Hello Yarik,

A warm welcome to the dailystrength forum.

I'm not familiar with TMJ, but looking at google about it I find that people with acromegaly can experience it.

Do you have acromegaly?

I have an underbite by now, I don't know if I have TMJ or not (I doubt it), in fact I don't suffer from any pain at all.

Trystan

Here goes. I am having hellacious problems in this department to the point that I almost lost it recently when I received the letter from the oral surgery department at U of M where I was supposed to finally have an appointment Tuesday after waiting MONTHS telling me that I now have to wait 3 more months until April just to have the initial visit. Back in August I had even worse runaround at Mayo. It looks like a number of people are having these issues.

So, any way, by accident, I discovered a temporary small amount of relief, that comes with a price for me because it triggers asthma, too. It is a topical pain relief gel that apply to my face when I can't stand that pain any longer and it helps some. It's Voltaren gel and it's a Rx. It's like concentrated motrin.

If you don't have an aversion to chiropractors and yours is able to do what mine does you are LUCKY. Mine causes me incredible pain that brings tears to my eyes and makes me want to yelp but I deal with it because I know it is probably the only way I have been able to survive. He is doing his thing to the trigger points and you just about have to peel me off the ceiling and he tried to teach me how to help myself with it. One time, over the Christmas break when I knew it would be a long time before I could get back to him, I tried it. I opened my mouth part way and pushed on the joint. OUCH ! But it hurt less following that.

The irony, for me, is that my beloved first born daughter had to have reconstructive jaw surgery at U of M when she was 16. It was for the opposite problem of prognathism. I was already all too familiar with TMJ problems because of her agony. She had a bite splint for years. Then she had braces. Then she had the surgery. I wish the doc who did her surgery were still around.

Oh yeah, there is a site on DS for TMJ sufferers, Yarik and there are a lot of other things you can do, like a list of no-nos. No eating apples, or other such fruits. I think you're not supposed to eat them with peels on and you're not supposed to eat thick sandwiches that strain the joints, but my memory is feeling fuzzy now, so I'll stop here so I don't steer you the wrong way and maybe you can find more on the TMJ pages.

Good Luck and sorry about the insurance rip-off.

Hugs,

Rose

Trystan: Yes, I have acromegaly and it is pretty common to have TMJ issues. It is not too bad yet, but I am worried.

Rose: Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you will be able to fins a suitable and effective treatment. I know about TMJ pages, nut there's just too much information. Do you know what's the reason why insurers do not cover TMJ problems? Are TMJ doctors really worth the money?

Yarik,

Thanks for your reply. I'll have to read up more about TMJ.

Trystan

I had terrible jaw pain at times with popping and a locking of the jaw at times, be for the octreotide/lantreotide injections. I think TMJ docs are a huge rip off after going to one with my daughter before she got her braces...required by the orthodontist and them telling she may or may not have TMJ problems and having to pay out of pocket for that professional insight...It is 1+ hour of my life that I won't ever get back and the $$... Always trying to find something positive...I told my daughter in the car on the way home, that I thought I could be a TMJ doctor...I touched her jaw and said "you may or may not have problems in this area" We laughed our heads off and it still comes up from time to time and we get a chuckle out of it...
So, my opinion you may want to find a way to deal with the jaw pain on your own...

TranaM,
Many thanks. I also tend to think that it's not worth spending $$$ on TMJ doctors. How do you deal with the problem?

I took 4 Advil 4X per day everyday for years...then when I started the injections...gone!!! I am praying it stays this way...I also hope you find some relief!!!

I am not going to a "TMJ" doctor. The way I understand it my insurance is paying. I have my referrals all lined up and everything is all systems go. I have MESSA BCBS and the doc at Mayo is taking an oral appliance approach and he is in dental medecine and the doc at U of M is in Oral MaxiloFacial Surgery - might have the spelling wrong on that latter one but am too lazy to go find the stupid letter to check on it. In my heart I know I need the second one, but in my soul, I DREAD that - especially because I went through it with Christie, the jaw wired shut and the whole 9 yards..... Plus my family is probably a little worn out already and still from the brain surgery last May, but my quality of life is suffering from the headaches that are being linked to the TMJ issues, not to mention all the other pain, sheer incredible pain in the face that brings tears to the eyes and will drop you to your knees and keep you awake at night and that makes it hard to eat certain foods.

Yarik, have you tried to get a referral to a guy with that speciality mentioned above that I'm having trouble spelling? Sorry, that's not PC, to a PERSON.......

Good Luck,

Rose

Rose, thanks for advice. I may try this specialist. At this point I think I will see a dentist and talk how to correct my bite.

Yari, I'll welcome any pointers you get after your visit. If your insurance covers chiropractic visits don't dismiss that either because I'm serious, that has helped unbelievably, but I think the key is in the skill of the chiropractor....... I'm signing off for tonight. Hope it works out well.

Hugs,

Rose

Rose, my insurance does cover chiropractic visits. I am going to try it. Thanks once again.

Keep us posted and let us know how it goes for you.

Hugs, Rose