navy2
07-07-2003, 07:10 PM
Hi Dan,
How did it go with the neuro today? Did they do sonography on your wife? How do you feel about everything so far? I have an appointment tomorrow morning.
Navy
How did it go with the neuro today? Did they do sonography on your wife? How do you feel about everything so far? I have an appointment tomorrow morning.
Navy
Sponsor
amateurdoc
07-07-2003, 07:56 PM
Navy,
My wife likes the atmosphere at Dr. A's. She trusts both he and his assistant. He just did a routine check-up on her today with x-rays, etc. No sonography. Said her teeth look great, except for the fact that they are all tilted backward, due to her small mouth. (He obviously hasn't been around her much). Re-visit next week.
Called Dr. C in Alabama this AM. Spoke with a very nice lady, who says he often starts out with the NTI, then proceeds to other splints if that doesn't work. From what I understand, the NTI is to reduce clenching. I don't believe, nor do most of the dentists we've seen believe, that my wife clenches, so we are weighing our options right now.
As I've stated previously, I am not a patient person, so this pace at which the medical community prefers to proceed is maddening to me. No wonder you read in the obits about how Uncle Harry died after a long battle with (insert illness here). The long battle was the time between appointments.
Good luck tomorrow!
Dan
My wife likes the atmosphere at Dr. A's. She trusts both he and his assistant. He just did a routine check-up on her today with x-rays, etc. No sonography. Said her teeth look great, except for the fact that they are all tilted backward, due to her small mouth. (He obviously hasn't been around her much). Re-visit next week.
Called Dr. C in Alabama this AM. Spoke with a very nice lady, who says he often starts out with the NTI, then proceeds to other splints if that doesn't work. From what I understand, the NTI is to reduce clenching. I don't believe, nor do most of the dentists we've seen believe, that my wife clenches, so we are weighing our options right now.
As I've stated previously, I am not a patient person, so this pace at which the medical community prefers to proceed is maddening to me. No wonder you read in the obits about how Uncle Harry died after a long battle with (insert illness here). The long battle was the time between appointments.
Good luck tomorrow!
Dan
navy2
07-07-2003, 11:17 PM
Hi Dan!
Yes the office atmosphere is nice. I guess he didn't hear anything in her joints, so, he didn't do aomography. I think they do sonography to look for displaced discs too. He said he heard crepitus faintly in my right tmj. I never have problems with that one though. Tomorrow I have my third appointment for molds and records. It does seem like things are moving slowly. I had a good exam too. But, I'm still wondering how this is going to work out. I have nice teeth (people have told me), so, i'm hoping this splint won't create a whole lot of dental work for me. I guess the aplint is a forced way of relaxing the joint and in my case repositioning it. i'm not sure what they do if you have arthritis in the joint. Although, at my age it's not unusual to have some degenaration in the joint. I'm glad that your wife feels comfortable with the neuro and his staff. that's important. I'm still proceeding with my eyes open.
Take care!
Navy
Yes the office atmosphere is nice. I guess he didn't hear anything in her joints, so, he didn't do aomography. I think they do sonography to look for displaced discs too. He said he heard crepitus faintly in my right tmj. I never have problems with that one though. Tomorrow I have my third appointment for molds and records. It does seem like things are moving slowly. I had a good exam too. But, I'm still wondering how this is going to work out. I have nice teeth (people have told me), so, i'm hoping this splint won't create a whole lot of dental work for me. I guess the aplint is a forced way of relaxing the joint and in my case repositioning it. i'm not sure what they do if you have arthritis in the joint. Although, at my age it's not unusual to have some degenaration in the joint. I'm glad that your wife feels comfortable with the neuro and his staff. that's important. I'm still proceeding with my eyes open.
Take care!
Navy
navy2
07-08-2003, 08:08 AM
BUMP
Cymy Sue
07-08-2003, 10:13 AM
Hi Dan,
Just a note regarding Dr. C. He does not believe the NTI is for everyone. The nice lady you talked to, is just that, very nice.
If you have not given up on him and what you're currently doing does not help, you may could make an effort to get past the nice lady. I believe he would be very interested in your wife's case and I don't think he would stick an NTI in her mouth.
Sorry for any added aggravation, I know you have all you need,
Cymy Sue
[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 07-08-2003).]
