TMJafter oral surgery or otherwise? Tell me all about it!

Supergirl78

I've just developed TMJ after having oral surgery. I would really like to hear everyone's experiences with it.

4legsRbetterthan2

@Supergirl78 I moved this to general help, I think you will get more activity over here

apullum

I’ve had it my whole life. Your dentist can refer you to get a night guard if they think that will help. I don’t have one because I don’t have problems except in infrequent situations, like being so stressed that I unconsciously clench my jaw until it locks. I also cannot ride amusement park rides with steep drops because the g-force makes my jaw lock.

Is there anything specific that you’d like to know?

PokeyBug

I had it most of my life, due to my lower jaw being too small. When I was 34, I finally got enough cash to get treatment from an orthodontist. He treated it with jaw expanders and braces, because my small lower jaw had caused my teeth to grow in all kinds of crooked, some had practically grown in in front of others, the crooked teeth weren't lining up, and that was putting too much pressure on the joint and causing it to constantly slip out of alignment.

Three years and $5,000 later, I no longer have problems, and it was honestly worth every penny to me, because the pain was gone. Although, I will say that the jaw expander was an episode of my life I'm glad I'll never have to repeat.

exhilen

I just had a bout of TMJ this summer after no problems for years after my braces and jaw expander. I couldn’t talk, eat, or sleep without immense pain. I ended up at my dentist who referred me to a physical therapist. Come to find out, my trap muscle was all sorts of messed up which was affecting muscles in my jaw. After a few weeks of going twice weekly, it finally subsided.

SandSeaSkySoul

I got it when my wisdom teeth, were removed because they didn't pack the wound, upon my right side enough! While there wasn't any pain, it was frightening! When I returned for them to check my healing, they packed it again! 21 years later, I still get it occasionally but it's painless & it only occurs, for a few minutes!

frankiesgirlie

I have TMJ and probably had it most of my life (childhood headaches and sleep problems.) but when it really manifested was after having cosmetic dentistry at 40 years old and crazy as it sounds the dentist had big hands and I have a small mouth. Followed by years of severe jaw pain which caused headaches and shoulder pain. Then my teeth started to crack from the clenching at night. (Catch 22, the TMJ or misaligned jaw can cause your body to clench at night because it senses something is wrong.)
I went to 3 TMJ specialists before one helped me. He advocates tiny steps. So he got me in a custom splint and put some new crowns in my lower jaw to try and match up my severe underbite. I still see him twice a year and am almost pain free with occasional relapses that are lifestyle related. I think jaw surgery should come after all other avenues are looked into. It is major surgery and of course does not help 100% of people. Good luck to you. Message me if I can be of any help.