So a bit of back story. I've had pain in the side of my head on and off for the good part of a decade (maybe longer). 5 years ago when I had my first baby the pain got a lot worse and long story short was diagnosed with TMJ disorder, basically my jaw is the problem. I went to the local dental hospital, they had my dentist make me a guard to wear at night. I wore it for honestly like 6 months straight but it didn't work and was left with basically they could only offer me a course of diazapam which I refused as I was still BF and didn't want to be knocked out overnight for my baby. The dentist didn't give me any other alternative. Since my second baby the pain has really ramped up to the point that I have a pain in the side of my head constantly. Sometimes it's a dull pain and sometimes it knocks me for six. I've been to my GP to ask for a scan because I thought maybe it's something more? I was sent to a NHS physio but it's not helped, she then referred me to oral medicine about 6 months ago and still no sign of an appointment (she also prescribed amatriptiline which doesnt work either). I've tried massages as well but nothing helps or if it relieves the pain, it only lasts a small while.
Today at my wits end I went for an acupuncture session, I think it's definitely did something but it's my first time and the man had a heavy accent and didn't explain very much (maybe its my fault for not asking questions). After the treatment I felt a lot looser, I could brush my hair without feeling discomfort but I still have stiffness in the side of my neck (it's not my jaw that hurts but the pain in the side of my head above my ear and also just in front of my ear as well as my neck). He basically said that it would take x14 sessions to fix the problem. That's once a week at £50! It's a lot of money but spoke to DH and he said we can make it work if it might help me but I'm so dubious to try something else that just doesn't solve the problem and waste money that we could really use. I've already spent £100 on the mouth guard plus lots of money on massages etc. I feel absolutely helpless and frustrated. Would it be unreasonable to spend that money knowing that it might not do anything at all? I've never been for acupuncture but they put the needles around my face/head/neck and then attached them to machine and I could feel small electric pulses a bit like a tiny tens machine - is this normal? I just don't know what to do!