Just a note regarding Dr. C. He does not believe the NTI is for everyone. The nice lady you talked to, is just that, very nice.
If you have not given up on him and what you're currently doing does not help, you may could make an effort to get past the nice lady. I believe he would be very interested in your wife's case and I don't think he would stick an NTI in her mouth.
Sorry for any added aggravation, I know you have all you need,
Cymy Sue
[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 07-08-2003).]
navy2
07-08-2003, 01:20 PM
Hi Dan,
I went to appointment #3 today. They took molds, pictures of my teeth, put me in special headgear to measure or something. Then the doctor felt my muscles inside and out, back of head, neck, etc. It took about 45 minutes. I was out within an hour. Now I have to wait until the molds come back and the neuro looks at everything. Then they are going to call me to set up an appointment to chat. I asked about the sonography. He hadn't looked at it yet. I asked about a tomogram (spelling) and he said not yet. He said the panorex doesn't tell anything for tmj. I told him what the oral surgeon and my general dentist said about things looking good on the panorex. I would think arthritis would show up on that. He said the less knowledge that a dentist has, the more normal their patients are. The receptionist said there is only one place in Atlanta to have a tomogram (spelling?) done ...at an orthodontist in Roswell. Supposedly he is the only one with a machine? That sounded odd. Is that where you went and had your wife's done? I asked the neuro if he can help me, he said he thinks so. I have some plans after the 17th, so, I hope he can see me before then. Hopefully my husband can come with me to the chat session. I need for him to be with me for support and a second set of ears. My husband doesn't realize that i'm not just going to the dentist, This is much more involved. I hope all is well with you today.
Navy
(if there are typos, excuse me!)
I went to appointment #3 today. They took molds, pictures of my teeth, put me in special headgear to measure or something. Then the doctor felt my muscles inside and out, back of head, neck, etc. It took about 45 minutes. I was out within an hour. Now I have to wait until the molds come back and the neuro looks at everything. Then they are going to call me to set up an appointment to chat. I asked about the sonography. He hadn't looked at it yet. I asked about a tomogram (spelling) and he said not yet. He said the panorex doesn't tell anything for tmj. I told him what the oral surgeon and my general dentist said about things looking good on the panorex. I would think arthritis would show up on that. He said the less knowledge that a dentist has, the more normal their patients are. The receptionist said there is only one place in Atlanta to have a tomogram (spelling?) done ...at an orthodontist in Roswell. Supposedly he is the only one with a machine? That sounded odd. Is that where you went and had your wife's done? I asked the neuro if he can help me, he said he thinks so. I have some plans after the 17th, so, I hope he can see me before then. Hopefully my husband can come with me to the chat session. I need for him to be with me for support and a second set of ears. My husband doesn't realize that i'm not just going to the dentist, This is much more involved. I hope all is well with you today.
Navy
(if there are typos, excuse me!)
amateurdoc
07-08-2003, 08:26 PM
Cymy Sue,
Thanks for the heads up. I will make another call, but I've, fortunately or unfortunately, run into a very busy time work-wise, and don't know if I can continue to attend these visits with my wife, and I really like to be there at least for the first one.
Navy,
We had the tomograms done at the doc in NJ. He had one in his office. When he showed them to us, what he said made perfect sense about the condyle being back and up too far. We're trying to get those from him to get to Dr. A. so we don't have to get new ones. She's supposed to return to Dr. A next week. I asked for sooner, but so far no go. But your appointment sounded positive.
Dan
Thanks for the heads up. I will make another call, but I've, fortunately or unfortunately, run into a very busy time work-wise, and don't know if I can continue to attend these visits with my wife, and I really like to be there at least for the first one.
Navy,
We had the tomograms done at the doc in NJ. He had one in his office. When he showed them to us, what he said made perfect sense about the condyle being back and up too far. We're trying to get those from him to get to Dr. A. so we don't have to get new ones. She's supposed to return to Dr. A next week. I asked for sooner, but so far no go. But your appointment sounded positive.
Dan
navy2
07-09-2003, 02:08 AM
Hi Dan,
So far so good. I'm hoping that we can get in before the 17th. I would like to have an idea of what the treatment plan proposal is before then. Hopefully my husband can go with me. This is probably going to be an important appointment. I hope your wife had success with Dr. A.
