TMJ pain - anyone found anything that actually works?

[sweetkitty]

I’ve had horrendous TMJ pain for 6 weeks now, been to see the dentist twice and he’s confirmed it, you can actually hear my jaw click when I try to open it. It can only open a little way (the dentist said the couldn’t even make an impression for a mouthguard). It feels sore and swollen on the outside too. I’m a teacher so can’t stop talking but am on a soft food diet which is biting me now. I’ve tried hot and cold compresses, currently taking dihydrocodeine twice a day, paracetamol and ibuprofen (usually take the dihydrocodeine for nerve pain anyway)

Dentist said he would refer me to the dental clinic but it would be months before I would get seen so I asked about private so I’ve to phone and make an appointment probably for Botox or hypnotherapy as they reckon it’s stress. I’m in so much pain it can reduce me to tears at times.

Wondered if anyone else had experience of TMJ problems?

Dentist here and long term TMJ sufferer.
I usually have acute episodes that coincide with stress. However I notice about 3yrs ago that I wasn’t getting problems when I expected them. I sold my practice, it was 12 mnths of intense stress but no accompanying TMJ pain. The following yr my DSis had major surgery again no TMJ pain. Obviously Covid followed, TMJ no problem and then this summer I was diagnosed with breast cancer, still no acute TMJ pain. I am aware that I am grinding/ bruxing but it is not progressing to severe pain that I have experienced in the past.
The only thing I can put it down to is the silicone ear plugs I started wearing about 4 yrs ago to block out DHs snoring at night.
There is some science behind this, a hearing aid company who developed aids that sit inside the outer ear had noticed patients reporting that they had reduced TMJ after wearing the new design of aids. They had looked into it and developed appliance to help TMJ, I suspect that they have not been able to develop the product further due to Covid.
I know this is anecdotal but it may offer a solution in the future for some.
The other possible reason is that I have been taking an anti spasmodic for the last 12 mnths for sciatica. However this would not explain relief from symptoms prior to that.

@sweetkitty how are you now ? How long did the flare lst?
And does your teeth hurt ? X

How does everyone seem now ? Did anything hwlp xx

@WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa hi! How long did the amatriptyline take to work? And did you ever get pain in your teeth? X

@Starrr123 I take Ami and my teeth hurt