TMJ Support Group

HI--hang in there---4 wks. is much too soon to see a huge change in your symptoms, depending on the severity of your case, how long you've had tmjd. If I were you, maybe think of getting a second opinion from another tmj specialist just to get your current treatment evaluated. Also, for peace of mind as well. A splint alone will not get you over all the symtoms. You may need to be in physical therapy, cranial sacral therapy, and massage therapy. Good luck and I hope you get relief soon..

thanks hopeful mummy...........hmm i ofen wonder the same thing...........I am doing cranial sacral work as this helped me heaps before i got the splint and expereinced this flare in pain.........so hoping my wonderful cranio spec can calm my jaw down again...I also do daily stretches for the whole body including the neck etc..
thanks will post once i hv seen my dentist end of october

Also, I have found that laying on my side with a hot water bottle for a while, (both sides, about 25min. a side) can give great relief from facial muscle spasms. If you have the time, this would be worth it for you to try.

i have one too. although wasn't instructed to wear a night guard..thought the splint was for that too...anywho, i have noticed difference with mine as far as the pain,headache and fatigue facial muscles..like hopeful said, its going to take a little time. A quote from my neuro dentist, "its going to get worse before it gets better"

thankseveryone
dizzybabe how long have you had yours for.........my appointment is only 3 weeks away so will hang out till then fingers crossed i will get better soon.....today not to bad
ness

Hi Beemer, I have had it for about 2 years now. My 2 year old was about 3 months when i got fitted. She is now 2. I have to go every month for adjustments and stuff. They put that funny thing on your head and make your face jump..Sorry that's the best way I can describe it) make you feel like you got turrets syndrome. It felt pretty good to me though...
I could have probably moved on to a permante fix. But I had another baby..He didnt want to do the "treatment" while i was preganat. So I had to basically start over again...UGH

It's going to be uncomfortable the 1st week. For me it was. You will get use to it. I'm at the point where he want's me to wear it 24/7 w/meals(I cheat) I go Monday to see the progress and work towards a permanent fix to my comfortable position.

Good luck with everything! Keep us post on how your appointment went =D

I had a repositiong spling by a prostodontist who specializes in TMJ. I never had a problem had to keep getting it adjusted until the muscles were stretched and the lower jaw was brought forward to fix the dislocation.

After the jaw was in the proper position, lower jaw brought forward and it was centered, he added six crowns to secure the jaw in the proper position. He still could not fix the damage that the dislocation caused to the bone or the slipped discs but I did get off the botox injection for pain for the dislocation.

I know all our cases are different, if the splint is not adjusted properly with carbon paper then you will get pain and it will feel out of alignment.This is where the good dentist comes in. Some say they can do adjustments and they can't or don't want to take the time to do it right.

What I use to do after he made the adjustment, because they ask you if it feels okay I would sit in the waiting room for about 5 minutes then I could really tell if it was in balance, sometime I would go in and have him fix it other time would just go home no adjustment needed.

Good luck.
Kathy

thanks kathy glad splint worked for yo.. i have taken mine out as it has flared me up really bad and im in way to much pain to consider this a good treatment for me............i emailed my nuromuscular dentist and he said take it out and just use my night one and when i see him in two weeks we will go from there............im so dissapointed as he hasnt had anyone fail except the 2-3% that he refers to surgeons, but i dont think that im needing an operation as my tomoxray showed that i do have discs and carlidge still but i have small area and everyhting is cramped and tight apparently...my right disc does displace as i hear it click etc and can feel it clunk in and out when i chew thou this is not all the time and not everyday..........my right check by the ear feels different from the other side to like a sunken feeling......

anyhow i have no idea what to do if hecant help me and its making me cry with worry.....

Beemer----hang in there--I'm right with you on being frustrated, and worrying about the whole mess. Do you have another tmj specialist in your area that you can get an opinion from? Look under Craniofacial pain, or the ICCMO---International College of craniomandibular orthopedics....click on members, and see if any are in your area. Make sure they do neuromuscular dentistry as well, and that they use lower splints, not upper ones. Ask if they do EMG, CMS, (testing) and x-rays within the office. Also, it's a plus if they are Functional Jaw Orthodontists as well. Ask what their success rates are in successfully treating and closing tmjd cases, especially people that have had a long standing tmjd. (more severe cases) . Make sure that dentists describe to you in great detail what their goals and long range plan is for your situation, and see if they can bill your medical insurance under mayofacial pain disorder, instead of tmjd, because this is recognized within the stupid health ins. plans as a real disorder, (it drives me nuts that they don't cover tmjd 95% of the time..!!) Anyways, I know some people have gotten tmjd coverage under migranes, or mayofacial or craniofacial pain of unknown origin under their medical ins. Take care, and hang in there!

thanks helpfulmommy unfortunatly i live in new zealand lol........there are only two nueromuscular dentists that i know of in this country and i have to fly to them.besides from surgeons or regualr orthodontics thats it............I fly back up to see my dentist in couple weeks so im going to give him a chance...........im hoping he can adjust the splint as i think that its just pulling my lower jaw to forward for me (maybe fine for someone else) but for my atonmny i think it has overstretched my muslces and pulled the discs etc too forward, thats my theory.......anyway at the moment im using heat and ice and my clench night plate and sticking my tounge between my teeth lol it helps a little as it rests the jaw.........anyway if this guy does not work out i will try the other nuromusclluar dentist who uses a different splint i think, not the gelb anyway............but im going to be alright i have to, things always get better.i have other medical conditions and they have always improved thou it took a long time as well............im just over having issues!! i cant take anything pain meds either as we are taking clomid fertilty drug to try and get pregs (fingers crossed)
anyway thanks its great that there are so many caring people on this board