Navy
So far so good. I'm hoping that we can get in before the 17th. I would like to have an idea of what the treatment plan proposal is before then. Hopefully my husband can go with me. This is probably going to be an important appointment. I hope your wife had success with Dr. A.
Navy
navy2
07-11-2003, 12:14 PM
Hi Dan,
Did you get set up for an earlier appointment with Dr. A? How do you feel about his treatment plan?
I'm not sure at this point. I want to believe that he can help me, but, the process is taking very long. The next visit he wants to chat, probably about the treatment plan. He doesn't want me to get a tomogram just yet. He said I'd be wasting my money on an MRI right now.
The office and doctor are nice, but, I figure at this pace it will be at least 6-8 weeks before I get a splint (I'm thinking that's probably what will be proposed for the displaced disc and to stabilize the bite). I'm figuring that they probably won't get me in until after the 17th. Then we'll chat about the treatment plan, then another appointment for the neuromuscular treatment, then probably an appointment for the splint, and then probably several weeks waiting for the splint to be made. I might not even be in a splint until September??? I guess I need to be patient. Maybe things will go quicker than I'm thinking and maybe I won't need a splint, who knows? I just have to wait and see. In the meantime I cancelled an appointment with a dentist that treats tmj, because I'm hoping that Dr. A can help me. So Dan, are you proceeding with Dr. A's treatment plan? I read your post about the tens, muscles getting tired, and the ideal jaw position theory ...You really made me think. I most certainly need to have my husband with me at the next appointment. I'm also concerned because my displaced disc never hurt me. That whole area has been sore since I've had everybody treating it. I also started getting ear symptoms. Both ears were doing strange things when I swallowed. I'm hoping it's the sinuses. So far the left ear has cleared up after I took some medication, but, the right ear crackles when I swallow. The ear symptoms started after I had some TMJ massage therapy done on my muscles. I think some things got stirred up in my ears. I'm hoping things will calm down soon.
Take care!
Navy
[This message has been edited by navy2 (edited 07-12-2003).]
Did you get set up for an earlier appointment with Dr. A? How do you feel about his treatment plan?
I'm not sure at this point. I want to believe that he can help me, but, the process is taking very long. The next visit he wants to chat, probably about the treatment plan. He doesn't want me to get a tomogram just yet. He said I'd be wasting my money on an MRI right now.
The office and doctor are nice, but, I figure at this pace it will be at least 6-8 weeks before I get a splint (I'm thinking that's probably what will be proposed for the displaced disc and to stabilize the bite). I'm figuring that they probably won't get me in until after the 17th. Then we'll chat about the treatment plan, then another appointment for the neuromuscular treatment, then probably an appointment for the splint, and then probably several weeks waiting for the splint to be made. I might not even be in a splint until September??? I guess I need to be patient. Maybe things will go quicker than I'm thinking and maybe I won't need a splint, who knows? I just have to wait and see. In the meantime I cancelled an appointment with a dentist that treats tmj, because I'm hoping that Dr. A can help me. So Dan, are you proceeding with Dr. A's treatment plan? I read your post about the tens, muscles getting tired, and the ideal jaw position theory ...You really made me think. I most certainly need to have my husband with me at the next appointment. I'm also concerned because my displaced disc never hurt me. That whole area has been sore since I've had everybody treating it. I also started getting ear symptoms. Both ears were doing strange things when I swallowed. I'm hoping it's the sinuses. So far the left ear has cleared up after I took some medication, but, the right ear crackles when I swallow. The ear symptoms started after I had some TMJ massage therapy done on my muscles. I think some things got stirred up in my ears. I'm hoping things will calm down soon.
Take care!
Navy
[This message has been edited by navy2 (edited 07-12-2003).]
totallyconfused
07-11-2003, 02:27 PM
Navy,
I hope you don't mind me butting in. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I hope you get back to normal soon. I wish I could speed things up for you with this splint. As I wrote in the other post, I'm not quite sure--this Chiro might be a dud. I sure wish I had you to talk all this out with.
You're in my thoughts,
TC
I hope you don't mind me butting in. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I hope you get back to normal soon. I wish I could speed things up for you with this splint. As I wrote in the other post, I'm not quite sure--this Chiro might be a dud. I sure wish I had you to talk all this out with.
