I am new to this site and not sure I am doing this correctly but would love any input or suggestions to my situation. I have had chronic facial pain since april 1996. It started with burning tongue and then led to bilateral neck which felt like swollen glands. I have been thru every possible Dr and was basically diagnosed with facial neuralgia. I was on Methadone for 10 yrs (after everything was ruled out) and for the most part out of pain and feeling normal. I went off of it with a new Dr in january of this yr so I would feel if the injections he wanted to try would work. That is when my teeth and jaw started hurting. I cancelled the injections so that I could get my teeth examined and get whatever was needed to be done before the injections. Well, when I cancelled, he assumed that I was only wanting medication and dropped me as a patient. Now it feels as if all my teeth are aching and squished together, but there is nothing wrong with them. I was in a 2 car accidents 20 yrs ago, both face trauma, one to my bottom teeth and the other to the left side of my face. Now my jaw aches constantly along with my teeth, I don't have any popping or any noises when I talk or eat but I do have alot of muscle pain in the right side of my jaw, underneath my chin, my neck, my ears and sometimes my right arm aches. I am doubting the neuralgia now and have an appt with my dentist (yet again) to get a referral to see if this is TMJD. Is there hope for the disorder or am I forever stuck in what seems like hell?
overwhelmed
I've been seeing several doctors since early last fall. I had an MRI right away that showed TMJD problems. I had a CT scan recently that really showed how bad it is. I'm seeing a surgeon later this week that can do simultaneous joint replacement and jaw reconstruction surgery.
I haven't found much relief yet, but I am able to work. I have a dental appliance that fits over the bottom teeth that tries to keep the jaw centered and keeps it from closing too far and putting the joints in a bad position. That helps. I have muscle relaxers that let me sleep when the facial and neck muscles clamp down and get painful.
The real relief is knowing that I'm still making progress with the doctors. No one has given up yet. I don't like the options they're having me consider, but at least there are options. It's just frustratingly slow. It's comforting having this online community, for venting, and to see that others are getting somewhere with their treatments.
Tell me, what are the types of things you deal with specifically since you have been diagnosed with it. I have not yet. Do you have teeth pain? with nothing wrong with them? I just think that is so weird!! But now everything aches... neck, ears, teeth, head. I don't feel relaxed in any position with my jaw. I don't know if my underchin, or "swollen gland" feelings is from that or not.
I hope your surgeries go well... I would love for you to be pain free!!
I have to get a root canal on a tooth that i know needs it, but i am worried this will get worse after that as i seem to read over and over again.
i will be praying that you surgery is a success!!!
Yes there is hope out there. I am glad Alex shared his story with you since his jaw issues also came from an accident. I think he will be able to share more about treatment and may be able to guide you in the right direction.
I was just wondering if you are a clencher.....if so, that would explain a lot of you pain in your teeth. Moist heat also help ease the pain of tight muscles in the jaw area...........it also just feels nice.
Hope things get better and you continue to get direction and advice.
SUE
Ear aches, yes. This can be one of the most painful symptoms. The joints are right next to the ears, and they can cause excruciating pain.
My neck gets sore, probably from straining. I can't sleep easily, and when I do sleep I'm not in a good position. I think this is affecting my neck, back, and shoulders. Physical therapy helped a little, but not a whole lot.
Head, depends how you mean. Facial pain is a big part of it. The facial muscles clamp down to protect the jaw joints. I feel this around the joints, up to the chin, and especially below the eyes. I get frequent headaches too, in different spots. The worst is when it feels like someone is carving out the inside of my skull.
If you get the root canal, be sure to mention your symptoms, so they can judge whether it's safe to do it. They might help you find a doctor that specializes in TMJD.
Try to keep your jaw relaxed. Tensing up is a natural reaction to pain, and just makes it worse. Certainly get it checked out as soon as you can.
You really want to see a dentist who works in the area in TMJ/TMD. If you look in the phonebook, they generally advertise this specialty. Also, you might ask your primary care physician, if you have on, for a referral to a dentist who specializes in this field. I would avoid seeing an oral-surgeon right off the bat! After all, they are surgeons and surgeons CUT! If you can keep from having surgery to "cure" your tmj and/or trigeminal-nerve problems, you'll usually be better off. Surgery on the TMjoints should be done only as a last resort!
There are also many physical therapists who specialise in TMJ treament; again, ask your PCP. If you don't have one, go to the phonebook and make some calls. They can tell you what docs they work with on a regular basis in the management of pain from these conditions. --again an oral-surgeon should be seen at a last resort.. if nothing else works AT ALL! There are a LOT of modalities and therapies to ease pain from tmj diseases and dysfunction but, generally, there is no cure. Once you go the surgical route, however, your avenues for lessening or easing the pain are much more limited.
Let me know how it goes for you!
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