Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Mississippi
Muscles But Not Joint Posted: 02-27-06 19:43pm
Just wondering if most of you have pain
only in the joint or if
anybody has problems with the muscles
going down from the
joint. I have it on both sides from
below the joint down into my
lower jaws and neck. Isn't it kind of
rare that someone have it
on both sides?
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myohio
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 30 Location: ohio
Reply Posted: 03-05-06 20:20pm
Hi- I am new to this forum and your
problem caught my eye. I originally was
diagnosed with tmj, but now they have
found that there isn't anything wrong with
my jaw joint. I have something called
myofascial pain from grinding my teeth. I
have pain and stiff muscles in my cheeks,
neck, temples, and shoulders. I don't
know if this matches your symptoms or not
but I thought i'd ask :)
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bmaustin
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Mississippi
Tight Muscles Posted: 03-06-06 00:23am
Yes, this is exactly what I have. What
are they doing for you and do
you wear a splint? If so, what kind. I
have not found one that
helps. I have had this two years.
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myohio
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 30 Location: ohio
Posted: 03-06-06 07:37am
Hi! Well, right now I am not wearing a
splint because my insurance denied it, but
my dentist did make me one about a month
ago. It was a lower soft splint that
actually made things a lot worse. I am
now under the care of an oral surgeon who
wants to make me an upper hard splint, but
it costs 900$!!!! I cannot afford that
w/out insurance help so I don't know what
to do. This has totally thrown my whole
life into turmoil. I just quit my job as
a teacher because it is too hard to talk
all day. How about you? How has this
affected your life? Has it affected your
eyes? Mine are sore and stiff just like
the rest of my face. Do you have a
splint? I am going to try to find one
that maybe is cheaper. Thanx for
listening!! Amanda
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 03-06-06 12:56pm
Sadly, the muscles in your face, neck,
shoulders and even back can be affected by
tmj. The ears, eyes and sinuses also,
big time. The best treatment I have
found for these pains is therapeutic
massage therapy (deep tissue, pressure
point, etc.)
amanda, usually soft bite splints aren't
recommended because they become chew toys.
If I were you, I would fight your
insurance. My insurance company used to
deny all of my tmj claims, including bite
splints, and I fought them through my work
risk management. I even filed a
complaint against them with the state and
won. I do live in another state
(michigan) so that may make a difference,
but it can't hurt to fight them.
I'm sorry you had to quit working your
teaching job. I know what it's like to
have a job where you talk all day and it
kills the jaw and face. I'm curious.
How did your doctor make his diagnosis?
Did you have any x-rays or mri done on
your jaws? Tmj isn't just an
out-of-joint disc and many do have tmj
with an in-place disc. It has a lot to
do with your jaw and bite and if it is
balanced (not necessarily straight). Do
you grind or clench your teeth at night?
If you do, bite splint is the best
treatment, but also try relaxation methods
(yoga, exercise, valium, muscle relaxant,
etc.)
i hope you are doing well and have the
pain under control. You might want to
have physical therapy for your face
muscles - for pain relief and strengthen
them so you can return as a teacher if you
want. Tens on your face should also be
good.
Let us know what you are doing to help
yourself and don't hesitate to ask
questions here.
God bless...
Carol
