Actually, my problem started around ‘66-‘67 when I was still in high school and was thrown off a horse, landing on one side of my face. After that my jaw began clicking and snapping and popping. I never associated the incident and never complained about the jaw because I just assumed everyone’s did that at some point. I got diagnosed with “TMJ” around 19 or 20. Told to go on a soft/no chew diet and take aspirin until it calmed down, which it always did. It flared up off and on. Then when I turned 50 it suddenly did not go away. Got worse. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a simple “TMJ” thing any longer. Other than severe L sided jaw pain I had no classic reasons or symptoms. Wasn’t stress related. Didn’t grind my teeth. Etc. Turned out my discs were permanently displaced/worn through and my joints were bone on bone, just like a patient who needs hip or knee replacement. So began the battle of finding the correct doctor to make the correct diagnosis and getting my insurance company to pay for an out of network, very specialized oral maxillofacial surgeon to remove my joints and replace them with custom made ones! So now my joints are still FINE 11 years post replacement. Hallelujah! It’s just the PTSD that is suddenly rearing it’s head again. I know I will eventually beat this again, just having a rough patch.