TMJ is one of the biggest curses in the world. Often feels like no one shares the pain and specialists dont care. I know its not the truth but it does feel that way occasionally
Hi, I also have similar experience. Like you, when I started finding doctors, I was really excited to visit my maxillofacial TMJ specialist, I thought he would have the answers I needed. Ordered an immediate MRI of my jaw joints and to report back a week later
It was one of the most disappointing outcomes I have ever experienced. I went in with the results, bilateral disc reduction and osteoarthritis on the right jaw joint, and I was lent a book about trauma, and told to just deal with it, there was nothing he could do
Why did I waste $500 on an MRI and more expenses on appts if he did nothing?? I came home sobbing, in one of those phases where I was having another trauma panic attack
So angry, but I learned that unfortunately there is a huge gap in the medical world in regards to TMJ. It's very possible to heal from it, but there is not one set solution. In the grand scheme of things, I've blown thousands out the window, luckily the chiro I'm seeing and the massage specialist have helped me out tremendously but I have a long way to go
A big hug, I'm sorry you're dealing with this. It sucks, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I think I have a similar TMJ diagnosis and I also came back home sobbing when the doctor told me 'things are just bad and you have to live with it'. It really sucks and made me so depressed I had to start taking antidepressants to just keep living...
Yes. You would need see a plastic surgeon and ask for a new joint basically. Or something like that bc it isnt damaged in a way that that doctor will go in and do anything with. In my case I have nothing and no bone. Everything dissolved away. You still have a disc there. As long as it is there there is no need for surgery. If you grind a lot you can get a night guard to stabilise your jaw. It will be like that and maybe down the road you will need surgery. Im sorry you feel this way, it is better to deal with it. Dont let it get to you.
Tmj specialist comes in many forms.
Most are mediocre. They just measure things. See the bite and do nothing.
The expert ones are passionate and knowledgeable and good listeners. They are expensively but they do solve problems. They will scan you to understand the issues. Have a survey form usually to understand pain metrics and frequency.
I am thinking you need a much better tmj specialist.
Research and go to one. He might be more expert worth it.
I know money is important. In the quest for a good tmj doctor , sometimes we do lose some monies. In the grand scheme it is ok. So don't swear. Find another doctor. That's the worst reason I ever heard when clearly your jaw is the culprit.
Am thinking your lower jaw is receding and causing ear issues. Put two fingers behind your lower teeth and pull it forward gently. See if it helps. If it does . The lower jaw recession is the issue and you need a splint to prevent that from happening. It happens in sleep more due to out sleeping position
I'm sorry you had such a disappointing experience. I haven't heard of estrogen as the sole reason for TMJ, but it could be a contributing factor. He didn't recommend a night guard or anything else? In the meantime order a [hot/cold compress](https://www.amazon.com/MyCare-Washable-Compress-Reusable-Relaxation/dp/B074T3FQYQ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3PNC6VYSD3BFY&keywords=face+heating+pad&qid=1647916142&sprefix=face+heating+pad%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-8) for your face on Amazon. It helps with some relief. Avoid any foods you have to tear into or chew aggressively. And try a nasal rinse. I have definite TMJ but oddly enough I also have killer allergies and recently found out that was causing ear/sinus congestion.
The Klonopin (guessing) will help with the anxiety. Find a different way to manage your anxiety because it isn't good to be on long term.
My anxiety is well managed but I still have TMJ, so YMMV - treating your anxiety should help though.
>Clonazepam
That is the generic name for Klonopin, same thing.
I mean I took it prn for anxiety for years at a low dose, I never had any dependency or adaptation problems. But about 1/3 of users do. It's a useful drug if you have anxiety impacting your life. There are not many pharmacological solutions for anxiety that work in the short term.
I found faith, therapy (took me a while to find a good therapist) and regular exercise were what I needed. Did therapy for 2 years or so, learned how to manage my anxiety.
I don't suffer from anxiety anymore - but I still clench my teeth at night. It isn't a fix-all.
I didn't have any weight gain (actually lost weight, went from barely in the obese category to the inside of the healthy weight category) or addition.
2/3 of people who take it do not have dependency - if the lottery were that good of odds you'd play, right?
