Tmj For 2 Years And Only Getting Worse Posted: 07-27-06 03:10am
Hi I am 16 years old and was diagnosed
with tmj 2 years ago. At first it was
just an uncomfortable pop on the left side
of my mouth, and this only happened when I
opened my mouth very widely. A few months
later I statred getting severe headaches
and throbbing pain in my head. I
consulted my doctor and was perscribed
imatrex which didn't do anything most of
the time. Two months after that I noticed
that the popping has gotten worse and was
now on both sides. There was alot more
pressure in my jaw area infront of my
ears. The next day I went to the doctor
and was perscribed flexoral, which I still
take today at night. This doesn't really
target the jaw area, it just helps me fall
asleep faster instead of tossing and
turning because of the pain.
The tmj kept getting worse and worse with
increased pressure, constant headaches,
and even popping my jaw out of the socket
2 times. The doctor sent me to a
orthadonics braces place and they said
that I didn't grind or clench my teeth
enough for it to be noticible and that my
teeth were in allignment.
I began feeling frusturated about my tmj
and this is when I began looking to the
internet for awnsers. Most people said
that a nightgaurd is the best thing to do.
My doctor refered me to another tmj
specialist, when I called I was suprised
to hear that they wanted over $600 for
treatment and my family can't afford that
right now. I bought a nightgaurd from a
store where you put it in boiling water
and it forms to your teeth. I began using
that for 2 weeks and saw no change except
for my teeth being sore from the
nightgaurd.
Where I am at today is where tmj is
interfering with my life, I constantly get
headaches and my jaw clicking and popping
has gotten out of control. I really need
help with any short or long term help.
Going to a tmj specialest is not an option
right now because our insurance does not
cover it and we cannot afford the cost.
Please post any advice that you have, I
would really like to hear any method that
can help ease my pain. Please help me.
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catswolds
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 May 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Michigan
Posted: 07-29-06 09:54am
Carson,
i'm so sorry to read that you are having
tmj problems and at such an early age.
You can help yourself without any or
little expense, so, let's get started.
First, if you are popping your jaw, stop.
I know that this will be difficult, but
you have to try. That was my biggest
problem at first when I developed tmj and
it damaged my joints. You don’t want
that.
Next, relax your body and to do that you
will need to look at your posture and how
you handle stress (that all 16-year-olds
have). I know this will seem silly and
irrelevant, but it is just about the most
important issue that must be looked at and
corrected. The position of your head and
shoulders is extremely important. Look
at how you are sitting at the computer.
If you are jutting your chin forward ***
stop ***. Your shoulders should be back
and down with your head directly on
center, not forward. And your chin should
be down (but not too far down). Most of
us have a tendency to hold our heads
forward with chin up. Aren’t we taught
to keep our chin up? Bad - physically;
great - mentally. The website www.Nismat.Org/ptcor/tmj has some good pictures and exercises to
look at (also some basic tmj
information).
