My 17 Yr Old Daughter Newly Diagnosed Posted: 02-11-04 21:30pm
Hello, I am new to the group. I am
feeling very frustrated right
now and I don't know what to do to help my
17 year old daughter. She
had an ear infection may 2003. The pain
did go away after antibiotic
treatment. Then in oct, nov, dec 2003 and
jan 2004 she had constant
ear infections. The doctor was confused
cause he said they were red
but shiny. In dec she went through a
round of bactrim, and then 2
rounds of augmention. No change, but
still had severe ear pain in
both ears. The doctor then suggested I
take her to a ent doctor, for
a evaluation for tubes in her ears. The
ent doctor looked in her
ears, measured to see if she had any
fluid, took x-rays. Asked he
tons of questions and said she doesn't
have ear infection. Doesn't
believe she had ear infection all that
time, but believed she had
tmj. At first I didn't except that, for
the answer. I said her ears
are red, it has to be ear infection. He
suggested her seeing a
dentist about it. The ent doctor started
her on prednisone for 3
weeks. By the time we got in to see the
dentist (about a week later)
her jaws was very sore and the pain was
radiating up and behind her
ears, down her neck. The dentist listened
to her symptoms and said
indeed she had tmj. Her back top and
bottom teeth did not close down
all the way. Said she would need to make
and have her wear mouth
splints and then after she gets
comfortable, said she would need
braces to correct the alignment of her
teeth that was effecting the
temporomandibular joint. And gave her
pain medicine.
Well first of all our insurance doesn't
cover treatment for tmj.
And 2nd I can't afford braces. I don't
even know if the our insurance
will cover braces either.
Today she had a really bad day. Very
tired and worn out. Said her
body aches and at she feels she has ran a
marathon. Having really bad
pain in her jaws behind the ears and down
her back. She has missed
soo much school over this. I just don't
know what to do. The pain
medicine hasn't made a difference and she
is almost done with the
prednisone. We have tried moist heat,
cool compresses. Nothing has
helped, it actually has gotten worse.
Please does anyone have any advise?
Shelly
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Steph333
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Australia
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18 And Same Thing. Posted: 02-12-04 19:58pm
Hi,
i was 18 when I was diagnosed with exactly
the same thing. (im now 20) in fact our
stories are erriely similar. I got
constant ear aches that would not go away
and my jaw was so sore. Went to dentists
and doctors, eventually got x-rays and
they found arthristis in the joints, as
they have worn down and dont sit properly
anymore. My teeth do not sit together
properly. They could not explain why it
had happened just that it seemed to be
more commen amoung young women.
Has she had any x-rays? You could very
well find that she has athritis too, being
tired and achy and sore sounds alot like
rhumetoid athritis.
I was told to just use hot heat packs on
my jaw, but its getting to the stage where
I cant eat lollies or meat. I eventually
found a prostodontist who made a splint
for my jaw which has taken some of the
pressure and pain away but it still there.
Im afraid after being to 3 doctors and 2
different specilists, there not much you
can do except manage the pain as best you
can (the earaches are the worst). Taking
anti-inflammatories for a week helps every
now and again.
Try and get to a prostodontist if you
can.
I didnt think there was anyone else out
there this young with tmj disorders. Let
me know how things turn out.
Steph
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Bobsr_64
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Indiana, Pa
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Tmd Evaluation And Treatment Posted: 03-12-04 08:08am
This is for shelly and steph........
Unfortunately tmd treatment is
generally not covered by most insurance
companies in most states in the us. I
cannt help you with this aspect of
tmd......However, perhaps I can give you
some guidance.
The great majority of tmd disorders
are a result of a backward and upward
movement of the mandible(lower jaw) which
results in compression of the tissues in
the joint itself. Following this (which
may take days, months or even years) the
articular dics which lies between the
bones of the upper and lower jaw may
become dislodged (called deranged)..
Along with this some, many and/or all of
the muscles of the head and neck may
become involved resulting in not only
restricted movements and pain of the jaw
joint but also of the muscles of the head,
neck and shoulders...... And could
eventually alter posture causing back and
leg problems. You see
the real solution of the problem
rests with an accurate diagnosis through a
thorough history, examination, xrays,
dental models and photographs. Followed
by the ability to actually treat the
situation. Toward this end you need to
find someone in your area who utilizes
computer driven jaw tracking system which
will allow the practitioner toboth
diagnosis the problem and treat the
existing situation. All treatments in
this regard are not the same and are
dictated by the patients diagnosis, age
and other factors. I caution you do not
seek treatment from any
practitioner(generally a dentist) who does
not use a computer assisted situation.
My personal favorite is the k6i or k7i
uniuts from myotronics in
seattle,washington. You may wish to
contact myotronics at www.Myotronics.Com
and they may be able to give you the
name/s of someone in your
area............Good luck.....
Hey bob
thanks so much for the advice, what I did
know about my mystery condition was peiced
together from websites and doctors but
you've told me more in 2 paragraphs than
ive figured out in 2 years
i actually live in australia so I might
have to do some investigation into
whereabouts they would have this sort of
thing... Is their a particular kind of
specialist I should be looking for? And
is there any real releif for it anyway?
Well thanks for the information, your a
big help.
Steph.
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oldpal
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Binghamton
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Posted: 03-29-04 09:25am
Dear steph333,
visit any functional orthodontist or
neuromuscular dentist. They essentially
practices the same treatment...Muscles
first and then teeth. By most
importantly, you need to take a tomogram
of the joints in the initial diagnosis.
Practioners that don't take xrays in the
initial diagnosis should be avoided. The
condyle should be in the "gelb 4/7"
vicinity.
Andrew
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Steph333
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Australia
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Thanked:0
Posted: 05-24-04 23:59pm
Hey oldpal,
i know your post is a little old but i've
only just had a chance to check back in,
thanks for the advice. Its much
appreciated.
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