Page 2 | TMJ/jaw pain

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 13/04/2022 09:33

Try to address the causes of your stress. I mean the root causes.

We have to invest in our own health, do you exercise? Try yoga.

In the day keep your jaw soft and relaxed, breathe through your nose. If you set that pattern in the day, everyday, it will start to become your normal. At the moment your normal is tensed up and locked.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/04/2022 09:48

[quote courtney251]@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor do you get flare ups often? I'm really struggling with this. I went and had acupuncture and a neck massage a couple weeks back and it help massively but it's too expensive to have regular treatment.[/quote]
Not really now, my physio did some acupuncture too as part of the treatment.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/04/2022 09:49

You might be able to get it under NHS, I did. You just self refer where I live.

missunderstoodd · 13/04/2022 09:50

Speak to your GP who can refer you to a special dentist that can provide a mouth guard for you that should be free of charge

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/04/2022 09:50

Heat and ice really helps too.

Original poster

courtney251 · 13/04/2022 09:59

@MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler I agree totally. I've been so stressed recently and I know I hold slot of tension in my face and neck. It's just a vicious cycle though because now I've got this I'm stressing even more about it I can't seem to stop.

OP posts:

Original poster

courtney251 · 13/04/2022 11:28

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor the waiting list for a physio in my area is roughly four months unfortunately will definitely keep try pushing

OP posts:

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/04/2022 11:33

[quote courtney251]@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor the waiting list for a physio in my area is roughly four months unfortunately will definitely keep try pushing [/quote]
Oh gosh,that's ages.

Try the excercises in the link above,they are what I was given plus regular ibruprofen and heat and ice.

Hopeful16 · 13/04/2022 12:32

Hi all,

Has anybody else been prescribed Pregabalin?

I'm currently taking this alongside Naproxen and paracetamol!!! And I'm still in pain - so much that I could often cry. I'm waiting for a referral onto a specialist at the moment.

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 17:22

@courtney251 dud your pain ever go

coco111 · 08/10/2023 17:38

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 17:22

@courtney251 dud your pain ever go

It calmed down but never went. I ended up getting Botox in my jaw which completely eliminated the pain.

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 18:20

@coco111 so glad to hear I need to do Botox

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 18:21

@coco111 did you ever have jaw lock as in not able to open mouth fully

coco111 · 08/10/2023 18:24

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 18:21

@coco111 did you ever have jaw lock as in not able to open mouth fully

I couldn't open it as wide as usual and my jaw was completely misaligned and my bite was weird. The pain some days was unbearable, i was just so so miserable. I tried everything that was recommended and even tried acupuncture for a couple months but it just wouldn't go. Within a few days of getting the Botox the pain completely went. It lasted just under a year before it wore off and the pain returned so I got Botox again x

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 18:31

@coco111 this is me extremely miserable too. Did you feel pain in your teeth at times?

Helenahandkart · 08/10/2023 18:52

Ugh, I have this too. My jaws been clicking for 25+ years but has got progressively worse and now dislocates hundreds of times every day, sometimes really dramatically and painfully while I’m eating. My bite feels completely wrong, and my teeth always feel like they’re in the wrong place. So many migraines and my whole jaw is constantly hurting.

My dentist persuaded me to get a mouth guard for over £100 but if I wear it for more than a couple of nights in a row I get lockjaw and am in pain and can’t open my mouth wide enough to remove it. That’s if I don’t take it out in my sleep because it’s so uncomfortable.

I had a referral to a maxfax surgeon and an hour long MRI scan and they just told me there was no surgical target, nothing to be done, and I should avoid opening my mouth for the rest of my life.

I’m strongly considering Botox. It’s just utterly miserable.
I also broke two of my teeth recently when my jaw badly dislocated while I was eating. It’s made my really scared to eat.

