TMJ Steroid Injections

By kiki Sunday, July 01, 2007

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Hello fellow TMJ sufferers, Has anyone out there, with anteriorly diplaced disks (or closed lock), tried to relieve their pain by receiving arthrocentesis and/or steroid injection (or any type of injection)?

I was very close to doing this, and convinced it would help, when I read some scary things on the internet. If anyone out there has had a steroid or any other injection (perhaps hyaluronate) done I'd really appreciate knowing how it went, if there were complications, and if it helped you open wider and not have as much pain. I hope everyone is finding some relief in whatever pain management techniques they are trying. We really need more research and successful treatments to be developed to help TMD sufferers.

Have a great day. - Kiki

Comments (14) | Add comment

annebeckett

7/13/07 4:54pm

heu, Kiki.

Somehow, I didn't see this post until now. So, here goes; yes, you can have steroid injections and they MAY help (I have been through it, myself, years ago). BUT, and it is a BIG BUT, you should NEVER, in your LIFETIME, have more than ONE series of up to three injections. Any more than that, on any joint, will possibly cause bone damage. Ask your doc/oms about a Medrol dose-pak, too. This may give you as much relief without the same possible problems! Good luck to you... Anne

ann

9/24/09 6:31pm

Hi, I was wondering how do u find someone to treat tmj? I have it so bad that it wakes me up in the middle of the night in really bad pain

annebeckett

9/24/09 7:05pm

Well. My story is one of those very long ones.

First, I was hit (MVA) by a Pepsi-truck. I had a sub-orbital fracture and both tm-discs were "smashed" in that accident. I saw my dentist and she sent me, immediately, to an oms.

Since then, I have had many (about forty now) open-joint surgeries on my tmjs. I rarely recommend surgery to anyone, but right now, I don't even have a joint on the right side (lots of infection about a year and a half ago), so I am having a new implant next month, on the 19th.

You can either start with your dentist, for the pain, and he or she can recommend you to an oral surgeon OR, if your insurance allows it, simply make an appointment with an OMS in your area. You may, though, want to research the doc(s) before going in. I travel from TX to Boston for my surgeries as there really is nobody in the state of Texas who can do the procedures I need.... and believe me, tmj IS (or can be) a very slippery slope!

mackymorg

12/12/09 5:50pm

I am going to have steriod injections due to the lack of opening my mouth after double jaw surgery. I'm hopeful that I will only need to have this procedure done once. I am seen by and OS in Boston, Dr. Mehra at BMC. I'm a little bit nervous about the procedure because other patients that have had double jaw surgery have been able to open there mouth much greater than I can. I'm hoping this procedure will help. My orthodontist won't see me until I have a greater opening of my mouth.

MARCIABAKER

7/14/07 9:09am

Hello kiki! I did have a TMJ infection performed. It really hurt and was very sore the next day. It helped a little bit but not enough to have it done again. Have you tried physical therapy or something like Valium at bedtime. I would lock my jaw at night and that would relax me enough to not do that. Whatever you do, do not rush into surgery. I did that and it was horrible outcome. I had a dislocated meniscus and joint from an injury. I could hardly open my mouth to get liquids in me over a 4 month period. I was not given the option except surgery. I had everything possibly done. He removed part of my bone and sutured the meniscus to my joint so it would not come out again. I did okay for about a month and then it was bad again. No one would touch me in my area because they said the previous doctor had done so much surgery that they could not put back what he took out and they didn't know how to help me. My last doctor sent me to Charlotte North Carolina, about an 1 1/2 hours away, to see if he could help me. He does a lot of trauma and is very very good. He fixed me thank god but some people can't find doctors like I did. I found that being placed on an anti-depressent helped me more than anything. It helped with my migraines and my jaw. I only hurt in my jaw occasionally but it is so much better. There are so many options like medication, physicial therapy, and a mouth guard for bedtime that can help before doing surgery. Just be careful and make sure that you are out of options before doing anything. Find out exactly what is involved with the surgery. Finding someone that can do it orthoscopically and can cauterize as he is in there is good also. Once you have surgery, it opens up another bag of problems like scar tissue. It can be your worse nightmare. Keep me posted on how you are doing. Good luck and be careful.

