Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Chicago, IL
Tmjd Posted: 03-27-06 14:36pm
I was just diagnosed with tmjd yesterday
after I went to the doctor. I've had a
stiff jaw for about 4 days now but not
much pain.
My question is, how long does it take for
the inflammation to go down?
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 03-27-06 19:53pm
Are you taking an anti-inflammatory?
Using ice? Eating only a soft food diet?
Watching your posture (especially on the
computer)? Taking valium or a muscle
relaxant just before bed? Reducing your
stress? (wearing a bite splint?)
depending on how you answer those
questions, will probably depend on how
long it will last. Think of it like a
sprained ankle or wrist and do everything
possible to baby it and help it heal.
:)
god bless...
Carol
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Ghost22
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: 03-27-06 21:08pm
It doesn't really hurt except when I open
my mouth really wide but then the pain is
not really too bad so I am guessing it's
not really bad. The doctor's just told
me to take a pain killer for the pain but
said nothing else so i'm thinking it will
heal shortly.
I am not doing any of those things that
you mentioned :shock:
how would maintaining my posture help the
healing? I ask since I use the
computer alot for school.
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 03-27-06 21:45pm
Good question. It is being reported that
more and more people are developing tmj
and it seems to be related to our posture
and particularly, in front of the
computer. I don't know about you, but I
used to slouch with my head, neck,
shoulder leaning towards the computer
screen. This pulls or stretches the main
neck muscle (sterno something or another,
goes from approximately ear to collar bone
simplified). The tmj disc is cartilage
and is all connected to the tendons to the
muscles, etc.
I now try to remember at all times to keep
my back straight, shoulders back and down,
with head over the body and chin down a
little (see nismat.Org/ptcor/tmj/ for some
pictures). I was told when I was younger
that my posture was bad and was probably
affecting my tmj. I thought the dentist
was being silly and didn't listen. Now
after going through a rather painful, bad
tmj flare-up of 3 years, i'm doing
everything I can to help myself and
posture has made a big difference. I'm a
secretary in front of the computer almost
all day so this is a big deal. I can
even feel the pressure let up if I have
been holding my neck forward and move it
where it should be. It's amazing.
Now, also stop opening your mouth so wide.
Do you walk on a sprained ankle?
(well, we do when we have to, but expect
pain) baby your jaw. No gum chewing or
ice crunching or caramel or anything the
like for a while (if ever again). You do
not want to get tmj and have it damage
your joints and have problems the rest of
your life, so please be careful.
I hope this answers your questions. Take
care....
Carol
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