You're in my thoughts,
TC
navy2
07-11-2003, 05:17 PM
Hi TC,
I'm not on-line very much lately. I've been trying to focus away from the tmj problems and be a little more active with my family. It's hard, but, I'm going to get better. I think of it as mind over matter sometimes. I have to stop focusing on this stupid displaced disc. Sometimes I wonder if I'm subconsciously making it hurt. It wasn't hurting before I started reading so much about tmj and all the terrible things that can go wrong. I was just going through life popping and getting my therapy for the tight muscles. Now I have ear symptoms, and some other things. Boy, do I wish I only had what I used to have. I know that this is a great support group. But, I also think there is something to be said for feeding off each others pain. When we keep talking about the pain and the symptoms and how terrible it is ...How are we supposed to get better? My soon to be 80 year old mother said to me the other day ...stay away from all these doctors...why do you keep going?...All they want to do is get money from you to buy new cars and go on vacations. She told me to go out and take a walk in the fresh air and take an aspirin. My mother has had jaw pain, but, she works it out herself. Actually, she never had problems at all, until I started to have tmj and would tell her about it. Talk about a mother taking on the pain of her child!! She's such a love, I can't wait to see her next week.
Well TC, I don't plan on being in pain with TMJ when I'm 80. I'm counting my blessings for what symptoms I don't have and trying to deal with the rest.
I'm hoping that the neuro will be able to get my bite comfortable, so that the displaced disc is stabilized and I can go on with my life. I'm hoping that I won't be sore in the left tmj anymore and that everything will die down.
I'm not in PT anymore. I'm going to hold off on tmj adjustments, and I'm cancelling the tmj massage until my left ear calms down. The liquibid I took seemed to clear the right ear up ...now I need to stay on it, drink a lot of water and hope the left ear clears up. I'm only having problems with it, when I swallow. Maybe it is related to my sinuses.
The crackling has stopped in my neck. I only have the crackling in my skull when I move my head around. I started giving myself a scalp massage last night and that semed to be helping somewhat. My husband said everyone's head makes crackling noises when they move it back and forth. Then I read a website about neck exercises that said you would hear a crackle while doing the exercises. Last January I had neck x-rays and there was no arthritis. My chiropractor doesn't think I have arthritis. I just know that the crackling started getting louder and more frequent in February. I find it interesting that so many people with tmj have this crackling going on. There is definately a connection between the neck and the tmj. TC, ask your chiropractor about the crackling. Most will probably do x-rays of your neck anyway. Let me know what the chiropractor says. You have some of my symptoms, so, it would be nice to hear another point of view.
I started the Glucosamine again. My chiro said that would take care of some of the crackling. I'm just wondering if the sonogram didn't pick up our head crackling. I really don't think I have arthritis in my tmj. I have no pain there, no clicking, and most people would hear a grating sound or something when they open and close their mouth...I hear nothing in the right tmj.
I've been drinking tons of water (body weight divided by 2 ..drink that many ounces), it's supposed to help with the facial muscles, I'm also taking vitamin E, vitamin C, B-Complex, Magnesium (AB-calm), Calcium, Syn-flex...and a very good multi-vitamin, that I got at the medicine man shop. I'm also taking flax-seed, selium, lecithin, and some other nutritional supplemrnts. We all need to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and nutritionally. I really see a difference between when I get depressed and do nothing for myself but dwell on the pain (it's worse & my muscle spasms are worse) and when I take the time to eat the soft foods, take the vitamins and supplements, & get a good nights sleep (take something if you need too...have your doctor prescribe something to sleep, drink some herbal tea, take a hot bath, whatever it takes to get relaxed and get some sleep). The doctors that treat tmj can only do so much for us. We still have to take care of ourselves, even after we are in splint therapy.
I am not an advocate of surgery. I think when we are in pain, we can make some wrong decisions. The doctors are as confused about what to do for us as we are. I think all of us will find our own way of surviving our individual tmj problems. Whether it be PT, Chiro, Acupuncture, Massage, splint therapy, neuro, braces, or a trip to a surgeon. TMJ is something that we will have to maintain.
