Anyone with tmj..??!

[Lina86]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone else out there suffers with tmj, I've had it for about 5 years now and after the first time, i woke up with a lock jaw and migraine, took about three weeks to ease though my jaw hasn't been able to open fully ever since. I have the occasional flare up, normally around time of month or stressful events but nothing major, then about 3/4 months ago my jaw has started to seize up and spasm practically every night, have had to adapt my bedtime routine to manage, hot bath meditation etc. Everything came to a head xmas eve where I woke up with a completely seized jaw, left side of my face is in constant agony with headaches and a fuzzy ear, 5 weeks on not much improvement, the doctors/dentist have been pretty useless and just supplying me with diazepam amitriptaly and other strong painkillers, I've paid for a steroid injection which has slightly released the jaw but not helped with the pain. I have finally managed to fight for a maxfax appointment in a weeks time, only due to the concern of how much weight I've lost.
So, can anyone recommend any treatments I can do to help me? It is literally draining the life out of me and my kids are suffering in return. I've read on other forums about Botox injections or cpd oil, any experience in this? Any little input will help!! Thanks.

Some physios treat tmj... get your doctor to refer?

My dentist suggested Botox however with the caveat that it can reduce bone density.

Have you seen a chiropractor? Would definitely recommend if not.

Thanks sabbby, the doc did refer me when it first happened but sadly the NHS doesn't have the facilities to offer me the kind of physio I need, it was a group once a month which didn't ease, I do pay for physio and chiropractor treatments when it's bad, but don't have the funds to do often, do all the tmj exercises too so don't understand why it's gotten so bad 😢

Yoga! Like you mine flares up when I'm stressed or with PMT, but can then carry on much longer than the stress etc. I took up yoga, learned to control my breathing and stop carrying so much tension in my face, neck, shoulders etc.

It's not an instant cure but it's done more for me than maxfax, dentist, and GP put together.

(I do Yoga with Adriene, so can practice at home.)

I'n leaning towards Botox, but it's a bit information overload trying to weigh up the good and bad points on the internet, if you do go for it please update me on how it goes!

Also when I feel it coming on, I sit my tongue gently forward so it is just between my teeth. It stops me tensing up my jaw (which I otherwise do without noticing). I find it helps more than the mouth guards I've had, which they stopped giving me because I kept biting through them.

Bombardier25966 Thanks, will deffo look up yoga with Adrienne, it is the tension in my face neck and shoulders I feel like I need to tackle first actually to help all the rest release, I thought I was a pretty easing going and laid back person, clearly my body is telling me very different!

Sounds like ours is similar, I've chewed through countless guards, thanks for the tongue tip!

I’ve had it a few times and can second the tongue thing, definitely helped for me. Also I am always careful what I eat these days. Eg I know that a bite of a crusty piece of bread would start it off again.

I had this very badly several years ago and my jaw seized twice. What has helped me was a combination of things;
Physio who could release the trigger point tight muscles in my neck jaw and scalp - look up myofasical release
To address the stress I had hypnotherapy and this also helped enormously
I also did light jaw exercises every morning to open my jaw fully again.
The combination worked. Hopefully it might for you.

I have a night guard (made by a specialist dentist) and have had Botox. The difference has been significant for me - my headaches disappeared, my facial muscles decreased massively and less wear on my nightguard.

I had the Botox done by a dentist, not a cosmetic doctor, which I think helped too.
I do still clench during the day, so will give the tongue between the teeth trick a go when I notice it!