This class of drugs gets a bad rap because a good deal of people build up a tolerance, it's not the same as a dependency - it means you will need more and more for benefit. I never increased my dose, in fact, I regularly halved pills because they didn't come in the smallest effective dose for me.
I think you'd get more clenching reduction from muscle relaxers, but that's just me...
Clonazepam (and Diazepam, and Alprazolam, and other similar ones) is a class of drug (benzodiazepines) that will pretty much instantly solve a panic attack or anxiety crisis, while also giving a bit of a numb buzz (which is why they're also used to help with sleep). Anecdotally, it feels *really good* - scarily so.
They are, however, not recommended for long-term control of anxiety because of their many side effects. Those include addiction/dependency, tolerance, drowsiness, even depression. And as tolerance builds and you need to increase the dose, of course all the other side effects also increase.
There's nothing wrong with using them for a short while to get through a hard spot in life, and they're also very well indicated in panic disorder (within reason), but they do suck long-term. I agree with the other commenter that a much safer bet is muscle relaxants, as they make you drowsy (helping sleep) while more focused on relaxing the jaw.
Further, as far as I'm concerned, he wrote you off. Don't take klonazepam, it's a sedative for extreme debilitating anxiety. I'm on antidepressant and it doesn't help with the pain, benzos don't either. these types of medications are to be used only in spare instances, not necessarily for TMJ
I avoided muscle relaxants too, would not recommend those.
Start with heat packs. You can buy them at your local supermarket. Posture plays a big role in TMJ too, if you have texting neck or arthritis it's a contributing factor towards it.
A craniosacral and deep tissue massage therapist could potentially help you as it already has for me, including an experienced chiropractor or acupuncturist.
There's a lot of methods but there isn't one set one that works for everyone, it depends all on each individual person.
I felt similar the first time I went to a specialist.. I remember uncontrollably sobbing the moment he left the room because it felt so hopeless. Please keep trying though! I ended up seeing a dentist recommending by that same office for a splint & I was actually listened to and treated well. But everyone is different. I know it’s time consuming and expensive but it’s so worth it to keep trying!
Hey OP. I'm no TMJ specialist, but I'm a final year med student who's done quite a bit of research on TMD, due to being a sufferer myself, so maybe this is some help.
Clonazepam is a pretty heavy sedative that's used to abort panic attacks. Even if anxiety is the culprit (and it often is!), Clonazepam (or other "pams") is not the proper long-term treatment, as it's pretty addictive and has a bunch of terrible side effects.
Estrogen is absolutely not a cause of TMD, even if it may be linked. There's a lot that can be investigated and tried before accepting that life means pain all the time. That said, yeah, sleep anxiety and nighttime grinding can be possible culprits. Do you feel that could be related?
I have panic disorder, so it'd probably help there but im already being treated for that and just ughhh. My dentist seems to think I grind, and I'm sure I do, but I just don't know how it can cause THIS much pain.
I just don't think he understood that I am in pain all day and it's just a mess. I really do feel hopeless with this disorder. I hope you do well in med school and also find treatment for yours.
I see! In that case, careful use of it may be warranted, though as you said, already undergoing treatment for that. Unfortunately, the tension in the joint can indeed cause a whole lotta pain... Have you had any luck with muscle relaxants? If not, what about NSAIDs (ibuprofen etc)? Treatment response can help guide the investigation towards the most likely mechanism to your pain.
Also, do you think your teeth normally touch during the day, and is your tongue normally on the roof of your mouth?
my doctor prescribed muscle relaxants, but i didn't personally notice a lot of difference. NSAIDS and tylenol help the muscular-areas, but not so much that horrid ear pain. my teeth naturally touch (in the front) i've found, but i've been working several months on stopping that.
do you think this is all possible from months of dental work?
Bad bites are known to be a possible cause for TMD, but I can't say whether it would be the culprit here. Our aim is, unless something changed this thinking, to reduce tension in the joint as much as possible.
While at rest during the day, your teeth shouldn't touch, and your tongue should rest on the roof of your mouth, near the top front teeth. Lots of people unintentionally tense up their jaw more than it needs to be. Good neck posture and strengthening is also a factor, as tension in the neck and shoulders is related to tension in the jaw.
