What to do about the pain...

TMJ issues can cause a whole slew of problems: vertigo, headaches, worn teeth, should/neck/face pain, ringing in ears, clicking/popping sounds, etc. 

Everyone wants a quick fix and to never think about it again, and for some people that is possible.  The very first thing I would suggest is finding a doctor that treats TMJ.  If you go to your dentist, make sure he/she is knowledgeable about jaw disorders.  Not all dentists are well versed in TMJ. 

Here are a few suggestions that may or may not help with the pain.  Of course, always do what your doctors suggest and what is best for YOUR body.  What works for some people could potentially do more harm to someone else…so just be careful!

1)   Take over the counter medications-ibuprofen and naproxen is best.  Both of these; however, give me a terrible stomachache, so I take Excedrin every two to four hours.  This helps take the edge off the pain.

2)   Moist heat or cold packs-Apply an icepack to the side of your face for ten minutes.  Or, if your doctor told you to, heat a pack and wrap a moist washcloth around it and place it on your jaw.  When I was first diagnosed, I was told to use warm moist heat.  That coupled with muscle relaxers and steroids would usually help pop my jaw back into place within a few days.  Now, I use ice. 

      This holds the ice pack in place-you can purchase at Face Caddy.  They come in different designs.  My doctor gave me something plane but similar to this after surgery and I love it.

                        This is a heat/cold pack that you can purchase at Walmart, CVS, etc.  I own this and used it for moist heat.  

3)   Limit extreme jaw movements-don’t yawn, excessively chew, chew gum, sing, yell, etc.  I am extremely careful with this.  Though sometimes I feel my jaw getting tighter than usual and I give it a few good yawns and I hear a crack and some of the tension is relieved.  Everyone’s body is different, and you must know your body.

4)   Keep your teeth slightly apart when relaxing.

5)   Learn relaxation techniques-we tend to carry stress in our face.

6)   Anti-depressants-doctors can prescribe anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety pills that can help a person to relax.

7)   Muscle relaxers and or pain pills-I joke with my friends that I have a lifetime supply of muscle relaxers in my medicine cabinet.  These have helped me out a lot throughout the years.  Now I’m at a point where they don’t really help with pain but they do help relax the muscle around my eye so it doesn’t twitch as much.  I’m allergic to pain killers, so I don’t use them.  I imagine that would be very helpful.

8)   A splint or a night guard-these are plastic mouthpieces that fit over your upper teeth so your upper and lower teeth don’t touch.  A night guard you wear while you sleep and a splint you wear all the time.  I never wore a splint; I did wear a night guard for many years.  In fact, I still have mine even though I do not need to wear it. 

                                                                     This is a night guard

  

9)   Braces-I have worn braces two times.  The second time I wore braces in hopes of healing my jaw problems.  I didn’t work but I now have beautiful teeth.  My friend was put in braces for the same reason and has not had a problem with her jaw since (and yes I’m jealous)!

10)   Botox-there has been a lot of controversy about Botox and whether or not it helps TMJ.  I tried Botox injections because after a surgery the muscle on the left side of my face was tight.  It was difficult to open my mouth because the muscle felt like a tight rubber band holding my mouth shut.  It costs about $600 (insurance doesn’t pay) and the doctor gave me the injections.  It really did help that particular muscle.  It did not relieve any pain or do anything else. 

11)   Acupuncture- some people have successfully used acupuncture to help with the tension and pain.  I tried this alternative medicine once.  I felt like a pincushion and it wasn’t for me, but I do believe that acupuncture is beneficial for certain things.

12)    Massages-I have heard of special facial massages that can help alleviate pain.

13)     Exercise-if your doctor gives you special jaw exercises, do them.  They do help.

14)      Diet-soft or liquid diet.  I know this isn’t fun, but it is necessary.

15)      A good pillow

Everyone is different and our bodies react differently to different therapies.  My sister’s jaw sometimes gets tight and she will open real wide, and it will pop back into place.  Anyone standing around her can hear it popping.  It sounds painful, yet it’s not. 

At this point in my TMJ journey, not much helps the pain.  I take Excedrin to take the edge off and if I am having a terrible day I will take muscle relaxers, but nothing is going to make it go away.  I am hopeful that the total joint replacement will heal me!

If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to tell me!  I always enjoy learning new things!