Jezebelle
11-20-2003, 09:14 PM
hi im not very sure how to ask or go about writing my first post...at the moment im frustrated and groggy and dizzy and in pain
Ive been reading this board for quite some time but just registered
Im a 22 yr old female that has been struggling with this horrible tmjd and yesterday i went to a very good TMJD specialist in chicago and was told once again that my only option right now IS SURGERY! how awful so far about 4 different dentists orthos and surgeons have told me the same thing.
I have an underbite and it very uncomfortably sways the the left side of my face.
ive had my wisdom teeth extracted in january and previous to that had braces for 5 years and had 4 teeth extracted to make room for that also.
i grind i have muscle spasms im dizzy im DEPRESSED..it truly sucks doesnt it?
well anyhow knowing as my only option is surgery i get even sadder because i dont have the money to go to a good hospital nor insurance...my friend even offered to marry me so i can be filed under his insurance...im so glad there a still wonderful pple like him around...but even still its a long and scary process and i was wondering if anyone in here has gone through surgery..any estimates...and how the results were...ANY INFO would be much appreciated.
thanx
Ive been reading this board for quite some time but just registered
Im a 22 yr old female that has been struggling with this horrible tmjd and yesterday i went to a very good TMJD specialist in chicago and was told once again that my only option right now IS SURGERY! how awful so far about 4 different dentists orthos and surgeons have told me the same thing.
I have an underbite and it very uncomfortably sways the the left side of my face.
ive had my wisdom teeth extracted in january and previous to that had braces for 5 years and had 4 teeth extracted to make room for that also.
i grind i have muscle spasms im dizzy im DEPRESSED..it truly sucks doesnt it?
well anyhow knowing as my only option is surgery i get even sadder because i dont have the money to go to a good hospital nor insurance...my friend even offered to marry me so i can be filed under his insurance...im so glad there a still wonderful pple like him around...but even still its a long and scary process and i was wondering if anyone in here has gone through surgery..any estimates...and how the results were...ANY INFO would be much appreciated.
thanx
Sponsor
saaraah
11-20-2003, 11:00 PM
since you have a deep underbite, i wonder if there isnt proper space between your condyle and fossa [in your joint]. have you considered an anterior repositioning splint?
imo, i think that surgery is a bad idea until you have a proper diagnosis and have tried a multitude of conservative treatments. altho, im very paranoid about people becoming worse off because of a surgery hungry surgeon.
anyway, i'd suggest finding a reputable dentist who maybe prescribes to neuromuscular dentistry - who takes the whole head into account.
take care.. and if you have any more questions, please ask.
- saaraah.
imo, i think that surgery is a bad idea until you have a proper diagnosis and have tried a multitude of conservative treatments. altho, im very paranoid about people becoming worse off because of a surgery hungry surgeon.
anyway, i'd suggest finding a reputable dentist who maybe prescribes to neuromuscular dentistry - who takes the whole head into account.
take care.. and if you have any more questions, please ask.
- saaraah.
Jezebelle
11-20-2003, 11:20 PM
Well i went to the Head and Neck Diagnosis Center in chicago with a very good tmj specialist that has been studying and treating tmj for over 20 years ( he is technically a dentist ) not an oral surgeon so i know he isnt money hungry he will get not benefit whatsoever and hes very AGAINST surgery.
I could tell by the way he was talking to me that he felt bad telling me that at this point orthogantic surgery was my only option.
He did tell me that after i had the surgery there was no bet my symptoms would go away but only then would he come into play and could possibly help me out.
So splints for now arent a good idea :(
He gave me good advice..most of which sounds similar to what i have read on here. He told me to seek several opinions on surgery and go preferably to a good hospital and not just a local oral surgeon. Supposedly my type of lower jaw surgery isnt too bad but still the money issue is a BIG problem
i wish this board would allow pictures..maybe that would be helpful
thnx for yur reply
I could tell by the way he was talking to me that he felt bad telling me that at this point orthogantic surgery was my only option.
He did tell me that after i had the surgery there was no bet my symptoms would go away but only then would he come into play and could possibly help me out.
So splints for now arent a good idea :(
He gave me good advice..most of which sounds similar to what i have read on here. He told me to seek several opinions on surgery and go preferably to a good hospital and not just a local oral surgeon. Supposedly my type of lower jaw surgery isnt too bad but still the money issue is a BIG problem
i wish this board would allow pictures..maybe that would be helpful
thnx for yur reply
CherylLynn24
11-21-2003, 03:53 AM
Any type of jaw surgery is a big deal. I'm bumping up an old post about the surgery you've mentioned. Do take the time to read it over.
Cheryl
Cheryl
mdla
11-21-2003, 08:07 AM
TMJ surgery isn't even 50-50!!! 80% of all types fail, or failin the 1st 2 years after surgery Im told by several sources.