Anonymous

9/27/09 3:58pm

what doctor did you see in charlotte, nc?

Christine Johnson

1/12/08 1:29am

YES I TIRED IT ONCE, THE FIRST NIGHT I FELT HEAT WAVES FROM WHERE THE SHOTS WERE GIVEN.

WEIRD FEELING, WITH IN A WEEK IT SUBSIDED OFF AND NO WORD OF A LIE, IT STOPPED ALL PAIN FOR SIX MONTHS ALMOST A YEAR.SO YEAH IT CAN WORK....

fefee

5/28/09 4:32pm

hi,

im in severe pain coz of TMJ .i wana ask did u go for another steroid injection or just the one was fine.how r u feeling now.any side effects of steroid.r u taking any other medications now .do u have pain nowadays.plz reply asap.coz i have to decide do i have to go for teroid injection or not.

tahnks

Christine

5/28/09 4:55pm

Thanks for your reply, I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in my lower back and neck.

When I had the steriod shot like I said it lasted quite a while.

The only side effect was the heat waves I felt and tiredness but that subsided off in no time at all.

It does work though.

I have not decided whether I want another or not.

I am not one for taking medication for pain unless I can't tolerate it anymore.

It has been so many years now that I have just learnt to live with it.

My advice give it a try at least once.

Then you will know for yourself what works best for you.

Good luck!

Missy

10/15/10 2:24pm

I am having the injection done this week. I too have tried everything. My Oral Surgeon stated the shot would give me six months relief. Will my face be numb? Will I be able to eat? I only eat on the right side of my mouth. I hope this works! I have IBS and it didn't start until my pain began so chronic. Is there anyone else having stomach problems due to TMJ?

Please let me know Sharon

Yvonne

8/20/10 8:42am

I was involved in a car accident 18 months ago and my TMJ was badly damaged . The pain was horrendous and eating on the right side (where the damage was) was impossible. I was given an Arthrocentesis for removal of bone fragments and this worked for about 6 months, they removed so much debris which had been pressing on a nerve or nerves. I then had two other ones to remove more fragments. Since then I have been free of pain, however my ability to eat on the damaged side is impossible. The Surgeon talked about putting in an artificial joint but I decided that as long as I was pain free I would leave well alone. I did not go down the injection route.

Missy

10/ 7/10 4:01pm

I am getting ready to have a TMJ injection and I wanted to know if it really works. I've been suffering with this since "2006". I've seen 15 dentist, a prostodentist, Endo and and ENT Specialist. This is my last chance to try to get some relief. I can't eat. I have severe headaches and stomach problems. If anyone else having stomach problems because of TMJ? Please let me know. The Oral Surgeon that I'm seeing now say's the shot could last for at least 6 months. I hope I'm doing the right thing!

Please let me hear from you!

Sharon

patrick

10/14/11 11:12am

i think that steroid injections can really help ..i used some steroids from http://steroidsgear.com in the past and it helped me. So i think you shouldn t hasitate because you can loose nothing

Kat08420

5/27/12 10:38am

I just had a steroid injection in my jaw about a week ago and I'm not impressed. I went to an ent because I had an ear problem. Found out I had a cyst on my eardrum (however that happens) so he had to lance it to let the fluid out. While looking in my ear he asked if I had tmj to which I said yes I have for 14 years. He asked if I wanted him to give me a steroid injection that usually helps with the pain and I agreed. Now I wish I wouldn't have because it hurts more now than it did before! Is this just because of injection or could the steroid be hurting more than helping? I go back for a follow up in 2 days so I can't wait to ask what is going on. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

TMJ Steroid Injections

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