jajackson
10-12-2003, 12:42 PM
Hi. I'm new to this board, and I need some answers. I'm 29 years old and I've had TMJ pain for about 4-5 years. I'm now seeing a TMJ specialist and trying a splint. He also refered me to pain management who gave me more Vicodin and wants me to start Celexa (anti-depressant). Well the vicodin works, but I'm already having bad sexual side effects from the Celexa. I don't want to take it if this continues. I just wonder if anyone has had any relief from taking anti-depressants, and if so what type were you taking. The splint isn't working for me, actually my jaw hurts worse in the morning when I wear it at night. I think I'm clenching more when I wear it. Also, has anyone tried cortizone shots (ouch) for TMJ pain? I appreciate your responses.
Thank you. Amy.
Thank you. Amy.
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velvetgrl
10-12-2003, 01:23 PM
Hi Amy,
Welcome to the board. I'm so sorry that you have to be here, but, there is a lot of support on the boards.
What type of splint are you wearing? Is it a night guard? Sometimes night guards can cause you to clench more and cause more problems for people with TMJ.
Have you seen an actual dentist that treats TMJ on a regular basis? Sometimes it's helpful to get the tests done and get a true diagnosis of the type of tmj problem you have. There are different types of splints for different types of problems.
Take care!
velvetgrl
Welcome to the board. I'm so sorry that you have to be here, but, there is a lot of support on the boards.
What type of splint are you wearing? Is it a night guard? Sometimes night guards can cause you to clench more and cause more problems for people with TMJ.
Have you seen an actual dentist that treats TMJ on a regular basis? Sometimes it's helpful to get the tests done and get a true diagnosis of the type of tmj problem you have. There are different types of splints for different types of problems.
Take care!
velvetgrl
jajackson
10-12-2003, 01:38 PM
Thanks for your quick response. My splint is 2 pieces, one covers the top teeth and one covers the bottom, and their not connected that will be the next step. The Dr. I am seeing is a DDS and his clinic treats TMJ disorders, and I've had x-rays and and MRI. He's stumped as to why I'm having all this trouble, there hasn't actually been any trauma, but my left side is all screwed up. I can only open about 2 fingers wide. He hasn't actually given me a diagonosis, but we know there's a slipped disc. I think once we get my splint molded together and my jaw can stay in place at night, that might help. Because when I sleep my bottom jaw slips back or to the side and that causes alot of pain. Anyway, my main question is of pain management, and if anyone has had any success with anti-depressants, or if I'll just have to keep taking vicodin until we fix this. Also wondering about the cortizone, because that really helped with my herniated disc in my low back. Thanks.
[This message has been edited by jajackson (edited 10-12-2003).]
[This message has been edited by jajackson (edited 10-12-2003).]
cvella
10-12-2003, 07:39 PM
Hi Amy,
I've had cortizone shots in the masseter muscle and it helps temporarily. But I realized (after the 2nd time) that it is just a bandaid and doesn't get to the root of the problem (if we could ever figure that out we'd be rich). It did help with swelling and pain but only for 2-4 weeks. I also had side affects with the cortizone- irregular heart beats and fast heart rate, moody, short tempered, and hot flashes. Trigger point shots with just lidocaine or procaine (numbing agents) did nothing for me.
Some things that helped include icing and heating for 10 min at a time back to back but always ending in ice. Therabite applicance that works to stretch the jaw joint muscle and can sometimes get the slipped disk back in place (search the web for therabite). This helped a lot with muscle spasms. Botox shots which are again a bandaid not really treating the problem, advil, and muscle relaxants (zanaflex). Good luck to you.
I've had cortizone shots in the masseter muscle and it helps temporarily. But I realized (after the 2nd time) that it is just a bandaid and doesn't get to the root of the problem (if we could ever figure that out we'd be rich). It did help with swelling and pain but only for 2-4 weeks. I also had side affects with the cortizone- irregular heart beats and fast heart rate, moody, short tempered, and hot flashes. Trigger point shots with just lidocaine or procaine (numbing agents) did nothing for me.
Some things that helped include icing and heating for 10 min at a time back to back but always ending in ice. Therabite applicance that works to stretch the jaw joint muscle and can sometimes get the slipped disk back in place (search the web for therabite). This helped a lot with muscle spasms. Botox shots which are again a bandaid not really treating the problem, advil, and muscle relaxants (zanaflex). Good luck to you.
GenDen
10-12-2003, 10:46 PM
Pain killers mask the pain, but don't fix the problem. If the problem was fixed, you wouldn't need addicting pain killers and anti-depressants. They may be necessary short-term, but certainly not long-term. If your splint doesn't stop the pain soon, I would go to another TMJ specialist. See if there is a Functional Jaw Orthopedic TMJ specialist or a neuromuscular TMJ specialist in your area. So sorry you are in such pain. I have never heard of wearing an upper and lower splint at the same time. I wear a repositioning splint on my bottom teeth in the day and a bionator at night. The bionator keeps my jaw from falling back or to the side. It also prevents clenching and allows the jaw muscles to rest.
sham32
10-13-2003, 09:15 PM
hi - i have had cortisone shots which did not help - i am now going under botox injections to help relax the jaw muscles.
thisgirl
10-14-2003, 01:00 AM
hi- i was wondering if you were aware that celexa & other SSRI antidepressants have side effects that can make your condition worse? not all people have the same side effects, so you may be ok. i have been on celexa, paxil, and zoloft for depression/anxiety, and these medications would make me clench, grind, and yawn constantly. very painful for TMJ. i will never go on those medications again, they were torture for me, didn't help my depression & are difficult to taper off of.
paxy
10-14-2003, 01:22 AM
hi, i too was on paxil and fluoroxetine. i didnt know that they can aggravate tmj symptoms. does that mean that my shoulder clicking was brought about by prozac?