New here-need advice/help

Hello and welcome!

We are glad you've found us...though sorry to hear about your recent challenge with this new symptom. It is concerning when something different and unknow pops up...leading us to have a the 'what if' kind of worries.

It is good news that you are working with your doctor to get the answers and help that you need...so do take your rescue meds when necessary...

...and practice coping skills to lessen your overall anxiety and symptoms...so that you can start to feel your best again.

Here is the link to our Resources. Inside you'll find great material that you can work on at home that should help if practiced consistently

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

I would recommend starting with the 'Stress Relieving Exercises' link...specifically the Progressive Muscle Relaxation...

...as well as trying the Meditation Videos that are available for viewing.

Keep posting here with us as well if you find it helpful. Just talking with others who understand what you are going through is therapeutic...and support is key!

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat

Hi, you'll find really caring people here. Just a thought; You might check with a dentist and see if a night guard would help. Clinching and grinding teeth can cause pain. Wishing you the best.

Good to know that you'll be getting a dental guard.

...between wearing that at night...and working your coping skills, you should find significant relief. 😊

Keep us posted on your progress, and we'll keep you in support!

S.C.

As someone who has dealt with severe TMJ and jaw issues for 30 years, I can assure you that it is to be expected that your dental guard will need some adjustment to make it comfortable and make it work well for you. It's just not possible to get a guard "perfect" right out of the mold, the molding process cannot be that precise.

You may also have some soreness in some of your teeth at first because the guard is pressing on them a little, again because the molding process is not perfect. This will subside with time, as your teeth will actually move a tiny bit to fit the guard. This is how orthodontic braces work. Tylenol or Advil will help as you adjust to the guard. If the tooth pain is severe, check back in with the dentist.

You may also find that after you've adjusted to the guard, as your jaw muscles relax you may need to have another adjustment of the guard. Relaxation of the muscles can lead to a slight shift in your bite. This is a good thing, as you want your bite to be in a position where the muscles are relaxed.

Wishing you the best in finding relief!

Robin

My TMJ story is long. Here's the short version: in my early twenties (I am now 60), I was having what I thought was recurrent ear aches. Turned out to be jaw joint pain. I also had popping of my jaw joints, which I thought was normal because my parents' jaws also popped. (It's not normal.) Conservative treatment with dental splints (similar to your night guard) failed because the cartilage in my joints had been destroyed because of a bad bite. I had surgery and had a man-made implant called Proplast inserted to replace the cartilage in both joints.

Fast forward about 9 years. I had a car accident with a whiplash, which flared up the TMJ again. The TMJ pain didn't improved with treatment. Turns out the Proplast implant had disintegrated and caused an immune response which permanently damages the joint. The FDA recalled the implants in 1990. I had another surgery to remove as much of the implants as possible. I have permanent and irreversible jaw joint damage and chronic pain. So, my symptoms were far worse that anything that you are having or ever will have, thank goodness!

That being said, typical symptoms are headaches, sore muscles in the face and/or temples, neck pain, shoulder pain. It sounds like your symptoms are being caused by muscle tension from stress and clenching.

In addition to the night guard and doing what you can to learn to manage stress and anxiety, you might consider massage. You need a good massage therapist who has training in medical type massage, not just spa massage, if possible. Also, you do NOT want somebody who thinks deep massage is the only way! Start gently. Work on your neck, shoulders, and back will be important. You'll only want a little work on your face/head in any one session, especially to start.

You might also consider physical therapy, with a therapist trained in TMJ work. Your dentist should be able to give you a referral. In addition to massage, stretching, and specific exercises, the physical therapist may also be able to do biofeedback for TMJ. This is a wonderful way to learn how to relax the jaw muscles, and learn what postures and habits create tension in your muscles.

If the pain gets worse sometimes when you lie down, try a different pillow. Some nights I have to raise my head a little by putting a folded towel under my head on top of the pillow. Different numbers of folds (in half, in thirds, in quarters) work best on different nights. Experiment. You also may need to gently massage the SCM muscles in your neck, as they can cause this discomfort lying down. Again, a massage therapist or physical therapist can teach you to do this.

Heat on your face, neck, and shoulders can help the muscles relax. A moist-heat heating pad is good for this. If heat doesn't help or makes things worse, try ice. Again, experiment!

Hope this helps.

Robin

Yes, absolutely your symptoms can be relieved! The night guard is the first step. You will get the most relief by learning some self-care skills as well.

Everyone experiences pain differently. What you are experiencing as head pressure can certainly be caused by muscular tension. Sometimes when I have a TMJ pain flare, there is pressure with it, too.

Tight muscles can develop trigger points, which are hyperirritable spots in the muscle that can refer pain to other areas. There are five muscles in the head and neck that can refer pain/discomfort to the forehead:
Sternocleidomastoid (clavicular head),
Sternocleidomastoid (sternal head),
Semispinalis capitis,
Frontalis
Zygomaticus Major.

Here is a web page that discusses these muscles:
www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14447

Here is a web page that shows some self-massage techniques for these muscles:
/www.muscle-joint-pain.com/pain/headaches/headache-forehead/
I would suggest that you do at least the SCM massage lying down, so the muscles can relax, and you aren't holding your head in a funny position.

I would again encourage you to consult a massage therapist or physical therapist, who can assess the tension in your neck and facial muscles, provide treatment, and teach you some self-care techniques.

An insurance tip: Most medical insurance excludes TMJ treatment. You will want to ask your care providers NOT to submit your claims with a TMJ code, which the insurance company will deny. My physical therapist is currently submitting my claims under "muscle spasm". She also submits my biofeedback as "therapeutic exercise", because my insurance will only pay for biofeedback for migraines. You will need to read the details of your medical insurance to learn what they will cover, and let your providers know your coverage and exclusions.

You will be well-served by having an attitude of patience, persistence, curiosity to learn new skills, and willingness to try and experiment until you find what works best for relief for you.

Best wishes,
Robin

Post Edited (ReadingTeacher) : 4/13/2018 12:15:08 PM (GMT-6)