delilah1963
01-20-2004, 04:05 PM
Hi gang,
I finally had the MRI of my TMJs done and rec'd the radiologist report today, showing no meniscal displacement, no evidence of TMJ dysfunction, symmetric tmj motion.
Wonderful news!!! But, why am I still hurting so much in my TMJs...they've been burning and I do get soft clicking, but mostly muscle spasms in my neck...traps, and sternocleidomastoid, masseters too.
I go to the TMJ specialist tomorrow to get his take on it. He will I'm sure still prescribe a splint, do I go with it? I've already had one (upper) that seemed to only make it worse. The new TMJ doc is suggesting a lower one. Do I take that chance?
This is ridiculous. I am not crazy, but I feel like it!!! How can I be so uncomfortable yet have normal function in my joints? It is not a letdown, but it does leave me still wondering what the heck is wrong with me.
If indeed my joint function is pretty good, I'm scared to death to mess with it. But what about this burning in the joints? What is that all about?
I do have neck issues too...arthritis, could that be causing it? My options there are a cervical epidural.
Any input is appreciated. My appt. w/new TMJ doc is tomorrow morning.
Much thanks for your continued support.
Delilah.
I finally had the MRI of my TMJs done and rec'd the radiologist report today, showing no meniscal displacement, no evidence of TMJ dysfunction, symmetric tmj motion.
Wonderful news!!! But, why am I still hurting so much in my TMJs...they've been burning and I do get soft clicking, but mostly muscle spasms in my neck...traps, and sternocleidomastoid, masseters too.
I go to the TMJ specialist tomorrow to get his take on it. He will I'm sure still prescribe a splint, do I go with it? I've already had one (upper) that seemed to only make it worse. The new TMJ doc is suggesting a lower one. Do I take that chance?
This is ridiculous. I am not crazy, but I feel like it!!! How can I be so uncomfortable yet have normal function in my joints? It is not a letdown, but it does leave me still wondering what the heck is wrong with me.
If indeed my joint function is pretty good, I'm scared to death to mess with it. But what about this burning in the joints? What is that all about?
I do have neck issues too...arthritis, could that be causing it? My options there are a cervical epidural.
Any input is appreciated. My appt. w/new TMJ doc is tomorrow morning.
Much thanks for your continued support.
Delilah.
Sponsor
Cymy Sue
01-20-2004, 08:53 PM
Delilah,
Occasionally, an MRI is misread. One of our members had this to happen recently. Hopefully this is not the case and I don't won't to worry you, but it does happen. If you aren't satisfied about this, I would have someone else look at it.
You can have horrific muscular problems without disc or joint problems. There is ususally a cause or irritant, but it could be somewhere else.
With the SCM's and the Traps involved along with the masseters, there may be a problem in these areas.
My TMJD symtoms have been completely under control for nearly a year. Almost no pain, spasms or anything. I still wear a splint and will most likely for a long time.
I had severe shoulder pain and muscle spasms due to a bone spur. In Sept., it was just shoulder and arm pain. As the months went by, the spasms increased and went down my side, across my chest and back and about a month before surgery to remove it, the spasms went up my neck and face. They were so bad, it pulled my bite off a little and I had some minor joint pain.
I would have been scared about this, but the progression was slow and I could tell the pulling was coming from my shoulder. Not a return of real TMJ problems.
As soon as I had surgery to remove the spur, it all stopped.
It's hard to understand how all of this can happen and if you don't have anything to relate the beginning of the pain and spasms to, it's confusing, but these symtoms can be muscular and the correct splint will help.
I was in an awful mess with muscular problems last year that I thought were primarily still caused by nerve damage, no disc and other surgery related problems. I was never told anything different.
It seems I had healed from the surgeries, the damaged nerves were not causing so much of the problems and I was mostly having muscular problems and had been for many years. There had been irritants along the way that I can pinpoint such as surgery and no disc, etc. But at this point, it was basically muscular.