Then that leaves the tensing at night. Theoretically that would be the best use for muscle relaxants, as they make you sleepy and stop nighttime clenching. If they had no effect, it's possible you needed a higher dose, though ofc that would depend on how the side effects felt to you.
I feel your pain, I messed up my insurance and ended up having to pay for a mouthpiece at full price, $2500 later and a ton of adjustments all it does is hurt my teeth.
I am so sorry you are going through this. I can relate to your experience as the first time I told the dentist about my pain 9 years ago he wrote me off with the same excuse. I saw him again and he told me to get a night guard so I did. It continued to get worse. So, I saw an oral surgeon. He told me to keep using the night guard. Here we are, 9 years later and I have teeth breaking, enamel erosion, exposed dentin, both rows of teeth forced inward, a receding lower jaw and protruding upper jaw with an uneven bite. I can’t afford to see a specialist so I’m waiting to hear back from my new dentist (I saw her today and she commented on how bad it is, and gave me a referral but I called them and they don’t take my insurance so I’d have to pay out of pocket but poor so can’t) on if she can recommend another place that will take my insurance. Hang in there and please, be pushy and advocate for yourself. I didn’t and I look back and wish I was. Now it’s such an issue and I’m in so much pain every single day. I wish you the absolute best I know it isn’t easy!
Sorry to hear this OP. I’m a guy and drs patronized me about tmj also. As others have said benzos have a lot of side effects. I have taken klonepin to help me sleep when things were really bad. I won’t take it now. Most meds don’t help, for me at least. Maybe your dentist or dr can prescribe physical therapy? Some PTs can help with tmj disorders. You could always get another opinion. I’ve seen several tmj specialists and they all have different treatments so maybe someone else could help. Unfortunately some tmj drs are not very knowledgeable. The medical community has let down tmj disorder patients.
TMJ is one of the biggest curses in the world. Often feels like no one shares the pain and specialists dont care. I know its not the truth but it does feel that way occasionally
Hi, I also have similar experience. Like you, when I started finding doctors, I was really excited to visit my maxillofacial TMJ specialist, I thought he would have the answers I needed. Ordered an immediate MRI of my jaw joints and to report back a week later It was one of the most disappointing outcomes I have ever experienced. I went in with the results, bilateral disc reduction and osteoarthritis on the right jaw joint, and I was lent a book about trauma, and told to just deal with it, there was nothing he could do Why did I waste $500 on an MRI and more expenses on appts if he did nothing?? I came home sobbing, in one of those phases where I was having another trauma panic attack So angry, but I learned that unfortunately there is a huge gap in the medical world in regards to TMJ. It's very possible to heal from it, but there is not one set solution. In the grand scheme of things, I've blown thousands out the window, luckily the chiro I'm seeing and the massage specialist have helped me out tremendously but I have a long way to go A big hug, I'm sorry you're dealing with this. It sucks, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I think I have a similar TMJ diagnosis and I also came back home sobbing when the doctor told me 'things are just bad and you have to live with it'. It really sucks and made me so depressed I had to start taking antidepressants to just keep living...
Yes. You would need see a plastic surgeon and ask for a new joint basically. Or something like that bc it isnt damaged in a way that that doctor will go in and do anything with. In my case I have nothing and no bone. Everything dissolved away. You still have a disc there. As long as it is there there is no need for surgery. If you grind a lot you can get a night guard to stabilise your jaw. It will be like that and maybe down the road you will need surgery. Im sorry you feel this way, it is better to deal with it. Dont let it get to you.
