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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 18 hours ago | Replies (7067)Comment receiving replies
I developed earaches in September 2016. My primary care found no ear or sinus infection and sent me to an ENT, who diagnosed TMJ pain. I went to my dentist for help. He gave me weekly anesthesia shots into trigger points (OUCH!) and exercises to do, including massaging the trigger points and opening my mouth as wide as I could numerous times in the shower while my face was warm and wet. (I have been wearing a night guard made by my dentist for over 20 years; he replaces them as they wear out.) The pain continued and only got worse; it was at the top of my head, in my ears, in my jaw, above my palate (as though I'd eaten hot food). My dentist sent me to an oral surgeon, who did 360-degree x-rays and found no joint damage. He told me I was therefore not a candidate for surgery (YAY!) and prescribed Flexeril, a muscle relaxer. The pain only got worse, and I continued to wake up in the night with horrific pain. Ibuprofen didn't even touch it.
My dentist then sent me to a physical therapist, who didn't listen to a word I said. I came in on a "good" pain day: my pain level was about a 5 out of 10 (10 being the worst). After his examination and showing me how to do various exercises, he triumphantly told me that my pain level was now reduced. I said "No. My pain level is now about 7.5." He said he didn't believe me. He attempted to push me to go to his outside clinic to get "magnet therapy," and he tried to push me to see a friend of his who is a naturopath. Two days after this session, I was still in excruciating pain and doubt I'd ever return to this physical therapist, although he had me schedule 4 more 1-hour sessions with him.
I called my dentist again, and he called in a prescription for Tylenol plus codeine, which I can take every 4 to 6 hours. My dentist seems to have no further solutions for me.
My primary care is currently out of town, but I will see her when she gets back (in August); she may be referring me to a pain management specialist, which my dentist recommended--however, my dentist refuses to give me a referral to such a specialist, even though the specialist will take referrals from dentists or doctors.
I have been treated for many years for clinical depression and panic/anxiety disorder by my psychiatrist, and the meds have helped me immensely. On Monday I see my psychiatrist for my usual 6-month med check, and I'm going to ask him for help with the terrible TMJ pain. I have also had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for a long time. The fibro pain has greatly lessened over time and hardly bothers me, but the CFS continues.
The TMJ pain makes it difficult to concentrate. I'm self-employed, and I enjoy my work. But pain gets in the way, as it does in every single situation: work or pastimes. My dentist mentioned massage therapy, but I'm in too much pain right now to try it. Another friend mentioned using a TENS unit. I feel as though I'm not living; to be in constant pain is hardly living, at least to me.
Any other suggestions? Would a TENS unit help? I'm more than willing to purchase one. I'll try just about anything to be pain free. Sometimes I am pain free. But I spend about 2 weeks out of every month in serious pain. I am feeling very discouraged.
Replies to "I developed earaches in September 2016. My primary care found no ear or sinus infection and..."
John, I can't thank you enough for mentioning my situation to others! I will definitely log into the TMJ pain discussion you mentioned. Thanks again!
Hazel, I don't have TMJ but I have chronic pain due to degenerating disc's in my neck. I just stop taking all pain medication which was probably not smart since now they think I need surgery. But that's the cards I've been dealt. I do have a tens machine, it is my best friend. It helps your muscles to relax and somehow tricks your brain – not feeling the pain. It's not permanent but it does give you some temporary relief. I've never thought about putting it up on my head though mine is neck and back. If you look on Amazon, have a lot to choose from and they're not very expensive now. Good luck Jennifer
Jenapower, thank you so much for writing! I'm so sorry about the degenerative disc problems. I'm sorry for anyone in pain. I'm taking tylenol + codeine, but I haven't had to take any today--yet, anyway. I tried to find online articles about pros and cons of TENS machines, but I kept discovering that the glowing reports came from dental practices that use them. So, of course they're going to say TENS machines are the greatest. If I ignore those articles, there isn't a whole lot left, and what I read seems to say "yes, but. . . ." Anyway, I'm definitely going to look at TENS machines. Even temporary relief would be great! I never know when and why the TMJ pain is going to strike. It's driving me slowly crazy.
