Aa
arthocentesis pain factor
i have TMJ had an MRI that showed that the left side "demonstrates irregularity and flattening if the left condylar head with a small bleak.. also antrerior dislocation of the meniscus" my doctor recommended arthicentesis. i am pregnant and would not be able to have general. just local. if i even had the surgery with the local i am unsure about what pain medication i could take. how painful is the surgery, especially in the days following? the doctor said that i could wait to have it. but i don't even know when that is going to happen. i just would like to know what others thoughts are especially if i went ahead to have it with just local - what kind of pain are we talking about?
Hi Jenna, I also have TMJ disc displacement on both sides and am still waiting for the bite guard to wear at night which helps to relax the jaw. My consultant recommended trying physiotherapy, which I am doing but still no difference after 4 sessions. If that fails he wants to try the arthrocentesis manipulation with steroid injection procedure, which I really don't want to do. Being a private hospital they do it under general and after reading Brooke's post, I am relieved about that.
I agree that trying therapies before considering surgery is best.
I agree that trying therapies before considering surgery is best.
Hi Jenna,
I'm not sure if you have already had your arthrocentesis surgery done, but i had it done about 2 months ago. The surgery is done under local, which is injected deep into the joint. Two shunts are then inserted into the joint; one for the saline to go in, and the other for the saline to go out. I hate to say, but my surgery was very uncomfortable and very painful!! If you can, get someone to go in with you so you can squeeze their hand!
Unfortunately, my surgery did not help my condition as my pain continues to get worse.
I hope this helped you and if you want to know anything else, ust drop me a line.
Goodluck,
Brooke :)
I'm not sure if you have already had your arthrocentesis surgery done, but i had it done about 2 months ago. The surgery is done under local, which is injected deep into the joint. Two shunts are then inserted into the joint; one for the saline to go in, and the other for the saline to go out. I hate to say, but my surgery was very uncomfortable and very painful!! If you can, get someone to go in with you so you can squeeze their hand!
Unfortunately, my surgery did not help my condition as my pain continues to get worse.
I hope this helped you and if you want to know anything else, ust drop me a line.
Goodluck,
Brooke :)
Your MRI findinds are common for a chronic disc displacement(with or without reduction). Arthrocentesis is a lavage of the joint to 'flush' out imflammation. It is a pain management tool, not a cure. Some may argue there is no 'cure' for TMD, but conservative therapies are the protocol and standard of care almost universally worldwide. So my recommendation is to find a well qualified TMJ specialist and do conservative treatment first. Statistics show conservative therapies to be over 90% successful in managing TMD, so why do surgical procedures first? TMJ Doc
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