I need help! TMJ (TMJD) Advice?

mynameiscarrie

anyone have TMJD or know someone with it that could give me advice about easing the excruciating pain? I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to make sure it's TMJ (although i'm 99% sure it is) but until then i have to suffer through the pain...Ibuprofen used to work but not so much anymore...

Any ideas?

Artemis_Acorn

My mother-in-law had it and finally had to have surgery to correct it because the pain would just lay her out. She did find that getting a dental appliance for when she slept helped, as did meditation and attending a pain clinic that taught her how to mentally manage the pain better.

LovingMe19

I have TMJ as well and I still get flare ups every now and then. I take the ibuprofen (4 of them) every 4 hours and try to stick to a soft diet. Thats the advice I got from my dentist. There are other options such as surgery, or mouth pieces you wear at night. Its a good idea to talk to your dr or an orthodontist and discuss what would be best for you. Surgery doesn't always work, so thats not an option for me. Hope you get to feeling better. I know how excrutiating the pain is!

fitness_superstar

i used a shocker to make mine go away. whenever i would grind my teeth in my sleep it would shock me. now that i don't grind my teeth in my sleep anymore my tmj is a lot better.

songbird1973

I'm a dental assistant and the only thing I can tell you is eat a very soft diet. Don't open your mouth any wider than you have to, and no gum or chewy stuff. Ibuprofen or aleve will be your best pain killers for it. If you have severe TMJ problems they will probably put you in a appliance to wear kind of like a retainer that should help you alot. Good luck!

mreneecohen

I have TMJ on top of grinding/clenching my teeth. I had to invest in a nightguard ($400 later) which I wear every night. That being said, I still have pain sometimes. The only thing that I have found that helps me is a little caffeine or Excedrin. Excedrin messes up some people's stomaches so try drinking a coke. The caffeine releases tension in the nerve.

69mustang

I used to go for massage's and they helped a lot. You lay on your back & the massage therapist will work on your neck,cheek bones, jaw line and joint area. It will probably take a few sessions to get those muscles to relax enough so they don't hurt but it was well worth it for me.
If you do have TMJ make sure to let your dentist know and when you get your teeth cleaned you may need to do it in a few sessions. I also got a lower jaw splint ( night gaurd) from my dentist but I could only wear it for short periods or it would make my jaw ache Stick with softer foods for a while and stay away from gum.

SerenaBeans08

I usually don't eat chewy stuff or don't open my mouth very wide. Also, I give myself a jaw massage. It really helps along with some heat. Good luck!