sunshine123
07-26-2003, 07:19 PM
Hi everyone: I've been going to PT for about a month now to get my bite to close up faster. I was given exercises to do at home 5X a day. That equals more than 1,000 reps. and when I do all of them, I end up with all my symptoms being worse. It causes neck pain, headache pain in my forehead, neck pain, ear aches and stuffiness, dizziness. I had told the PT that the exercises were causing neck pain and he told me "they're supposed to do that." Terriffic. I asked him what to do about it and he said to apply heat. I've been doing that, but it doesn't help that much. I also have 2 racquetballs to lie on at the base of my skull. When I go to PT, they stretch out my jaw and neck. Today, I decided to do an experiment and skip the exercises to see how I'd feel. I feel so much better!!!! I guess my head and neck need a day of rest inbetween. I was wondering if doing the exercises EVERY OTHER day will be sufficient??? I know that the PT will tell me I need to do them EVERY day.
He's not the one feeling worse afterwards. Or, should I do them EVERY day, but not as many reps? I see both the DDS and the PT next week. I hadn't had all the headaches and crap until I started doing all of these exercises at home. Thanks for any advice. Sue
He's not the one feeling worse afterwards. Or, should I do them EVERY day, but not as many reps? I see both the DDS and the PT next week. I hadn't had all the headaches and crap until I started doing all of these exercises at home. Thanks for any advice. Sue
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DianeTMJ
07-26-2003, 08:13 PM
Hi Sue!
Okay, brief story. I had just started seeing my nueromsuclar dentist, did not have my splint yet, but he had let me take home one of his office myotronic tens units to use at home. Okay, so I go to get my teeth cleaned at my regular dentists office and my hyg. suggest these exercises for me to do. So I try it on my way home from getting my teeth cleaned... ouch! So the next visit to my nueromuscular dentist I ask him about these exercises that were suggested. He said... doing exerises at this point to your jaw would be like taking a cast off your broken arm, and doing exercises. It is not a good idea. In fact, I think that Amaturdoc said the samething.
I do not know about reps or anything, I would let your dentist and PT know that it just doesn't seem to be working.
Take care
Diane
Okay, brief story. I had just started seeing my nueromsuclar dentist, did not have my splint yet, but he had let me take home one of his office myotronic tens units to use at home. Okay, so I go to get my teeth cleaned at my regular dentists office and my hyg. suggest these exercises for me to do. So I try it on my way home from getting my teeth cleaned... ouch! So the next visit to my nueromuscular dentist I ask him about these exercises that were suggested. He said... doing exerises at this point to your jaw would be like taking a cast off your broken arm, and doing exercises. It is not a good idea. In fact, I think that Amaturdoc said the samething.
I do not know about reps or anything, I would let your dentist and PT know that it just doesn't seem to be working.
Take care
Diane
sunshine123
07-26-2003, 08:24 PM
Hi Diane: Thanks for your response. I've been wearing a lower splint for about 4 months and it's helped close up my bite somewhat. When I reached a plateau, my DDS referred me to a PT to have them stretch me. I'll tell my DDS when I see him on Wed. and the PT on Thursday, but I suspect that they'll tell me I need to do all the reps. everyday. :-( Sue
amateurdoc
07-26-2003, 09:31 PM
I think I would refrain from anything beyond passive stretching. The dentist performed spray-and-stretch on my wife on Thursday and she felt much better for hours. I'm trying to do it, but without the luxury of ethyl chloride I have to use ice cubes in a plastic bag. My first two efforts were abysmal, but the third time may have been the charm, as the pain abated for a couple hours.
The same dentist uses a neuromuscular approach (without calling himself a neuromuscular dentist), using all the machines everyone has been gushing about. He's been using this stuff since the early 80's. He took an old splint (soft rubber made for my wife by our family dentist, fits over lower teeth) and cut it, reshaped it and polished it to provide a pivot point so her condyles would come forward and stop impinging on the nerves and blood vessels. He took tomograms pre- and post-splint, and the difference was amazing. It is a variation of what he calls, and normally makes for his patients, a pain-release splint. Next visit she gets the jaw-tracker, TENS and possibly some trigger-point work. May order a hard acrylic splint at that time, if she has stabilized enough. She's doing better in the mornings--pain's been rolling in around noon. Then it's time for my (not-so) magic fingers to do their walkin'.
Take care, all.
The same dentist uses a neuromuscular approach (without calling himself a neuromuscular dentist), using all the machines everyone has been gushing about. He's been using this stuff since the early 80's. He took an old splint (soft rubber made for my wife by our family dentist, fits over lower teeth) and cut it, reshaped it and polished it to provide a pivot point so her condyles would come forward and stop impinging on the nerves and blood vessels. He took tomograms pre- and post-splint, and the difference was amazing. It is a variation of what he calls, and normally makes for his patients, a pain-release splint. Next visit she gets the jaw-tracker, TENS and possibly some trigger-point work. May order a hard acrylic splint at that time, if she has stabilized enough. She's doing better in the mornings--pain's been rolling in around noon. Then it's time for my (not-so) magic fingers to do their walkin'.
Take care, all.
totallyconfused
07-27-2003, 10:55 PM
Hi Amateurdoc,
So glad to hear your wife is getting a little relief. This dentist sounds great. Is he also in Georgia? I'm sure there are many in Georgia that would like to be seeing a dentist like this. I hope your wife doesn't have the same problem with this TENS. (As we discussed previously since I have had similar problems with it.)
Best of luck to you,
TC
So glad to hear your wife is getting a little relief. This dentist sounds great. Is he also in Georgia? I'm sure there are many in Georgia that would like to be seeing a dentist like this. I hope your wife doesn't have the same problem with this TENS. (As we discussed previously since I have had similar problems with it.)
Best of luck to you,
TC
totallyconfused
07-27-2003, 10:58 PM
Hi Sue,
I'm sorry you are hurting from all the exercises. I don't know anything about exercises for closing up your bite, but I wouldn't think they should make you dizzy and feel so badly. I would definitely ask the dentist as well.
Hope you are feeling better,
TC
I'm sorry you are hurting from all the exercises. I don't know anything about exercises for closing up your bite, but I wouldn't think they should make you dizzy and feel so badly. I would definitely ask the dentist as well.
Hope you are feeling better,
TC
rats6868
07-28-2003, 01:00 AM
test
rats6868
07-28-2003, 01:04 AM
amateurdoc: I live in Atlanta, Ga and am looking for a TMJ dr. Who is the doctor that is currently treating your wife - the one that makes the pain-relief splint? Hope she continues to do well. Thanks.