bowl thingy ready for wee) and half onto the shower tray. She then wanted to see what had happened, so looked down, stumbled into her own shit and went head first towards the glass /tiles. Obviously I leap forward to save her fall and basically just shit EVERYWHERE. It would have been funny if it wasn't so disgusting and smelly

I have taken ibuprofen and paracetamol- I'm allergic to anything with codeine in it.

I cant manage anything remotely chewy and was told years ago not to yawn so have trained myself not to!

My dentist made my mouth guard with a custom mold of my mouth.

I'm hoping I get referred for botox, I'm not sure if I can self refer for botox for medical reasons or even if I could afford it to be honest if it's not through NHS

TMJ is miserable. I found these exercises really soothing.

You're maybe already familiar with them but I thought it wouldn't hurt to share.

Mmsnet101 excellent! that actually helped a bit!

I had to have a painkiller injection in my arse once too when I had gallstones, despite being in a lot of pain and being so ill they had to roll me over because I physically couldnt, through my tears I kept repeating 'oh I'm so sorry you have to see my bum!'

I had hypnotherapy to help me relax at bedtime and a physiotherapist who before lockdown used to release all the tight trigger point knots in my neck face and shoulders. It was very painful at first but omg the relief once it eased was amazing. Perhaps that could help?

Thank you for the exercises

winter I'd not even considered hypnotherapy so thanks for the suggestion, that's definitely something to look into!

I can sympathise op, I had this for years and the pain was terrible, my shoulder, jaw and neck would ache. I would ice it and I had a mouth guard for nighttime, neither of which helped much. Now I get it only every couple of months. What helped? Sounds weird but Voltarol gel (get it in supermarket, you can get two strengths I used the stronger stuff). I applied with a cotton bud to the skin at the front of my ear at my jaw. Just a tiny amount. It eases it almost instantly. I told gp who told me not to use it but stick to ibuprofen (which I never liked taking) but I kept using it, in tiny amounts as soon as I got the pain and I think it just eased the inflammation enough to help it heal over time. Also, the side i had pain on, I saw on a youtube video that said to make your hand into a fist and push really gently on your jaw on the other side to where your pain is (pushing against the pain), be careful but I would hear a click and the pain would ease as if something was out of alignment. I still do this occasionally when I get an ache and it helps. Hope this helps, I never thought mine would get better but it did!