Hazel, I'm curious, you said you had gone to physical therapy I think, that's the first place I ever had anyone use a tens machine on me. I learned where they placed the pads, and the intensity that helped. Mine are pretty severe muscle spasm's and I can put it across an area of spasm and gradually turn it up higher and higher. It feels a little weird at first but then I look forward to it because I know it will help. It's definitely an electrical shock type of feeling but it's very mild. I'm not sure where you would place little electrode patches to get the TMJ muscle between your jaw. If you do go to PT, ask them to try it. Or ask your doctor were you would place the pads. I do feel like it helps me a lot and have been very glad I have it. It's just kind learning the way that it works for you.
Hi, Jena. Thanks for writing! Yes, I went to a physical therapist whom my dentist recommended. The phys therapist was, to put it mildly, WEIRD. He didn't listen to me at all. He just talked at me. He had some "interesting" theories about using magnets and said he could treat me with magnets at his other clinic, for $150 a pop, which my insurance wouldn't cover. He also tried to force me to go to a naturopath friend of his.
Whenever I reported my symptoms to him, he kept telling me that I _couldn't_ have experienced them. He insisted that I must've had a traumatic head injury, which I told him I'd never had. But he refused to believe me. He did a bunch of exercises on me that I was supposed to repeat at home. When the excruciating pain of the session finally wore off, I tried some of the exercises--letting my jaw just fall open and hang down; lightly slapping my jaw with the backs of my hands--but they hurt like crazy. He used something like a buzzer on me but wouldn't let me see it; he kept it concealed in his hand. Maybe that was a TENS unit, but I don't know. He never mentioned a TENS unit to me, and he never placed any TENS pads on my face. I left PT thinking this guy was a complete nutcase. He scheduled me for four more appointments, an hour long each, but I'm canceling all of them. I've had PT before, for other things, and yes, it hurt, but things got better. This guy's brand of PT rocketed my pain level up into the stratosphere. I'm never going back to him again.
I've been reading stuff on TENS units and TMJ pain. There are some really inexpensive units out there. I may buy one--I saw some for around $30--and try it out. I don't think I have much to lose, since nothing else has worked so far. And your report makes me feel that a TENS unit may really help.
I'm also going to research acupuncture and TMJ pain. Almost 20 years ago, I got severe Bell's palsy, which paralyzed 3/4 of my face. The only thing that cleared it up was acupuncture. So, anyway, more things to explore.
Thanks again for telling me about your experiences with the TENS unit. It really sounds very promising.
@hazelblumberg. Wow. What you experienced was just too bizzare! Slap your jaws? Magnets? Buzzers? Insisting you must have had a brain injury?! He sounds like a kook! You are right to never go back to him! So sorry you had that experience. How awful! I pray you find some good, sensible ideas to help you on Mayo Connect. I find it to be a great source of information and support. I use what works for me and discard the rest. Not everyone responds the same to different treatments. For pain, I have decided to look into medical marijuana. I refuse to use pain pills and over the counter stuff can mess up one's stomach! Thanks for sharing. Hope you find relief soon.
Medical Marijuana offers much that can help. It is wise to have a "guide" and to take things slowly. The options are increasing rapidly. And experiencing pain free moments is so worth it.
Ya think? Good decision-stay away from the Quack insurance grabbing theives..............let your brain and body tell
you what you need.
Chris, it would be SO wonderful to be free of pain! I really do want to try medical marijuana. When my primary care is back from her vacation, I want to talk to her about it. I don't know if she's jumped through all the hoops to prescribe it. Maybe the doc with whom she's affiliated has. I really hope so. My innards are already so unhappy because of all the ibuprofen I've been downing since September, when the TMJ pain started!
Connect
Hello Hazel (@hazelblumberg) - Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad you found us...this is a great place to share your story, ask questions and learn what others are doing for similar health issues. I'm tagging others who have talked about TMJ to see if they may have some treatment options for you.
@lauren123 @gailb @Gray @pammyl66 can you provide any information to Hazel?
Hazel - there is an active TMJ discussion on Connect here that you might want to join and ask your questions there:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-clench-my-teeth-at-night-which-has-resulted-in-severe-tmj/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=41b5ffa93f
John