|
|
Post by Jennifer C on Sept 13, 2019 21:38:06 GMT
My dd is 16 and her dentist and Dr are baffled. She has TMJ, diagnosed at the age of 14 and her jaw pops constantly. Her jaw muscles in the back are so strong and tight.
It sounds loud when it pops and it hurts her. She has had night guards and day guards and padding made for her to no avail. Muscle relaxers put her to sleep but her jaw will still pop. Heat and ice pads really don't work. She has had shots directly into the jaw muscles but as soon as they wear off, back to popping. We have not head her mouth lock, but the dentist tells us it's only a matter of time.
Both her Dr's say surgery is her only choice but they don't want to do that route until she's 21 or 22 in order to let her jaw finish growing. They sent us to Houston for a second/third opinion and those Dr's concurred with everything these Dr's say.
I'm just lost. My heart breaks because it hurts so much to eat or talk and she ends up crying.
Does anyone have some go to at home remedy that works for them?
Jennifer
|
|
Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,640 
Location: Kansas City -ish
|
Post by Anita on Sept 13, 2019 21:40:23 GMT
That really sucks. I had the surgery in my 20s and it breaks my heart to hear someone so young having it done. I do hope they can find alternative treatment.
|
|
|
|
Post by cadoodlebug on Sept 13, 2019 21:48:44 GMT
I get it occasionally and my chiropractor always fixes it. Of course, mine isn't extreme but I'd try that before surgery.
|
|
|
|
Post by angie3dpea on Sept 13, 2019 21:55:35 GMT
Have they tried Botox? Not sure if it will help, but my dentist offered it to me because I clench and grind and my jaw is constantly popping and sometimes locks...
|
|
|
|
Post by ameslou on Sept 13, 2019 22:01:15 GMT
I would definitely try chiropractic and massage therapy! So sorry your daughter is in pain. I have TMJ and it was definitely worse when I was a teen in HS than it is as an adult.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jennifer C on Sept 13, 2019 22:03:09 GMT
Ohhh, a chiropractor. My family has a plan with our local chiropractor and see her at least once a month. I will have to ask her about it Saturday.
Jennifer
|
|
AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,052
|
Post by AllieC on Sept 13, 2019 22:52:43 GMT
I know of people who have had very good results with Botox for TMJ. Might be worth investigating.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Sept 13, 2019 23:27:00 GMT
My chiropractor sometimes works on my jaw. It is more terrifying than when he works on my neck, but it really works
|
|
|
|
Post by shevy on Sept 14, 2019 2:51:52 GMT
AnotherPea I’ve been living with TMJ for 37 years. Please, don’t do surgery that young! Once you start with surgery, you can’t go back. I’ve had 7 surgeries, but I know of people who have had more than double that. I’m headed to bed (worked 12.5 hours today) but will send you a message tomorrow with more info. For now, go add yourself to Facebook groups: TMJ/TMD Discussion Group TMJ/TMD/CMD/OSA Physiologic Discussion Group Revision Jaw Surgery Group TMJ Cure? And just read. There a lot of good info in them from other postings. If you have specific questions, Surfer hat the groups to see if it’s been asked.
|
|
|
|
Post by chlerbie on Sept 14, 2019 3:36:17 GMT
I had pretty bad TMJ as a teen, but as I got older, the pain dissipated to a manageable level. One day, my jaw popped back into place and I realized how much pain/tension I dealt with on a daily level but had just gotten used to. And my teeth didn't meet right anymore, so I welcomed it when it went back to how it had been. I give myself a lot of massages, avoid gum, etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by malibou on Sept 14, 2019 4:24:31 GMT
I have a chiropractor that gets in there and does a deep tissue massage from inside my mouth and outside. I feel so much better.
|
|
|
|
Post by lisae on Sept 14, 2019 12:16:34 GMT
My pain hasn't been that constant but what works when it does hurt is ice. I lay down and put ice around my ear which is where my pain is for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. I do have to wait at least 10 minutes after the last ice before I get up because it affects my balance. I read and try to relax as much as possible while I'm lying there.
Acupuncture also helped. Given how tight the muscles are, massage might help particularly with someone experienced with TMJ. I hope they find another solution before surgery.
|
|
|
|
Post by supersoda on Sept 14, 2019 12:29:06 GMT
Does she plan an instrument by any chance? My TMJ was much worse when I was a teen—my jaw was popping constantly and sometimes locking down. I also played the flute back then and, in hindsight, I definitely think it contributed, although no one ever mentioned to me that this was a possible cause. (I just googled and there are some studies about the correlation between musicians and TMJ.)
I hope it gets better for her!
|
|
|
|
Post by Jennifer C on Sept 14, 2019 19:27:52 GMT
Does she plan an instrument by any chance? My TMJ was much worse when I was a teen—my jaw was popping constantly and sometimes locking down. I also played the flute back then and, in hindsight, I definitely think it contributed, although no one ever mentioned to me that this was a possible cause. (I just googled and there are some studies about the correlation between musicians and TMJ.) I hope it gets better for her! She has played the Sax since 6th grade. But, her jaw didn't start popping until her first football game that we saw. It popped and sort of locked, she got it to pop again, and it's been an battle since then. We have asked about her Sax playing but our dentist says he doesn't think so...well, I just googled and wow. Jennifer |
|
|
|
Post by Jennifer C on Sept 14, 2019 19:37:48 GMT
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! shevy I have joined and am going through all the information on those fb pages. Thank you so very much. @alliec Her gaggle of Dr's have decided that she will take botox during Thanksgiving holiday or Christmas. Sometime that she isn't at school just to be on the safe side. On all the suggestions for chiropractor's, I took her this morning and my dd was terrified and cried because she was so scared but, she said she feels some relief today. We go back Wed to have her adjusted again and then we will go from there. The chiropractor also told her to drink plenty of water. Right now, she has taken a prescribed muscle relaxer and is rotating cold and warm packs on her jaw. The warm packs because when the ice is applied, she can still feel the where the corticosteroid injection was given last week. A huge thank you to everyone. Jennifer |
|
|
|
Post by mom2samlibby on Sept 15, 2019 1:45:28 GMT
Magnesium! It loosens up the muscles. I saw my dentist about 2 years ago and he told me I had TMJ. He told me one option was to try the mouth guard. I said I would hold off to see if it would get better and if not, then I would do the guard. A few months later, I started taking magnesium, following this protocol, therootcauseprotocol.com/. I haven't had any pain since I started taking magnesium. I didn't connect the two for a few months and then I realized that the magnesium I had started taking had gotten rid of the pain and tightness. |
|
