TMJ- NWR

katiekessler123 · March 2015

Hi everyone..just curious if anyone has experienced TMJ before and what happened? These past two or so weeks my jaw has been popping every time I open my mouth, and sometimes gets "locked" at night. My cousin is a dentist, and has already made me one mouth guard that did not work at all. He just made me a new mouth guard that I started wearing two nights ago. I've seen a small improvement, but my mouth still gets locked up at night. Has anyone experienced this? I'm looking for a little hope and hoping someone has been through similar and has seen improvement. As of now, I have no jaw pain or headaches, like I've heard other ppl with TMJ experience, but I'm afraid that is the next thing that will start to happen.

loveislouder · March 2015

I have serious TMJ. I can't even chew gum without paying for it the next day.

I have to go to physio and it helps a lot.

katiekessler123 · March 2015

What is physio? Do you have a mouth guard and does it help at all?

ashley8918 · March 2015

Have you called yuour doctor? You should call your doctor.

katiekessler123 · March 2015

Yes, it's something that a dentist actually deals with, and my cousin, who is a dentist, has been meeting with me about every three or so days since it started.

ashley8918 · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Yes, it's something that a dentist actually deals with, and my cousin, who is a dentist, has been meeting with me about every three or so days since it started.

I would discuss with my doctor also. Anxiety is often the cause, and a doctor is more equipped to handle that than a dentist.

katiekessler123 · March 2015

Yeah, I know a lot of it has to do with teeth grinding, which is related to anxiety. There are multiple causes of TMJ, though, and I'm not grinding. It actually has to do with two of my teeth that have shifted over the last year or so. I'm not an anxious person at all, really. That's why I think a dentist is best suited for my particular case.

theartistformerlyknownas · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Yeah, I know a lot of it has to do with teeth grinding, which is related to anxiety. There are multiple causes of TMJ, though, and I'm not grinding. It actually has to do with two of my teeth that have shifted over the last year or so. I'm not an anxious person at all, really. That's why I think a dentist is best suited for my particular case.

Then keep working with the dentist. We won't be able to help with your own particular cause or solution.

katiekessler123 · March 2015

Yes, I understand that. I was just hoping to connect with someone else who has experienced TMJ to see what their results were/how they were treated.

ashley8918 · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Yeah, I know a lot of it has to do with teeth grinding, which is related to anxiety. There are multiple causes of TMJ, though, and I'm not grinding. It actually has to do with two of my teeth that have shifted over the last year or so. I'm not an anxious person at all, really. That's why I think a dentist is best suited for my particular case.

Okay then... keep talking to your dentist? The point is, we can't really help with this. I do have TMJ. I also have anxiety. The two are linked. Your specific situation is obviosuly different. I suggest a medical professional and the Google.

ashley8918 · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Yes, I understand that. I was just hoping to connect with someone else who has experienced TMJ to see what their results were/how they were treated.

I was treated with Xanax.

Pellegcm · March 2015

I have serious TMJ issues - my junior year of college, I was on a liquid diet for a few months because I couldn't chew anything. PP are right, everyone's issues are different. A dentist didn't help me at all, because they all dismissed it as grinding my teeth which there is no actual evidence of, so the night guards did absolutely nothing. Mine is caused by my spine being out of alignment so I see a chiropractor which has been an absolutely godsend.

Long and short of it is, see your PCP and see what they recommend.

katiekessler123 · March 2015

ok, very interesting, thanks for the information Pellegcm!

katiekessler123 · March 2015

Just curious pellegcm and Ashley8918, did you have mouth/jaw pain? Or did you just have a popping jaw every time you chewed and locked at night?

loveislouder · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
What is physio? Do you have a mouth guard and does it help at all?

Physio is physiotherapy. It was like, massages and acupunture for my jaw.

I have a mouthguard for sleeping, and it helped a lot.

Mine was caused by being a musician.

ashley8918 · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Just curious pellegcm and Ashley8918, did you have mouth/jaw pain? Or did you just have a popping jaw every time you chewed and locked at night?