Personally, I'm hoping that my neuro will be able to help me. Once my disc/bite is stabilized and the dental work is done ...I should be fine. At least that's what I'm praying for. Then, I can go back to a real spa with real massages (instead of PT and tmj massages). I'm just hoping that I'm able to really enjoy this much needed family vacation.
I think you are making a good decision going to a Chiropractor. Sometimes the first visit is a consultation and they don't always charge for it. Ask questions. Maybe even check out more than one. Some are conventional chiropractors and some are mixed. The ones that use a mixed therapy usually are the ones that favor nutrition, massage, and other therapies that will compliment the chiropractic. Let them know your concerns. There are many things a chiropractor can do to help you. It's not always just about cracking your neck or back. I hope your appointment goes well.
Well I better get my son to gymnastics practice.
take care TC!
Hugs!
Navy
[This message has been edited by navy2 (edited 07-11-2003).]
I'm not on-line very much lately. I've been trying to focus away from the tmj problems and be a little more active with my family. It's hard, but, I'm going to get better. I think of it as mind over matter sometimes. I have to stop focusing on this stupid displaced disc. Sometimes I wonder if I'm subconsciously making it hurt. It wasn't hurting before I started reading so much about tmj and all the terrible things that can go wrong. I was just going through life popping and getting my therapy for the tight muscles. Now I have ear symptoms, and some other things. Boy, do I wish I only had what I used to have. I know that this is a great support group. But, I also think there is something to be said for feeding off each others pain. When we keep talking about the pain and the symptoms and how terrible it is ...How are we supposed to get better? My soon to be 80 year old mother said to me the other day ...stay away from all these doctors...why do you keep going?...All they want to do is get money from you to buy new cars and go on vacations. She told me to go out and take a walk in the fresh air and take an aspirin. My mother has had jaw pain, but, she works it out herself. Actually, she never had problems at all, until I started to have tmj and would tell her about it. Talk about a mother taking on the pain of her child!! She's such a love, I can't wait to see her next week.
Well TC, I don't plan on being in pain with TMJ when I'm 80. I'm counting my blessings for what symptoms I don't have and trying to deal with the rest.
I'm hoping that the neuro will be able to get my bite comfortable, so that the displaced disc is stabilized and I can go on with my life. I'm hoping that I won't be sore in the left tmj anymore and that everything will die down.
I'm not in PT anymore. I'm going to hold off on tmj adjustments, and I'm cancelling the tmj massage until my left ear calms down. The liquibid I took seemed to clear the right ear up ...now I need to stay on it, drink a lot of water and hope the left ear clears up. I'm only having problems with it, when I swallow. Maybe it is related to my sinuses.
The crackling has stopped in my neck. I only have the crackling in my skull when I move my head around. I started giving myself a scalp massage last night and that semed to be helping somewhat. My husband said everyone's head makes crackling noises when they move it back and forth. Then I read a website about neck exercises that said you would hear a crackle while doing the exercises. Last January I had neck x-rays and there was no arthritis. My chiropractor doesn't think I have arthritis. I just know that the crackling started getting louder and more frequent in February. I find it interesting that so many people with tmj have this crackling going on. There is definately a connection between the neck and the tmj. TC, ask your chiropractor about the crackling. Most will probably do x-rays of your neck anyway. Let me know what the chiropractor says. You have some of my symptoms, so, it would be nice to hear another point of view.
I started the Glucosamine again. My chiro said that would take care of some of the crackling. I'm just wondering if the sonogram didn't pick up our head crackling. I really don't think I have arthritis in my tmj. I have no pain there, no clicking, and most people would hear a grating sound or something when they open and close their mouth...I hear nothing in the right tmj.
I've been drinking tons of water (body weight divided by 2 ..drink that many ounces), it's supposed to help with the facial muscles, I'm also taking vitamin E, vitamin C, B-Complex, Magnesium (AB-calm), Calcium, Syn-flex...and a very good multi-vitamin, that I got at the medicine man shop. I'm also taking flax-seed, selium, lecithin, and some other nutritional supplemrnts. We all need to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and nutritionally. I really see a difference between when I get depressed and do nothing for myself but dwell on the pain (it's worse & my muscle spasms are worse) and when I take the time to eat the soft foods, take the vitamins and supplements, & get a good nights sleep (take something if you need too...have your doctor prescribe something to sleep, drink some herbal tea, take a hot bath, whatever it takes to get relaxed and get some sleep). The doctors that treat tmj can only do so much for us. We still have to take care of ourselves, even after we are in splint therapy.