The splint designed for me was a bottom fit to support my joints and passively reposition muscles. It worked very quickly and like a charm.
I had been seeing a Massage Therapist prior to getting the splint and a great deal of the muscles spasms below my face had been helped and were under control.
I have also read from many different sources that TMJ problems can be completely muscular. I don't understand because mine started many years ago with damaged joints and disc and I've reseached along those lines, but many Doctors agree with this. I have just realized in the last year how the muscles were causing so many problems, pain and symtoms.
I hope for you it is. Muscular problems in most cases can be treated very successfully with the appropriate splint. If you're not already, you may need Theraputic Massage or PT to help with the SCM's and Traps with someone qualified to work with you. I hope your appt. goes well and please update us on his opinion.
Cymy Sue
Occasionally, an MRI is misread. One of our members had this to happen recently. Hopefully this is not the case and I don't won't to worry you, but it does happen. If you aren't satisfied about this, I would have someone else look at it.
You can have horrific muscular problems without disc or joint problems. There is ususally a cause or irritant, but it could be somewhere else.
With the SCM's and the Traps involved along with the masseters, there may be a problem in these areas.
My TMJD symtoms have been completely under control for nearly a year. Almost no pain, spasms or anything. I still wear a splint and will most likely for a long time.
I had severe shoulder pain and muscle spasms due to a bone spur. In Sept., it was just shoulder and arm pain. As the months went by, the spasms increased and went down my side, across my chest and back and about a month before surgery to remove it, the spasms went up my neck and face. They were so bad, it pulled my bite off a little and I had some minor joint pain.
I would have been scared about this, but the progression was slow and I could tell the pulling was coming from my shoulder. Not a return of real TMJ problems.
As soon as I had surgery to remove the spur, it all stopped.
It's hard to understand how all of this can happen and if you don't have anything to relate the beginning of the pain and spasms to, it's confusing, but these symtoms can be muscular and the correct splint will help.
I was in an awful mess with muscular problems last year that I thought were primarily still caused by nerve damage, no disc and other surgery related problems. I was never told anything different.
It seems I had healed from the surgeries, the damaged nerves were not causing so much of the problems and I was mostly having muscular problems and had been for many years. There had been irritants along the way that I can pinpoint such as surgery and no disc, etc. But at this point, it was basically muscular.
The splint designed for me was a bottom fit to support my joints and passively reposition muscles. It worked very quickly and like a charm.
I had been seeing a Massage Therapist prior to getting the splint and a great deal of the muscles spasms below my face had been helped and were under control.
I have also read from many different sources that TMJ problems can be completely muscular. I don't understand because mine started many years ago with damaged joints and disc and I've reseached along those lines, but many Doctors agree with this. I have just realized in the last year how the muscles were causing so many problems, pain and symtoms.
I hope for you it is. Muscular problems in most cases can be treated very successfully with the appropriate splint. If you're not already, you may need Theraputic Massage or PT to help with the SCM's and Traps with someone qualified to work with you. I hope your appt. goes well and please update us on his opinion.
Cymy Sue
CherylLynn24
01-20-2004, 09:53 PM
Deliliah,
Like Cymy Sue said, if you aren't satisfied with the report from your MRI, have some/many look at it. My kid had an MRI of the joints done last April. The radiologist's report said 'within normal limits' as well as several dentists that we've seen since then. I recently have taken him to someone new and guess what? The MRI clearly shows a displaced disc on the right! This is after how many read it??? My advice......have many specialists read it.
Cheryl
Like Cymy Sue said, if you aren't satisfied with the report from your MRI, have some/many look at it. My kid had an MRI of the joints done last April. The radiologist's report said 'within normal limits' as well as several dentists that we've seen since then. I recently have taken him to someone new and guess what? The MRI clearly shows a displaced disc on the right! This is after how many read it??? My advice......have many specialists read it.