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 19:00

@Helenahandkart omg Helen this sounds awful it is utterly misserable

Helenahandkart · 08/10/2023 19:04

I can’t get the link to the exercises to work, but I’m going to see if I can find any online. Can’t really afford Botox 😢

Deedoo · 08/10/2023 19:22

@Helenahandkart what link

Helenahandkart · 08/10/2023 20:39

Near the start of the thread

coco111 · 08/10/2023 21:59

Helenahandkart · 08/10/2023 18:52

Ugh, I have this too. My jaws been clicking for 25+ years but has got progressively worse and now dislocates hundreds of times every day, sometimes really dramatically and painfully while I’m eating. My bite feels completely wrong, and my teeth always feel like they’re in the wrong place. So many migraines and my whole jaw is constantly hurting.

My dentist persuaded me to get a mouth guard for over £100 but if I wear it for more than a couple of nights in a row I get lockjaw and am in pain and can’t open my mouth wide enough to remove it. That’s if I don’t take it out in my sleep because it’s so uncomfortable.

I had a referral to a maxfax surgeon and an hour long MRI scan and they just told me there was no surgical target, nothing to be done, and I should avoid opening my mouth for the rest of my life.

I’m strongly considering Botox. It’s just utterly miserable.
I also broke two of my teeth recently when my jaw badly dislocated while I was eating. It’s made my really scared to eat.

Please consider Botox honestly it was the best decision I've ever ever made! X

Candymay · 15/10/2023 23:01

Helenahandkart · 08/10/2023 18:52

Ugh, I have this too. My jaws been clicking for 25+ years but has got progressively worse and now dislocates hundreds of times every day, sometimes really dramatically and painfully while I’m eating. My bite feels completely wrong, and my teeth always feel like they’re in the wrong place. So many migraines and my whole jaw is constantly hurting.

My dentist persuaded me to get a mouth guard for over £100 but if I wear it for more than a couple of nights in a row I get lockjaw and am in pain and can’t open my mouth wide enough to remove it. That’s if I don’t take it out in my sleep because it’s so uncomfortable.

I had a referral to a maxfax surgeon and an hour long MRI scan and they just told me there was no surgical target, nothing to be done, and I should avoid opening my mouth for the rest of my life.

I’m strongly considering Botox. It’s just utterly miserable.
I also broke two of my teeth recently when my jaw badly dislocated while I was eating. It’s made my really scared to eat.

You poor thing. I read this and just wanted to comment in case I can bring you hope from my positive story. I had this disorder and suffered so badly- your post reminded me so much of my experience. I saw a max fax surgeon. Was told there was nothing to be done about the situation. I could barely open my mouth at all and it was excruciating. It would dislocate many times a day as you have described.
anyway- the good part is that it went away.

Before the TMJ disorder started I’d had a loudly clicking jaw. The first dislocation was one morning after a big yawn.

you mention the max fax surgeon saying not to open your mouth again. That is actually the key. For me, due to the pain being so severe I ended up not ever opening my jaw very widely to avoid the dislocation. I have never again yawned with an open jaw as I used to. This is not something I think about consciously these days but I know I don’t open my jaw to the same extent as I used to and I have never- fingers crossed- had a recurrence and it’s been over 10 years now. I’ll never forget how bad it was and your post made me feel so sad so please take comfort- It can get better! Mine did!

Loginmystery · 15/10/2023 23:08

courtney251 · 12/04/2022 21:33

I'm at my wits end and honestly can't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I was diagnosed with tmj after having several jaw pain, clicking jaw and neck pain. Nothing is working. I've been having pain for like a month now .does anybody suffer and have any advice? How long is this flare up going to last? My bite is even feeling like my teeth have moved. Honestly it's a nightmare

OP I understand It’s horrendous. I had it for about 6-10 months I think. Every day multiple dislocations and couldn’t eat or speak properly. It was a terrible time. But it went away! My advice is this- pain relief tablets. Consciously avoiding opening your jaw widely. Easy foods. Nothing that needs a big bite. If you can avoid the constant dislocations by being hyper aware of your jaw I believe it gives it a chance to calm and recover a bit. Then in my case I’ve never opened my mouth widely again. That sort of pain is not something you forget so it’s subconsciously affected me and the way my face moves. But I’m over it. Didn’t think I’d get over it but i am! Good luck.
and of course see a max fax consultant before listening to me