Both. But the popping/locking jaw was the worst for me.

KeptInStitches · March 2015

I've had TMJ for 12+ years. Mine is hereditary and linked to grinding my teeth when I sleep. I was on Celebrex for a while as a teen and have had a bite splint to wear when I sleep since I was 14-15 years old. I worked with a surgeon who wanted to keep me out of surgery (MRI revealed a slipped disc in my jaw), and my treatment was aggressive but noninvasive if that makes sense. I also used a (ETA: microwaved) sock filled with rice on each side of my jaw (picture a huge-ass men's sock stuffed full of rice draped over the top of my head) for inflammation and pain control, and between all of the treatment, I've been able to avoid surgery so far.

My jaw pops on occasion, but the pain along with family history was what drove me in to treatment.

Pellegcm · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Just curious pellegcm and Ashley8918, did you have mouth/jaw pain? Or did you just have a popping jaw every time you chewed and locked at night?

Both for me as well. But for me, the jaw joint pain is the worst. Popping is secondary pain.

Pellegcm · March 2015

loveislouder said:

katiekessler123 said:
What is physio? Do you have a mouth guard and does it help at all?
Physio is physiotherapy. It was like, massages and acupunture for my jaw.

I have a mouthguard for sleeping, and it helped a lot.

Mine was caused by being a musician.

@loveislouder what instrument? I'm a singer - it wasn't the cause, but it definitely makes singing a lot harder...

loveislouder · March 2015

@pellegcm I play flute and was a vocal major in university. TMJ made my life hell in university lol I was on vocal rest for a long time, not because of my voice but because I wasn't supposed to be moving my jaw.

Pellegcm · March 2015

@loveislouder - I had to go on vocal rest, too, for the same reason.

TMJ sucks. And blows.

[Deleted User] · March 2015

Do you know the cause of your TMJ? Mine is a result of an overjet/misaligned bite. The only way I willbe able to fix it for good is surgery. Maybe if you are able to determine the cause of yours, it will help you find a solution. I agree with PPs, keep working with your dentist.

katiekessler123 · March 2015

Thanks for all of the information everyone.

Jenadntonic- my dentist thinks it's bc one of my teeth on the bottom row shifted significantly over the past year. Because of that, a tooth on my top row and bottom row keep banging into each other at night. That's why I have the mouth guard that I'm trying out right now. I really hope it works bc thus far I've been pain free (just the popping the locking at night), but I'm afraid that my jaw will really start to ache, which I've heard is just terrible.

Now that I've heard from a few other people, I know of a few alternate ways to treat TMJ that maybe I can explore. One of my co-workers also experienced TMJ and went to a chiropractor that was able to more or less fix the problem for good. That is something I am thinking about, but I've never been to a chiropractor before so the idea makes me a little nervous.

Pellegcm · March 2015

katiekessler123 said:
Thanks for all of the information everyone.
Jenadntonic- my dentist thinks it's bc one of my teeth on the bottom row shifted significantly over the past year. Because of that, a tooth on my top row and bottom row keep banging into each other at night. That's why I have the mouth guard that I'm trying out right now. I really hope it works bc thus far I've been pain free (just the popping the locking at night), but I'm afraid that my jaw will really start to ache, which I've heard is just terrible.
Now that I've heard from a few other people, I know of a few alternate ways to treat TMJ that maybe I can explore. One of my co-workers also experienced TMJ and went to a chiropractor that was able to more or less fix the problem for good. That is something I am thinking about, but I've never been to a chiropractor before so the idea makes me a little nervous.

Chiros can be very hit of miss - though they've become more reputable in the past few years. Again, talk to your PCP because they might have some recommendations.

[Deleted User] · March 2015

I have a fairly minor - sometimes moderate case of it. I'm able to mostly combat it with lifestyle changes. No food that is too difficult to chew, no gum, no resting my head on my hands, no holding the phone between my shoulder and jaw. Sleeping with a mouth guard is super hard for me. Getting rid of those little things helped a lot! Good luck!

TMJ- NWR

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