TMJ can be one of those annoying little
problems that 50% of the population will
get a some time or another during their
life. Pain can range of mild and annoying
or painful and debilitating, but lucky
their are many treatments. The key is to
find what initially caused the pain.
You've been doing some reading so I'm sure
you've probably read about jaw clenching
or teeth grinding or maybe even jaw
misalignment. Though the previous listings
are things you'll worry about if you don't
get this pain cleared up in the next few
months.
In short, you've aggravated a joint, and
just like a knee from running or an elbow
from tennis anything that is aggravated
becomes inflammed. The inflammation is
what gives a cramping with fullness
sensation and makes you not want to use
that particular joint all that much. Most
TMJ experiences will end in about 3 months
with appropriate therapy...so what is the
appropriate therapy?
Number one you'll want to make sure that
you load up on some anti-inflammatories
and my favorite is Ibuprofen (Motrin) and
usually a high dose like 800 mg bid, 2x a
day. You can take ibuprofen tid, 3x a day,
but you don't really want to go in excess
of 3200mg qd, per day. That will help with
the inflammation, but you then need to
concern yourself with the rest. Make sure
that for the next 3 months you have her
eat some soft foods. Give that joint some
time to recooperate as you would any other
joint.
If the pain persists for more than three
months then you'll want to see a dentist
and have the initial things that I listed
checked out. However, with the history
that you gave I believe the regimen that I
listed will take care of her.
Hope this helps a
little bit and I hope she feels better.
PS: Don't take the vodka with the
ibuprofen.
The alcohol numbs
the pain, the medicine will relieve it.
