Dental visits suck when you have TMJ. My dentist always does my work in small sessions because he knows how painful it is to keep my mouth open for a long time. Even with small sessions he has to give me pain killers to take home.
Your situation *****. All I can suggest is avoid chewy foods and apply heat & cold to your jaw throughout the day. It probably won't take the pain away but it will help make things a little better. I have to do this often because my jaw is frequently sore. :( I wish there was more that could be done but as far as I know there isn't.
Good luck!
Regarding the pain medication, when I went to a maxillofacial specialist when I could hardly open my mouth, ibuprofen, not tylenol, was what he said would help, and only if I took it faithfully, cyclically for so many weeks (check w/your doctor for what's right for you). You might try massage and see if you can find a physical therapist who specializes in TMJ dysfunction. I found acupuncture helped some if they put the needles in the jaw joint point, but if they put the needles up in a TMJ point in my head, it could give me a nasty migraine.