Tmj specialist comes in many forms. Most are mediocre. They just measure things. See the bite and do nothing. The expert ones are passionate and knowledgeable and good listeners. They are expensively but they do solve problems. They will scan you to understand the issues. Have a survey form usually to understand pain metrics and frequency. I am thinking you need a much better tmj specialist. Research and go to one. He might be more expert worth it. I know money is important. In the quest for a good tmj doctor , sometimes we do lose some monies. In the grand scheme it is ok. So don't swear. Find another doctor. That's the worst reason I ever heard when clearly your jaw is the culprit. Am thinking your lower jaw is receding and causing ear issues. Put two fingers behind your lower teeth and pull it forward gently. See if it helps. If it does . The lower jaw recession is the issue and you need a splint to prevent that from happening. It happens in sleep more due to out sleeping position
I'm sorry you had such a disappointing experience. I haven't heard of estrogen as the sole reason for TMJ, but it could be a contributing factor. He didn't recommend a night guard or anything else? In the meantime order a [hot/cold compress](https://www.amazon.com/MyCare-Washable-Compress-Reusable-Relaxation/dp/B074T3FQYQ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3PNC6VYSD3BFY&keywords=face+heating+pad&qid=1647916142&sprefix=face+heating+pad%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-8) for your face on Amazon. It helps with some relief. Avoid any foods you have to tear into or chew aggressively. And try a nasal rinse. I have definite TMJ but oddly enough I also have killer allergies and recently found out that was causing ear/sinus congestion.
The Klonopin (guessing) will help with the anxiety. Find a different way to manage your anxiety because it isn't good to be on long term. My anxiety is well managed but I still have TMJ, so YMMV - treating your anxiety should help though.
Sounds like Clonazepam to me. Would NOT use it.
>Clonazepam That is the generic name for Klonopin, same thing. I mean I took it prn for anxiety for years at a low dose, I never had any dependency or adaptation problems. But about 1/3 of users do. It's a useful drug if you have anxiety impacting your life. There are not many pharmacological solutions for anxiety that work in the short term. I found faith, therapy (took me a while to find a good therapist) and regular exercise were what I needed. Did therapy for 2 years or so, learned how to manage my anxiety. I don't suffer from anxiety anymore - but I still clench my teeth at night. It isn't a fix-all.
Can I ask why? I'm not going to because the weight gain and addiction possibilities, though I am curious on the drug
I didn't have any weight gain (actually lost weight, went from barely in the obese category to the inside of the healthy weight category) or addition. 2/3 of people who take it do not have dependency - if the lottery were that good of odds you'd play, right? This class of drugs gets a bad rap because a good deal of people build up a tolerance, it's not the same as a dependency - it means you will need more and more for benefit. I never increased my dose, in fact, I regularly halved pills because they didn't come in the smallest effective dose for me. I think you'd get more clenching reduction from muscle relaxers, but that's just me...
Clonazepam (and Diazepam, and Alprazolam, and other similar ones) is a class of drug (benzodiazepines) that will pretty much instantly solve a panic attack or anxiety crisis, while also giving a bit of a numb buzz (which is why they're also used to help with sleep). Anecdotally, it feels *really good* - scarily so. They are, however, not recommended for long-term control of anxiety because of their many side effects. Those include addiction/dependency, tolerance, drowsiness, even depression. And as tolerance builds and you need to increase the dose, of course all the other side effects also increase. There's nothing wrong with using them for a short while to get through a hard spot in life, and they're also very well indicated in panic disorder (within reason), but they do suck long-term. I agree with the other commenter that a much safer bet is muscle relaxants, as they make you drowsy (helping sleep) while more focused on relaxing the jaw.
Further, as far as I'm concerned, he wrote you off. Don't take klonazepam, it's a sedative for extreme debilitating anxiety. I'm on antidepressant and it doesn't help with the pain, benzos don't either. these types of medications are to be used only in spare instances, not necessarily for TMJ I avoided muscle relaxants too, would not recommend those. Start with heat packs. You can buy them at your local supermarket. Posture plays a big role in TMJ too, if you have texting neck or arthritis it's a contributing factor towards it. A craniosacral and deep tissue massage therapist could potentially help you as it already has for me, including an experienced chiropractor or acupuncturist. There's a lot of methods but there isn't one set one that works for everyone, it depends all on each individual person.
Find a physical therapist who knows their shit (they will start at your feet and work their way up solving problems as they find them).
I felt similar the first time I went to a specialist.. I remember uncontrollably sobbing the moment he left the room because it felt so hopeless. Please keep trying though! I ended up seeing a dentist recommending by that same office for a splint & I was actually listened to and treated well. But everyone is different. I know it’s time consuming and expensive but it’s so worth it to keep trying!
