Hi All

I am going to condense this because it was a long process. 

At the age of 17, I began having pain in my lower jaw. My dentist sent me an Oral surgeon after I found a small BB size lump in the bone that seemed to be the cause of the pain.  The *&^%&^*( Oral surgeon had NO ideal what he was dealing with.  After two years of being on antibiotics my parents sent me to a Clinic in Marshfield Wisconsin.  I had numerous test one of them being a biopcey of the bone.  The bone was taken from the underside of my jaw from the outside.  Two weeks later I was at the Mayo Clinic.

All of the lower back teeth were removed, and the jaw was packed open. I was in the hospital for 45 days.  I was on interveinous antibotics the whole while. 

Sadley I was back the following year and the same treatment was repeated except the entire jaw was involved.  So the remaining of my lower teeth were removed.

I still suffered with pain.  The following year I received hyperbaric treatments. 

I was married had three beautiful children and suffered great pain.  The pain was now coming from TMJ.  I went to therapy sessions for the TMJ.  I work as a police/fire/rescue dispatcher.  At that time I worked the midnight shift.  I was under alot of stress.  Three small children and very little sleep will do that to a person.  I have to tell you that there were times that I did not think living was worth all the pain I was going through.  Finally a day shift opened and I had enough seniority to get it.  It took a while but slowly the bouts with the TMJ became fewer.  I am happy to say that for the 5 years I have been pretty much pain free.  Or at least what I would call pain free!  I am 49 yrs old!  So it took awhile.

What I did for the pain?  Well I used infared heat at times.  Be careful not to burn yourself.  I use moist heat...I take white tube socks, fill them with regular rice and tie it shut.  Heat it in the microwave for 3 minutes the first time.  Placed that on my jaw and let it work.  A hot wet wash cloth works too.  But I like my rice socks.

I just saw my doctor on friday.  Dr. Eugene Keller at the Mayo Clinic is a wonderful man.  If any of you still have your teeth...your Doctors are not treating you properly.  They have to take drastic measures to cure you of this.  The Osteomyelitis was taken care of with the second surgery that I had.  The pain was from the TMJ which was a result of the Osteo.  What I saw my Doctor last week for... was to ask about dental implants.  I really want bottom teeth.  I have lived 30 yrs without them and I want them back!!  Dr. Keller feels confident about me getting them and thats good enough for me. I am alittle concerned about the Osteo coming back but its been 30 yrs with no re occurance.  Depending on what my insurance says I think I am going to go for it.