D. Gottlieb
11-19-2003, 06:42 PM
I was diagnosed with TMJ about 6 months ago and have been in quite a bit of pain for a few years now. About two months ago my position was phased out at the company I worked at so now I am without much money and have no insurance. Even with my insurance, it only covered part of the initial evaluation and now I feel helpless in resolving the issue. The problem is that I need about a dozen fillings and a few crowns before they can fit me with one of those mouth things you wear at night. This is estimated to cost between $2,000-$4,00. I have tried advil and aleve but it seems like pennies in the grand canyon, and , if anything, all I notice is stomach upset.
I’ve never had dental insurance and have not been able to afford to see one in about a decade. I checked at the University dental school, but I can’t even afford to set up a payment plan with them. One more monthly payment and I won't be able to eat, at least not very often.
I am getting very depressed about this because I find it difficult to sleep or concentrate on anything with the pain in my jaw and neck the way it is. I am tired of the way my life is, living like this. The only way I can sleep is to drink about six shots of cheap Bourbon, and I think this is making things worse in the long run. But my problem is the way I feel in the here and now, dealing with this constant pain. I feel like am getting old and that life is just going to be downhill from here on out.
I have also more or less lost the vision in my right eye due to a corneal disease called keratoconus; after spending about $4,000 tying various treatmnents, all I am is deeper in debt. With the Holidays coming, I wish I could just sleep until they were over. The pain involved here has eroded my ability to deal with depression from other factors, I feel it is pushing me over the edge. If only I had been born in Canada or someplace that offered halthcare; I feel like I will never pull out of all this debt and be able to address these issues.
Today it rained all day and I slept 15 hours or tried to; when I woke up I looked out the window over the park and cried as I saw the kids getting out of school, young and with their lives ahead of them. I wish I could pull myself out of this. I have sent out a dozen resumes and waited, but I feel more and more a sense of panic, of failure, and the pain is a constant reminder of this.
I’ve never had dental insurance and have not been able to afford to see one in about a decade. I checked at the University dental school, but I can’t even afford to set up a payment plan with them. One more monthly payment and I won't be able to eat, at least not very often.
I am getting very depressed about this because I find it difficult to sleep or concentrate on anything with the pain in my jaw and neck the way it is. I am tired of the way my life is, living like this. The only way I can sleep is to drink about six shots of cheap Bourbon, and I think this is making things worse in the long run. But my problem is the way I feel in the here and now, dealing with this constant pain. I feel like am getting old and that life is just going to be downhill from here on out.
I have also more or less lost the vision in my right eye due to a corneal disease called keratoconus; after spending about $4,000 tying various treatmnents, all I am is deeper in debt. With the Holidays coming, I wish I could just sleep until they were over. The pain involved here has eroded my ability to deal with depression from other factors, I feel it is pushing me over the edge. If only I had been born in Canada or someplace that offered halthcare; I feel like I will never pull out of all this debt and be able to address these issues.
Today it rained all day and I slept 15 hours or tried to; when I woke up I looked out the window over the park and cried as I saw the kids getting out of school, young and with their lives ahead of them. I wish I could pull myself out of this. I have sent out a dozen resumes and waited, but I feel more and more a sense of panic, of failure, and the pain is a constant reminder of this.
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saaraah
11-19-2003, 07:05 PM
im so sorry to hear that you're having such a terrible time. i truly wish that the USA had a healthcare system like ours, in Canada. even tho it has its inherent problems, it benefits everyone no matter their economic status.
*hug* please try to think positively.. i know it's hard, but it can make the pain more bearable [research has demonstrated that].
anyway, the first thing i'd like to say is that, imo, you shouldnt be getting crowns before your symptoms are under control. generally, it's a very bad idea to do anything irreversible such as getting crowns before figuring out what's wrong and trying conservative treatments.
is there any way you could borrow money from a friend or family member?
also, if you clench and grind at night, the alcohol could be contributing to that. if possible, i'd be very cautious about relying on alcohol to fall asleep.
perhaps someone on this forum has advice on a good dentist in your area that would be able to accomodate you.
please take care. if you have any questions, please dont be afraid to ask.
- saaraah.
*hug* please try to think positively.. i know it's hard, but it can make the pain more bearable [research has demonstrated that].
anyway, the first thing i'd like to say is that, imo, you shouldnt be getting crowns before your symptoms are under control. generally, it's a very bad idea to do anything irreversible such as getting crowns before figuring out what's wrong and trying conservative treatments.
is there any way you could borrow money from a friend or family member?
also, if you clench and grind at night, the alcohol could be contributing to that. if possible, i'd be very cautious about relying on alcohol to fall asleep.
perhaps someone on this forum has advice on a good dentist in your area that would be able to accomodate you.
please take care. if you have any questions, please dont be afraid to ask.
- saaraah.
antoni
11-20-2003, 10:38 AM
Hi D.,
Hang in there. Alot of people are in the same boat as you on this board.
Also I would get a 2nd and 3rd opinion about having fillings and crowns done. With me it only made things worse and I paid $7,000.00 for nothing(this was before getting x-rays/mri's of my tmjs). Dentists can only get the crowns so precise and if they don't get it right....forget it.
Something I didn't do which people have told me to do is get references on the dentist or doctor that you plan to treat you. I know if my case, I made really bad choices on who worked on my teeth and am paying for it now.
Also alcohol makes the TMJD symptoms worse as it affects the nervous system. When my symptoms were really bad my medical doctor prescribed pain killers which took the edge off.
Take Care and know you are not alone in your pain
A
Hang in there. Alot of people are in the same boat as you on this board.
Also I would get a 2nd and 3rd opinion about having fillings and crowns done. With me it only made things worse and I paid $7,000.00 for nothing(this was before getting x-rays/mri's of my tmjs). Dentists can only get the crowns so precise and if they don't get it right....forget it.
Something I didn't do which people have told me to do is get references on the dentist or doctor that you plan to treat you. I know if my case, I made really bad choices on who worked on my teeth and am paying for it now.
Also alcohol makes the TMJD symptoms worse as it affects the nervous system. When my symptoms were really bad my medical doctor prescribed pain killers which took the edge off.
Take Care and know you are not alone in your pain
A