TMJ

Ugghhh!!!!   I just found out that my insurance (both health and dental) won't cover any treatment for TMJ.  I've been having a lot of trouble (pain, pain, pain) lately and was hoping to get medical treatment for it, but now that is out of the question.

 

Has anyone had success treating TMJ problems at home?  I know TMJ and Fibro are closely related, so I thought maybe someone here would have some experience dealing with it.  My old stand-bys (heat, rest, etc.) don't seem to be working.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Hugs - Austen

Hi I have had tmj since i was 19 years old, i am 40 now. I had a bite guard too, but it never helped me any, it was so uncomftortable, even with the dentist tweaking it to make it fit better.  I find the best things that help me with it , are soft foods, massage and heat and valuim. thats what i have beeen using to control it for many years now.  MY DENtist showed me how to massage the muscle there and toldme to to put heat packs on it and itnhas reall helped.  I coul describe for you howmhe told me to massage it if you are interested, it does help..  i am sorry your insurance wont help you.  good luck and i hope youbget some releif...

Hey Austen..I have TMJ also but it has progressed so far that the joints are all but desinigrated.  The crunching sound drives me nuts and I have a friend that won't sit to me when I am eating because the noise my jaw makes is so loud.  I have a bite plate and it hasn't helped...actually hurts because I clench in my sleep anyway.  I have chewed ridges in my cheeks...lumps, bumps...you name it.  I take valium at night now for RLS and I actually think I don't grind as much.

My mouth guard cost $850...boy did I get ripped off, especially since it doesn't work!

donna

Thank you so much for the information and understanding.  I will definitely try the exercise Ginny mentioned, and maybe I can talk to my regular dentist about a night guard. If I get one through him, it may be more affordable.  I had an appt. with a TMJ specialist, which led me to discover that I didn't have coverage and couldn't afford her treatment.

 

Sheryl=jk, could your describe the massage technique here?  I would love to try it, and I bet some others may too.

 

Thanks again everyone.  I'm sorry that so many of you suffer with this also, but it does help to know I'm not alone.

 

Hugs - Austen

I never got rid of it completely despite a 800 dollar night guard, paying for twice a week intense and extemely painful jaw muscle massage and stretching for months, eating soft foods. It did get considerably better with all of that though, but if you have a painful, tight neck it will have to be addressed at the same time.

It magicaly disapeared almost completely along with the residual neck pain when I took enough medications to thoroughly knock me out in my sleep in the form of 100 milligrams of Amitriptylene and 3 milligrams of Klonopin going to bed. The side effects of that though are unreal.

I am surprised your insurance won't cover the 8 treatments or so from a Physical therapist if your Primary care Doctor prescribes you go to one. The physical therapist probably won't be able to fix it, but it would help and teach you how to do all of the excercises, stretching and massage that are involved for all of the muscles. Learning all of those will probably at least reduce it down to a periodic agravating nuisance instead of a frequently painful mess that makes your face feel like its being tortured.

Hello everyone,

I just got back from my TMJ specialist yesterday.  I have also been going to Physical Therapy 2 times a week for that and related neck pain.  I have learned some great exercise techniques and would love to share them now.

1.  using your index and middle finger, place them at the tip of your chin and apply about 5lbs of pressure (a little bit more than what it takes to whiten your fingertips when pushing on an object).  advance your jaw forward SLOWLY and then backward SLOWLY 10 times.

2.  using the same fingers, place them on your lower jaw bone just to the side of your chin and apply 5lbs of pressure.  Move your jaw left then right SLOWLY.  Repeat 10 times, then switch sides.

3.  open your jaw as wide as you can while making an "o" shape with your mouth.  This prevents you from opening too wide to cause pain, but gives you a great stretch.  Repeat 10 times. 

4.  Grab your ear lobes with your index finger and thumb and GENTLY pull downward.  You may hear popping, but that is ok.  Repeat 10 times.

5. Grab the tips of your ears and pull upward GENTLY.  Repeat 10 times.

6. Put your tongue to the roof of your mouth and open your mouth slowly.  Create suction between your tongue and the roof of your mouth and try to separate the two.  You should make a popping sound when you separate.  Repeat 10 times.

I have been doing these exercises for a couple weeks now and they really seem to help.  I start with moist heat on both sides of my face, do the exercises, then rest.  I try to do it in the morning and in the evening.

Hope this helps!

I am new to this forum but am finding MANY stories I can relate to. I had oral surgery in March 2008 to remove a molar that had a root canal preformed 4yrs prior. The dentist had broken 3 stainless steel dental files during the procedure and not informed me. I ended up with a severe infection and an abscess into my sinus. I then was hospitalized for sinus surgery and have had chronic headaches and Migraines ever since the oral surgery. After 14 antibiotics and several rounds of steroids the infection was cleared in November 08 but the Headaches live on! I have had 5 CT Scans, an MRI and an EEG. I saw a Neurologist who put me on Topamax (not good) and am now on Zonegran (not helping) My NEW dentist does neuromuscular dentistry and has diagnosed me with Trigeminal nerve damage and TMJ disorder. Like some of you my insurance also does not cover TMJ siting it as too expensive!! She has recommended the 750.00 oral appliance.

 As with my Fibromyaglia, I am finding that very few (if any) people in my life understand how miserable it is to try to live and function with this constant pain. I have not slept well in months and am constantly exhausted! Everyone still seems to expect me to be the same person I always was, you know, happy,energetic. 

1. Do you all feel this way too?
2. Any suggestions on getting people to understand?

 I have a 15yr old daughter,12yr old son and 5yr old B/G Twins. I also work as a High school nurse 3 days a week (which has been a real challenge). Thanks For listening!

Thanks for the reply. I was planning on getting something temporary at Walmart today.