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Research on TMJ: What treatments work for you?

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Apr 26, 2022 | Replies (50)

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@dawn_giacabazi

I was diagnosed after my car accident 1999. At the time it was my chiropractor who diagnosed me. I still see a chiropractor for my treatments when needed & he does help. I currently wear retainers at bedtime with my CPAP machine with rubber bands that helps,. I would have small flare ups that would pass after a few days but I really haven’t had any major problems until a couple weeks ago. I yawned and my jaw locked open. (Not the first time) Had to see my oral surgeon to get it unlock. I also see Physical therapy 3 times a week whi does massage and electrical stem on my neck in the base of my skull which has been helping me. But now my jaw muscles hurt to do the chewing motion. The worst is biting down. I can’t close the teeth together. So I have been eating soft foods. Pudding, applesauce, protein drinks. Nothing that requires any chewing. Talking is not my friend. Trying to rest the muscles as much as I can. But I have damage the temporomandibular joint. The surgeon says they need to brake my jaw and realign it and few other adjustments to fix it. But migraines are a killer and this has certainly triggered some nasty ones for me.

@grandmar
What treatment worked the best for you?

Thanks
Dawn

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Replies to "I was diagnosed after my car accident 1999. At the time it was my chiropractor who..."

@dawn_giacabazi
Hi Dawn!
As I mentioned, I went to a dentist who specialized in TMJ. The goal of the treatment was to move my jaw into a position that made it possible for my jaw to relax.
The dentist build me a bite plate that I wore 24/7. It positioned my mouth in an open position (although, I was able to close my lips). Every so often (can't remember how often) I saw the dentist and he would grind the bite plate down. Eventually, the mouth guard was shaved down. It took a while, During the process I would do isometrics with my mouth and use heat therapy.
In the end, this treatment worked well for me. Now, the worse time I have is when I have to go for a long dental appointment. I need breaks. I need to be careful that when I have a filling, that the bite is a good one. I never want t do anything that might throw off my bite.
I know one other person who also had TMJ. She was also treated by a dentist. That dentist decided to realign her teeth, too. He did hers with braces. I don't remember how long her process took, but I do know it was successful.

Hope this helps!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)