TMJ flare ups

[Jaffacake007]

I think I'm suffering with TMJ as a result of lots of stress / anxiety lately. I could feel my jaw getting tight for a few days then I had one awful nights sleep with lots of teeth grinding and my face has felt heavy and in pain for about 3 days now. Earaches and headaches too.

I can't open or close my jaw and eating and talking is difficult. I've been prescribed low dose diazepam but I don't think it's helping and I've ordered a mouth guard.

Anyone else who suffers with this? How long does a flare up last for you? I've got a 9 month old crawling everywhere and a sprained wrist too so I'm feeling sorry fit myself

I get it when I’m stressed which is most of the time. I had a custom made hard plastic guard fitted as I lost one of my molars by clenching so hard it split in half. I’m thinking of getting Botox after lockdown, it’s injected into the masseter (sp?) muscle to relax it

@OverByYer

I get it when I’m stressed which is most of the time. I had a custom made hard plastic guard fitted as I lost one of my molars by clenching so hard it split in half. I’m thinking of getting Botox after lockdown, it’s injected into the masseter (sp?) muscle to relax it

How long does the pain last for you? I've tried booking a dentist appointment and the nearest they can get me in is 20th April

Hopefully the cheapy mouth guard I've ordered will help a bit until I can get seen

When my tooth cracked it was days and days until I had it removed.
Now it’s not so much pain but muscle soreness. I do stretches and massage my face - there are lots of videos on you tube that are good. The best ones are by 2 Australian physios whose mames escape me

@OverByYer sorry to hijack but would you get toothache with your tmj?

Have any of you also had tinnitus related to TMJ?

I've been hearing a low humming noise in then house on and off but I've realised it's in my head and if I move my jaw if stops!!

I have TMJ, mainly clenching rather than grinding. It causes tinnitus, cracking and popping and pain in my jaw and across my face and I've had two molars root canalled from it, along with super fast gum recession.
My rigid plastic mouthguard has put a stop to the dental damage and recession (though it doesn't stop me clenching my jaw at night).
The miracle cure in terms of my general facial and jaw pain though is a water-filled pillow my dentist recommended called a Mediflow. I'm a side sleeper and it takes the pressure off the jaw joint. It has changed my life, I highly recommend!

@tpmumtobe

I have TMJ, mainly clenching rather than grinding. It causes tinnitus, cracking and popping and pain in my jaw and across my face and I've had two molars root canalled from it, along with super fast gum recession. My rigid plastic mouthguard has put a stop to the dental damage and recession (though it doesn't stop me clenching my jaw at night). The miracle cure in terms of my general facial and jaw pain though is a water-filled pillow my dentist recommended called a Mediflow. I'm a side sleeper and it takes the pressure off the jaw joint. It has changed my life, I highly recommend!

Thanks for that, will definitely look for a water pillow now! I finally have a dentist appointment next week so hoping they can help.

How long does a flare up last for you? I've been struggling for 5 weeks now. Had some low dose diazepam and my face / ears / migraines feel better but my jaw aches and I can barely open my mouth to get food in. Starting to get worried

Have you tried magnesium @Jaffacake007. Might be worth a try. I would definitely try and get a mouthguard from the dentist. Is the pain on one side or both? And do you feel it in your teeth or just jaw?

@HermionePotter123

Have you tried magnesium *@Jaffacake007*. Might be worth a try. I would definitely try and get a mouthguard from the dentist. Is the pain on one side or both? And do you feel it in your teeth or just jaw?

My teeth felt misaligned for about a week, they couldn't touch together at all. That eventually sorted itself out, then I couldn't feel them, they felt almost numb? The feeling has returned now and I can now chew soft foods and I can now grit my teeth together (obviously not making a habit out of that!).

The jaw ache is on both sides. At first it was really painful with my cheeks feeling sore/numb. I'm mostly now just struggling with motion - I can now open my mouth wide enough to eat most soft foods but there's no chance I'd manage to eat a sandwich or a burger during the first week, I struggled to open my mouth wide enough to eat soup with a spoon!

I haven't tried magnesium, did it work for you? I'm at the point where I'll try anything to feel better. I'm coming towards the end of my maternity leave and I'm a teacher, so I'll be talking a lot soon and I'm dreading coming home with face ache every day

I'm in the same boat @Jaffacake007 with regards to the maternity. I'm a nurse and due to return in June but really need to get this sorted first as I can't chew food at all. Currently on a liquid/soft diet. I've only been taking the magnesium a week or so. Can't say I've noticed a huge improvement but a lot of people swear by it. I find diazepam helps slightly. Gp wants me to try amitriptyline but I'm a bit reluctant. I would definitely enquire about a splint from the dentist. Do your teeth ever snap together randomly at night? And would you get pain in your teeth as well as the joint?

As well as seeing the dentist next week I would try and get in with a chiropractor

@HermionePotter123

I'm in the same boat *@Jaffacake007* with regards to the maternity. I'm a nurse and due to return in June but really need to get this sorted first as I can't chew food at all. Currently on a liquid/soft diet. I've only been taking the magnesium a week or so. Can't say I've noticed a huge improvement but a lot of people swear by it. I find diazepam helps slightly. Gp wants me to try amitriptyline but I'm a bit reluctant. I would definitely enquire about a splint from the dentist. Do your teeth ever snap together randomly at night? And would you get pain in your teeth as well as the joint?

I'm due to go back in June too, really dreading it! I've been taking citalopram for 4 weeks for postnatal anxiety. I put off taking antidepressants for so long because I thought I was coping but this episode with my jaw I assume was stress/anxiety related as it happened the morning after I had some stressful news however the doctor told me that some antidepressants cause teeth grinding and could make it worse?

How long have you been struggling for now? My top teeth are all feeling slightly numb again today. I don't think (hoping!!!) Ive damaged any teeth yet. We'll wait and see what the dentist says on Tuesday - I'll keep you posted!