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Chronic Pain | Last Active: 4 hours ago | Replies (7051)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..."
I'm very sorry to hear that you have so much pain. Chronic pain surely affects our mental health. I know that it exacerbates my depression and anxiety and PTSD. I hope you find relief soon.
Jim
Thanks for your kind note, Jim. I appreciate it. I do have clinical depression and panic/anxiety disorder, which are pretty much under control through meds prescribed by my very wonderful psychiatrist. But I'm definitely becoming very short-tempered and crabby and lacking in patience as a result of chronic TMJ pain. Just ask my husband! I see my psychiatrist for my usual 6 month med check on Monday, and I'm going to talk to him about TMJ pain solutions. I'm sure that my TMJ pain has been brought on by stress. I've tried meditation and yoga and deep diaphragmatic breathing and and and, but nothing seems to help. Arrghhhhh.
I had pretty intense tmj pain around 30 years ago, and I was prescribed amitriptyline. It really helped me. But the thing that helped even more was leaving the job I had at the time. End of stress, end of tmj!
I took Ibuprofen, 800mg 4 times a day for 20 years, and ended up with peptic ulcers. Now they won't let me take any NSAIDS, though I do sometimes.
Jim
Hazel, that PT story scares me. I've had the same PT for probable 7 yrs now and he'd never act like that. My whole problem started with a badly broken humerus, but the bones were lined up. My then Dr had me start at 'his' PT to early, it refractured the new bone that was mending the break. It never regrew again and went on to a nonunion break (2 pieces), yuck. My arm/shoulder had 5 surgeries to get my shoulder together all thanks to a bad PT. When I had my first surgery my surgeon insisted I go to the guy I still see. He's amazing and you can totally tell the difference. It sounds like you have great judgement, if you need PT find someone new. So sorry you had such a bad experience, I can relate! Jennifer
Jim, I'm really concerned about ending up with ulcers, too. I've taken SO many ibuprofens since September, when this TMJ garbage started!
Is amitriptyline an antidepressant, or do I have it mixed up with something else? I've been taking clonazepam for panic/anxiety disorder for a long time and escitalopram (I should look up the spelling!) and Wellbutrin for depression for the last seven years. That combination seems to work well. I'm hoping that my psychiatrist will have some suggestions for my TMJ pain when I see him on Monday.
I like my work, except, of course, when I have tight deadlines. 😉 I've been self-employed since 1985, and there's no way I could go back to working in an office again.
What really got my stress level going, I think, was the whole presidential campaign. (No, I won't get into politics!) That's a guess only. If that's not what it was, then I'm really not sure what caused the stress. My dentist has checked my bite and my mouthguard, and nothing seems to be going wrong there. Maybe I should try wearing my mouthguard all day long when I'm not going anywhere. I wonder if that'd help.
Hazel
Jennifer, it's wonderful that you have a great PT! I've had a hand injury on one hand and then years later needed surgery on my other hand. Each time, I was sent to a PT. They were EXCELLENT. They listened, and they worked with me, and they found exercises for me that really helped. I have complete mobility in both hands as a result. I've held PTs in high regard as a result, so I was shocked to end up with this totally weird dude. My dentist must have pretty poor judgment to send anyone to this guy. UGH. If anyone's near Tallahassee, Florida, and needs to know which PT to totally ignore, I'd be glad to tell you his name.
Hazel
TMJ is horrific!!! Nothing would touch mine. I ended up being kicked to the curb as a head case, drug/attention seeking, etc. Walked a way from all doctors. Found a local TMJ specialist in 2010-made things worse and paid him $4600 up front. I don't know how people like that sleep at night. In 2014 I tried again and this time the pain was helped. Totally soft diet and thankfully I am creative when it comes to recipes...I do not eat gluten, sugar and only whole foods. Thankfully there are blenders/processors. I also realized I am no longer able to eat anything in the Nightshade Family-that was a low blow!!! Causes a fibro flare from Hades. It is the peppers I miss!!!
So after $10,000 I have some relief. And as we know insurance will not cover this type of thing. I did it and the 1st charlatan is paid in full and also the 2nd. I am not a rich person either. Thankful I could get the help.
There are indeed some total charlatans out there. From what I've read, any dentist can declare himself or herself to be a "TMJ specialist." The American Dental Association doesn't have or recognize any designations/specialties for that. So, I guess it's all "buyer beware." Who knew? My dentist is supposed to be one of the top 2 TMJ pain specialists where I live. If he's one of the top two, I wonder how bad the other one is! I've checked, out of curiosity, on Google, and it's amazing how many dentists here bill themselves as "TMJ/TMD specialists."
Yeah, I think my dentist has decided that I'm a potential drug addict, given his utter unwillingness to give me a referral to a pain-management specialist, even though said pain-management specialist will indeed take a referral from a dentist or a primary care. (My primary care is out of town on vacation; I have an appointment to see her on August 8, when she returns.)
I'm rapidly approaching the point where I may be dumping my dentist. He's been my dentist for 25 years. He knows every type of medication I take. He knows who my primary care is. He knows who my psychiatrist is (whom I've been seeing for years for clinical depression and panic/anxiety disorder). He knows I'd rather under-dose than over-dose myself with any medication--or not take it at all. Throughout my bout with TMJ pain, my dentist seems to be just calling in his treatment from afar. He really seems to've lost any interest in me as a patient. I guess I'm not spending enough money with him. Or perhaps, if he's so burned out, he should just retire. His lack of interest is palpable. And his front-desk person is an utter horror. (My husband jokes that they're probably having an affair with each other, since their attitudes are so similar. Actually, he could be right.)
I've tried eating nothing but soft foods, and I've seen no improvement whatsoever. So, I am flummoxed.
Hazel
I also was on wellbutrin and klonazepam for many years to help with depression. When I started having increasing nerve pain due to a nerve disorder (complex regional pain syndrome) that was a result of an ankle fracture, one of my doctors shifted me from those meds to amitrtriptyline. I was told it addresses both depression and nerve pain.
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Absolutely love your reply, Janneg! I think I only owe this mondo bizarro guy an $11 copay, and then my insurance (actually, my husband's insurance; I'm self-employed and don't have my own healthcare insurance) picks up the rest. Two solid days of agony following the agony of the PT itself is just way too much for me. Where I live, we don't always have the absolute best healthcare providers, as no one really wants to live here. 🙂 I'm lucky to have a wonderful primary care (she's a DNP) and an equally wonderful psychiatrist (for my clinical depression and panic/anxiety disorder). I can only hope they don't retire any time soon!