I have jaw pain, but that's from TMJ, (I grind my teeth at night)

I have jaw pain too. I had all my teeth pulled and it still hurts like they are all still there. I don't know what to say. I haven't found much relief. When I can't stand it any more I do swish with butterscotth snoops it helps alittle.

My mom use to rub our gums with some type of alchohol when we were babies and teething. That's why I tried it and it works sometimes.

Hugs

There's a fairly cheap solution to TMJ that my doc suggests. I'll post a link to his website that explain what to do. It's basically soaking a hockey mouth guard (around $20) in warm water, then aligning it with your jaw. Wear at night.

Doctor's blog on TMJ:
http://painmuse.org/?p=120
http://painmuse.org/?p=156

Guide:
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cranial_nerves/trigeminal_neuralgia/manuscript/index.html

Homemade TMJ guard:

Boiling should be no more than 10 seconds. Three minutes will melt your mouthpiece.

Boil water and let stand for 30 seconds
Place mouth piece in water for ten seconds
After 10 seconds, remove from water and place in your mouth

bite and suck water and air out of mouth piece (leave in mouth for thirty seconds)
you may use fingers to press mouth piece against your teeth.

Remove and place in cold water to set.

I have TMJ too and dental work or cavities or gum disease can also cause TMJ pain, tooo!!!!!!!

red has a point - the first thing to look at would be if there is any underlying dental condition - get a thorough checkup and make sure everything is healthy first - and consult with your dentist on the pain, as that area of the body is what they specialize in.

I used to have TMJ, but when I got my teeth straightened (in my mid-30s) if mostly cleared up. My jaw still pops sometimes and my mouth doesn't like to open very far, but getting my bite corrected took most of the pressure off.

My sister has one of those mouth guards. She says it's really helped with the popping and pain, but she's thrilled at the better sleep she's getting.

She got her's from a dentist - they did a mold.

I don't think Valium would cause TMJ though. You might look into trying Co-Q10. I had gingivitis pretty bad even though I brushed, flossed and rinsed regularly. I started taking the Co-Q10 and my gums got better within a month. I also had mitral valve prolapse and it was gone a few years later.

Recently, I read a study (published in JAMA) that showed Co-Q10 regenerates heart and gum tissue.

Thanks,
I did go to the dentist to have everything checked out. He said my gums are perfect, nothing is wrong dentally. I can't use a mouth guard at night because I use a c-pap machine; the mask goes in my mouth like a scuba regulator. The normal masks that go over your nose and mouth give me a sinus infection every time. I am gritting my teeth, probably grinding too, at night and have made a hole in my mask. I think I will try the mouth guard and use it during the day when I can.

Also, I've been told by doctors that valium is a muscle relaxer. When you go off it the opposite happens, the muscles tighten up. My dentist said that if the muscles in my jaw tighten, the tendon could also tighten, which can cause my teeth to move slightly, just enough to make my bite off. The gum thing has him scratching his head. He thinks I should go to my doctor, but she's at the point of telling me most things are fibro and there's nothing to do.

Crystal, this is off your topic, but where do you get that kind of CPAP mask? I'm going to need a sleep study and I know about the regular masks - my husband uses one. I have a history of sinus infections and I'm extremely claustrophobic (which includes having my nose covered due to trauma and abuse) and I know I'm going to need that kind of mask - what brand is it and can it be used with any machine or only one kind? Anything you can share about that would be really appreciated. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to answer here.

By the end of the day, my jaws are so tight they feel like they are going to lock. Not sure what it is, but worth going to the doctor to check out. My gums have been hurting too, but you know your sinuses run all over the dental area. I know I have an infection.

The muscle tightening is also part of FM. I have seasons of muscle spasms. I also have had seasons of nausea, back ache, dizziness, vision trouble, etc. No rhyme or reason that I've been able to detect.

It all comes and goes. I try to notice what's blooming when I'm feeling a particular way. I'm learning that perhaps I should just stay off planes in the Fall and Winter months, etc... I'm always looking for patterns - think I'm on to something - Oh, that's not it! Keep looking.

It's hard for me to understand how after stopping Valium 7 weeks ago you'd still be having withdrawal issues, but after the horrible experience I had with Lyrica, I wouldn't be surprised. We're all so different.

I have to agree with unduki. There are times when I get a sharp pain in my ear. No ear infection, just sharp pains. Even my ear lobes or eye balls will hurt. Yes, my jaw, teeth & gums will hurt, too. I haven't found any rhyme or reason either.

I do know that I am very allergic to pollen, grass, weeds & dust. Makes it hard to do yard work or even clean the house. But I do the best I can. I've thought about using a mask when I do these chores but I keep forgetting to buy them. Fibro fog! LOL

I've been told that because I've been on valium long term, since 2002, that it could take a couple of years to be rid of all side-effects of going off of it. There is a a manual written by a doctor, online, the Ashton Manual, that is about the severe reactions of getting off this drug. I wish I was never put on it. It was before I checked out drugs online before I took them.

Yeah, this is like, WHY you check out drugs, eh? We learn from experience - and then the fogs set in and we forget so we suffer from the drugs and our stupidity. But maybe we remember next time.

I'm worried about taking Ibuprofen. Long term use like I use it can be harmful to my kidneys.

I'm constantly on the lookout for herbal help. I'm wanting to get an accupuncturist. I hear they really help functionality and I'm sick of being so un-functional. I have things to do.

I have pretty bad TMJ but not much bother since I started taking a few minutes throughout the day to stop and listen to my body - meditation and stretching (yoga or tai chi)

I have been dealing with this problem for about 3 months severly. I even had a root canal that I didn't need. My rheumy told me that I can get every tooth in my head root canaled and it wont help because it is the trigeminal nerve