Jezebelle
11-21-2003, 06:42 PM
thank you for bumping up that post...i dunno how many times i cringed as i kept reading and BELIEVE me when i say ive cried so much because they keep saying its what i need. im terrified that there might be complications but its supposedly not a complicated procedure... i hope not! either way i cant have it any time soon so i guess i will go ahead and get another opinion with a good oral surgeon that has results on his previous surgeries..i just wish i knew of people who got surgeries to correct an underbite as its less common to have an underbite than an overbite. Only about 5 to 10% of the population have an underbite..WOW how screwed am i to be part of that percent haha :rolleyes:
im just so frustrated
im just so frustrated
sunshine123
11-21-2003, 07:25 PM
Hi Jezebelle: Surgery has been suggested to me also and I'm afraid of it after reading the horror stories on this board. My bite is a mess and I'm always in pain in my teeth and gums. I have an anterior open bite and although splint therapy has helped my headaches and facial pain, it hasn't helped my tooth and gum pain. I certainly understand where you're coming from b/c I'm in the same boat. I hope we both find the right answer soon.
cally22
11-24-2003, 06:31 PM
Dear Jezebelle,
This is Cally22,and I wanted to just tell you that I have went through two seperate wisdom teeth extraction surgeries, an arthroplastic surgery, and discectomy. And with all these surgeries, I am still in pain, and having problems... (My pain isn't as bad on some days, but on others it is worse.) I also wantedto tell you that before I even considered the option of surgery, I too had seen multiple surgeons/ dr.'s, and i had, had just about every procedure, splint, medication, and injection, to try to correct my problems. In fact many of these thing I had many of. For example I had two splints, I had been put on well over 30 medications, had atleast 8-10 steroid injections, I had been put asleep and had my mouth pried open 4 times. And none of these things worked so I too, as many others have, decided to have surgery. But now in retrospect I believe that these sugeries have caused a lot more problems than they have helped.
I hope something I said might help, and i apologize if it sounds bad, or upsetting, but i feel that the truth is the key so others can be better informed to make their own decision. Good luck with everything, and I hope things start looking up for you!
Cally22
This is Cally22,and I wanted to just tell you that I have went through two seperate wisdom teeth extraction surgeries, an arthroplastic surgery, and discectomy. And with all these surgeries, I am still in pain, and having problems... (My pain isn't as bad on some days, but on others it is worse.) I also wantedto tell you that before I even considered the option of surgery, I too had seen multiple surgeons/ dr.'s, and i had, had just about every procedure, splint, medication, and injection, to try to correct my problems. In fact many of these thing I had many of. For example I had two splints, I had been put on well over 30 medications, had atleast 8-10 steroid injections, I had been put asleep and had my mouth pried open 4 times. And none of these things worked so I too, as many others have, decided to have surgery. But now in retrospect I believe that these sugeries have caused a lot more problems than they have helped.
I hope something I said might help, and i apologize if it sounds bad, or upsetting, but i feel that the truth is the key so others can be better informed to make their own decision. Good luck with everything, and I hope things start looking up for you!
Cally22
Elaine
11-25-2003, 12:44 AM
Jez,
Get an appointment at the U of I in Chicago. Doctor Leslie Heffez is the name on Paulina Street. He will give you an "honest" opinion and would not lead you into any unneccessary surgery. You need more than one or two opinions and then it is still questionable. At least the doctor you went to was honest in telling you that there may be no improvement. Depending on how bad your pain is and your function, is the deciding factor and are you willing to take the chance it may be worse, as that does happen quite often. I have a friend whose TMJD was actually caused by having orthognathic surgery. Her chin is totally numb and no feeling whatsoever! Lots of different things that can and do happen with these surgeries so be very careful with your decisions.
Elaine
Get an appointment at the U of I in Chicago. Doctor Leslie Heffez is the name on Paulina Street. He will give you an "honest" opinion and would not lead you into any unneccessary surgery. You need more than one or two opinions and then it is still questionable. At least the doctor you went to was honest in telling you that there may be no improvement. Depending on how bad your pain is and your function, is the deciding factor and are you willing to take the chance it may be worse, as that does happen quite often. I have a friend whose TMJD was actually caused by having orthognathic surgery. Her chin is totally numb and no feeling whatsoever! Lots of different things that can and do happen with these surgeries so be very careful with your decisions.
Elaine
Jezebelle
11-25-2003, 10:13 PM
thank you very much Elaine...I had planned on calling a Dr. Neil Hagen @ Northwestern so I'll be sure to add Heffez to my list.
yes I understand how risky it is and I guess I'm desperate
Last night I was squirming around in my bed watching a rerun of Montell Willams show who did a program on life changing surgeries and they actually had the cameras in the OR...i think I almost passed out when they showed two cases with young teenagers getting surgeries on their bites...they were so extremely swollen and out of it!! they had good recoveries but then again they didnt have tmjd
one girl had an underbite just like myself but also a cleft palate
I appreciate very much the replies!
I hope all of you are doing much better
:)
yes I understand how risky it is and I guess I'm desperate
Last night I was squirming around in my bed watching a rerun of Montell Willams show who did a program on life changing surgeries and they actually had the cameras in the OR...i think I almost passed out when they showed two cases with young teenagers getting surgeries on their bites...they were so extremely swollen and out of it!! they had good recoveries but then again they didnt have tmjd
one girl had an underbite just like myself but also a cleft palate
I appreciate very much the replies!
I hope all of you are doing much better
:)