Cheryl
TiffanyAnn
01-21-2004, 12:16 AM
Hi Deliliah:
You might have someone else, someone with TMJ expertise read the x-rays. When you have them done at like a hospital the radiologist reads them and they are not trained in the subtle area of the TMJs.
I had an upper splint, and it did not work at all. I have been in a lower splint for about 6 months or so and I am doing excellent. I am getting ready to move onto phase ll. You know, it's always a gamble when we seek treatment for TMJ since there are no real guidelines for treatment.
Tiffany
You might have someone else, someone with TMJ expertise read the x-rays. When you have them done at like a hospital the radiologist reads them and they are not trained in the subtle area of the TMJs.
I had an upper splint, and it did not work at all. I have been in a lower splint for about 6 months or so and I am doing excellent. I am getting ready to move onto phase ll. You know, it's always a gamble when we seek treatment for TMJ since there are no real guidelines for treatment.
Tiffany
mdla
01-21-2004, 04:09 AM
I agree, my MRI was first reported on by the people at the hospital, they said there was nothing wrong but fluid in the joints. When I took the films to 2 surgeons, they both said the disks were displaced. The only bad thing is I never got that in writing cause the "official" report was the record from the MRI center at the hospital. No one understands the TMJs so I wouldn;t think they would either.
delilah1963
01-21-2004, 12:43 PM
Thank you all. I spent over an hour this morning speaking with my TMJ doc.
He explained and illustrated in detail the problems in my MRI that are causing me pain. Indeed all was not within normal limits. My left condyle is all pointy and "beaked" and is jamming too far up in the fossa. It slightly pulls up the entire left side of my face. The right TMJ is working overtime to compensate. Interestingly, the majority of my discomfort is in my right TMJ, not my left, which surprised me since my left TMJ is the one which showed the condyle problems. He explained this as overcompensation of the right TMJ...his analogy was of a waiter or waitress that is always carrying heavy trays on one side of their body. When the back finally goes into spasm, it is always on the opposite side of body from where they are carrying the trays, due to this overcompensation of the muscles.
He also said my right disc is slightly displaced in the front. It is displaced inward, towards my nose, if you will. That is why the clicking is on my right, even though my crappy condyle is on my left.
I'm sorry if I'm rambling, but typing this is helping me to understand what he told me.
Treating my TMJD is a long and expensive road ahead of me and I'm feeling depressed about it.
I also have, as has been evidenced by a previous MRI, some arthritis in my neck. Most of my pain is in my neck and shoulders, not my jaw, though my jaw does have discomfort too.
The $64,000 question is how much of my tmjd vs. my cervical arthritis is causing my pain.
I can go for a cervical epidural and see if that helps me with my pain. I don't want to be in denial, but I also need to be realistic about my finances. At least treating my neck (epidural) is covered by insurance vs. treating my tmjd, which is not and will most like cost over $5K by the end of Phase II.
CymySue, I think of your problem within your shoulder and how it helped with your muscle spasm. Is it foolish to give the epidural a try first, or would I just be burying my head in the sand and only allowing my tmjd condition to worsen as a result of leaving it untreated?
Thanks for reading through my quagmire...I really would appreciate all of your insights.
My best,
Delilah
He explained and illustrated in detail the problems in my MRI that are causing me pain. Indeed all was not within normal limits. My left condyle is all pointy and "beaked" and is jamming too far up in the fossa. It slightly pulls up the entire left side of my face. The right TMJ is working overtime to compensate. Interestingly, the majority of my discomfort is in my right TMJ, not my left, which surprised me since my left TMJ is the one which showed the condyle problems. He explained this as overcompensation of the right TMJ...his analogy was of a waiter or waitress that is always carrying heavy trays on one side of their body. When the back finally goes into spasm, it is always on the opposite side of body from where they are carrying the trays, due to this overcompensation of the muscles.