I am not an advocate of surgery. I think when we are in pain, we can make some wrong decisions. The doctors are as confused about what to do for us as we are. I think all of us will find our own way of surviving our individual tmj problems. Whether it be PT, Chiro, Acupuncture, Massage, splint therapy, neuro, braces, or a trip to a surgeon. TMJ is something that we will have to maintain.
Personally, I'm hoping that my neuro will be able to help me. Once my disc/bite is stabilized and the dental work is done ...I should be fine. At least that's what I'm praying for. Then, I can go back to a real spa with real massages (instead of PT and tmj massages). I'm just hoping that I'm able to really enjoy this much needed family vacation.
I think you are making a good decision going to a Chiropractor. Sometimes the first visit is a consultation and they don't always charge for it. Ask questions. Maybe even check out more than one. Some are conventional chiropractors and some are mixed. The ones that use a mixed therapy usually are the ones that favor nutrition, massage, and other therapies that will compliment the chiropractic. Let them know your concerns. There are many things a chiropractor can do to help you. It's not always just about cracking your neck or back. I hope your appointment goes well.
Well I better get my son to gymnastics practice.
take care TC!
Hugs!
Navy
[This message has been edited by navy2 (edited 07-11-2003).]
totallyconfused
07-11-2003, 05:37 PM
Navy,
It's so good to hear from you. You sound a little better at least. I posted about my most recent problem--like you need to hear anymore right?--and my Chiro evaluation on the post Today's appt--not good. Basically this guy spent 10 minutes with me--no x-rays and wants to start twice a week neck adjustments. I can assure you this office has no time for massage or any other type of complimentary therapy. I am seeing a second (and the final on my list) doctor on Monday to get a feel for him.
Take care of yourself--it sounds like you are. Please keep in touch when you can, but we understand that your well-being and your family come first--as it should be.
Talk to you later,
TC
It's so good to hear from you. You sound a little better at least. I posted about my most recent problem--like you need to hear anymore right?--and my Chiro evaluation on the post Today's appt--not good. Basically this guy spent 10 minutes with me--no x-rays and wants to start twice a week neck adjustments. I can assure you this office has no time for massage or any other type of complimentary therapy. I am seeing a second (and the final on my list) doctor on Monday to get a feel for him.
Take care of yourself--it sounds like you are. Please keep in touch when you can, but we understand that your well-being and your family come first--as it should be.
Talk to you later,
TC
navy2
07-11-2003, 06:06 PM
Hi TC!
I posted on the other topic about your chiro visit. THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE NEW PATIENT TREATMENT.
Well, my son just asked to go to the chiropractor, because he's sore from practice.
What timing!
I called and they said they'd see him in 15 minutes. They are only a few blocks from us.
I an very fortunate to have such a good chiropractor.
Take care!
Navy
[This message has been edited by navy2 (edited 07-11-2003).]
I posted on the other topic about your chiro visit. THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE NEW PATIENT TREATMENT.
Well, my son just asked to go to the chiropractor, because he's sore from practice.
What timing!
I called and they said they'd see him in 15 minutes. They are only a few blocks from us.
I an very fortunate to have such a good chiropractor.
Take care!
Navy
[This message has been edited by navy2 (edited 07-11-2003).]
navy2
07-12-2003, 09:33 PM
Hi TC!
I just got talked into taking a bunch of kids to Six Flags Tomorrow (pray for rain ...ha). Anyway, just in case I'm not on-line, I wanted to wish you luck at your Chiropractor appointment on Monday. Make sure they do a full exam and x-rays before you let them do anything else. I'm sure you'll do fine!
Have a great weekend!
Navy
I just got talked into taking a bunch of kids to Six Flags Tomorrow (pray for rain ...ha). Anyway, just in case I'm not on-line, I wanted to wish you luck at your Chiropractor appointment on Monday. Make sure they do a full exam and x-rays before you let them do anything else. I'm sure you'll do fine!
Have a great weekend!
Navy