Recurring TMJ pain since 3-14

[LLWB]

I started the extreme TMJ pain on 3-14. My temporal area, my ear, jaw, and teeth areas  with a lot of pain. Couldn't open my mouth very wide at all. When chewing from side to side, caused extreme pain. After about 3 weeks, it resolved somewhat. Then on 4-12, back to severe pain again. I saw my PCP on 4-14. He perscribed a course of cortico-steroids.6-5-4-3-2-1.  My pain has not resolved at all. There are no TMJ specialists in my area. I also take baclofen, and neuroltin, for arthritis and fibro. Other than taking time off of work, and traveling close to 400 miles round trip, is there anything else you can suggest I might do?  This is really getting me down. Thank you for your time, and any suggestions you might offer.

[dana007]

Hey there,
I suffer from TMD, and what I would do while you're waiting for that specialists appointment...

go for a massage!! ask them to be more specific in the upper back/shoulders/chest/neck/face... and find ways to relax at home. Take time for yourself every day. Eat things that are soft, and things that don't make you stretch your mouth wide open--cut things up, be nice to the jaw :). Also about stress, if you can go talk to someone (councellor/psychologist) it helps, and also they can teach you ways to relax, help you sleep with pain. I was refered to my psychologist by my TMD specialist, who believes in a multidisciplinary team.

Best of luck to you!
Dana

[Ramin Mehregan, DMD]

Dear patient
Your question is a valid one. Does TMJ lead to cervical issues? Yes. On the other hand do cervical and hip misalignment lead to TMJ issues? Yes. So it is imperative when you have the time to travel to find the right TMJ expert who has the knowledge to evaluate all the entire system not just focuses on the teeth/bite. A lot of times when I treat TMD/TMJ issues I have to have my patients also be treated by an Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor. Unfortunately there are only a handful in this country. Here is their web site. There is section for patient info and they also have find a AO doc. www.atlasorthogonality.com/index.htm
I hope this helps.
Sincerely....Ramin

[LLWB]

Hoew do they make a diagnosis between TMD or TN? I have a lot of cervical and spinal issues. Is there one thing that might lead to each diagnosis, that is not common to the other? Very confusing. All the symptoms seem to be basicallt the same. Thank You.

[LLWB]

Yes I have, and as I said, the nearest on is a 400 mile round trip. Guess I'll just have to suffer for awhile, until I can get time off work. Thank you for your reply.

[Ramin Mehregan, DMD]

Dear Patient
Unfortunately, medications are just masking the pain, and not even that. If your pain you are experiencing have no medical origin and they are TMD related, you have to see an TMJ expert. Have you tried giving your zip code into the search list of www.top3dentist.com?