He also said my right disc is slightly displaced in the front. It is displaced inward, towards my nose, if you will. That is why the clicking is on my right, even though my crappy condyle is on my left.
I'm sorry if I'm rambling, but typing this is helping me to understand what he told me.
Treating my TMJD is a long and expensive road ahead of me and I'm feeling depressed about it.
I also have, as has been evidenced by a previous MRI, some arthritis in my neck. Most of my pain is in my neck and shoulders, not my jaw, though my jaw does have discomfort too.
The $64,000 question is how much of my tmjd vs. my cervical arthritis is causing my pain.
I can go for a cervical epidural and see if that helps me with my pain. I don't want to be in denial, but I also need to be realistic about my finances. At least treating my neck (epidural) is covered by insurance vs. treating my tmjd, which is not and will most like cost over $5K by the end of Phase II.
CymySue, I think of your problem within your shoulder and how it helped with your muscle spasm. Is it foolish to give the epidural a try first, or would I just be burying my head in the sand and only allowing my tmjd condition to worsen as a result of leaving it untreated?
Thanks for reading through my quagmire...I really would appreciate all of your insights.
My best,
Delilah
Cymy Sue
01-21-2004, 02:06 PM
Delilah,
I am certain that my splint therapy worked so well due to the muscle spasms in my neck, upper back, shoulders and to some degree my face being under control due to the massage therapy for the last few years. I believe had these problems not been treated, the splint would not have helped so much.
I cannot advise you on having a cervical epidural. I've never had one. I assume you know what this would entail and you believe it would be helpful.
To get as many of the other problems stopped or to some liveable level and use a splint for the TMJ problems is how I can say, I am as well as I have ever been.
It all works together to cause pain and symtoms and therefore it all has to be treated in some manner.
Treating your neck problems may help a great deal and could help your shoulder pain also. I believe from the description of your TMJD, a splint most likely will still be needed.
I know it's a lot of money, but I wouldn't leave it untreated. It could get worse.
You might could check around and find someone who is not so expensive. If you've read much on the board, these fee's can vary from several hundred to several thousand and I don't believe the most expensive treatment is always the best.
Cymy Sue
I am certain that my splint therapy worked so well due to the muscle spasms in my neck, upper back, shoulders and to some degree my face being under control due to the massage therapy for the last few years. I believe had these problems not been treated, the splint would not have helped so much.
I cannot advise you on having a cervical epidural. I've never had one. I assume you know what this would entail and you believe it would be helpful.
To get as many of the other problems stopped or to some liveable level and use a splint for the TMJ problems is how I can say, I am as well as I have ever been.
It all works together to cause pain and symtoms and therefore it all has to be treated in some manner.
Treating your neck problems may help a great deal and could help your shoulder pain also. I believe from the description of your TMJD, a splint most likely will still be needed.
I know it's a lot of money, but I wouldn't leave it untreated. It could get worse.
You might could check around and find someone who is not so expensive. If you've read much on the board, these fee's can vary from several hundred to several thousand and I don't believe the most expensive treatment is always the best.
Cymy Sue
PINKYPRISCILLA
01-21-2004, 02:33 PM
I agree with Cymy Sue
It sounds like you are on the right track with starting splint therapy.
It just might help your neck and back. My splint helped to loosen my
neck and shoulders. It helped with a lot of muscle tension in these areas.
Pinky
It sounds like you are on the right track with starting splint therapy.
It just might help your neck and back. My splint helped to loosen my
neck and shoulders. It helped with a lot of muscle tension in these areas.
Pinky
delilah1963
01-21-2004, 03:56 PM
((Cymy Sue and Pinky)) thanks both so much for the input. I am going to sleep on it. I'm so grateful for this forum...it is a comfort to talk about this with those that understand what the heck it is, and how it feels.
All the best,
Delilah
All the best,
Delilah
PINKYPRISCILLA
01-21-2004, 04:24 PM
Your welcome
Good Luck
Pinky
Good Luck
Pinky