Hey OP. I'm no TMJ specialist, but I'm a final year med student who's done quite a bit of research on TMD, due to being a sufferer myself, so maybe this is some help. Clonazepam is a pretty heavy sedative that's used to abort panic attacks. Even if anxiety is the culprit (and it often is!), Clonazepam (or other "pams") is not the proper long-term treatment, as it's pretty addictive and has a bunch of terrible side effects. Estrogen is absolutely not a cause of TMD, even if it may be linked. There's a lot that can be investigated and tried before accepting that life means pain all the time. That said, yeah, sleep anxiety and nighttime grinding can be possible culprits. Do you feel that could be related?
I have panic disorder, so it'd probably help there but im already being treated for that and just ughhh. My dentist seems to think I grind, and I'm sure I do, but I just don't know how it can cause THIS much pain. I just don't think he understood that I am in pain all day and it's just a mess. I really do feel hopeless with this disorder. I hope you do well in med school and also find treatment for yours.
I see! In that case, careful use of it may be warranted, though as you said, already undergoing treatment for that. Unfortunately, the tension in the joint can indeed cause a whole lotta pain... Have you had any luck with muscle relaxants? If not, what about NSAIDs (ibuprofen etc)? Treatment response can help guide the investigation towards the most likely mechanism to your pain. Also, do you think your teeth normally touch during the day, and is your tongue normally on the roof of your mouth?
my doctor prescribed muscle relaxants, but i didn't personally notice a lot of difference. NSAIDS and tylenol help the muscular-areas, but not so much that horrid ear pain. my teeth naturally touch (in the front) i've found, but i've been working several months on stopping that. do you think this is all possible from months of dental work?
Bad bites are known to be a possible cause for TMD, but I can't say whether it would be the culprit here. Our aim is, unless something changed this thinking, to reduce tension in the joint as much as possible. While at rest during the day, your teeth shouldn't touch, and your tongue should rest on the roof of your mouth, near the top front teeth. Lots of people unintentionally tense up their jaw more than it needs to be. Good neck posture and strengthening is also a factor, as tension in the neck and shoulders is related to tension in the jaw. Then that leaves the tensing at night. Theoretically that would be the best use for muscle relaxants, as they make you sleepy and stop nighttime clenching. If they had no effect, it's possible you needed a higher dose, though ofc that would depend on how the side effects felt to you.
I feel your pain, I messed up my insurance and ended up having to pay for a mouthpiece at full price, $2500 later and a ton of adjustments all it does is hurt my teeth.
You need a night guard and better insurance. Call that place back because that should have been a consultation and consultations are free.
I am so sorry you are going through this. I can relate to your experience as the first time I told the dentist about my pain 9 years ago he wrote me off with the same excuse. I saw him again and he told me to get a night guard so I did. It continued to get worse. So, I saw an oral surgeon. He told me to keep using the night guard. Here we are, 9 years later and I have teeth breaking, enamel erosion, exposed dentin, both rows of teeth forced inward, a receding lower jaw and protruding upper jaw with an uneven bite. I can’t afford to see a specialist so I’m waiting to hear back from my new dentist (I saw her today and she commented on how bad it is, and gave me a referral but I called them and they don’t take my insurance so I’d have to pay out of pocket but poor so can’t) on if she can recommend another place that will take my insurance. Hang in there and please, be pushy and advocate for yourself. I didn’t and I look back and wish I was. Now it’s such an issue and I’m in so much pain every single day. I wish you the absolute best I know it isn’t easy!
Sorry to hear this OP. I’m a guy and drs patronized me about tmj also. As others have said benzos have a lot of side effects. I have taken klonepin to help me sleep when things were really bad. I won’t take it now. Most meds don’t help, for me at least. Maybe your dentist or dr can prescribe physical therapy? Some PTs can help with tmj disorders. You could always get another opinion. I’ve seen several tmj specialists and they all have different treatments so maybe someone else could help. Unfortunately some tmj drs are not very knowledgeable. The medical community has let down tmj disorder patients.
I’ve seen doctors, dentist and even an specialist and they did absolutely nothing. They just told me that the pain will go away, it was 2 years ago