westin4
04-15-2004, 11:23 AM
and I am dreading those stinking teeth impressions. I am JUST seeing some comfort come from the emergency soft splint I had made 2 weeks ago. While the severe pain is gone I am having muscle spasms that are unreal and my dentist feels that what I need is a hard splint so there is no fluctuation like with a soft splint. He was hoping to wait 6 months so he did not have to put my jaw through the trauma of the teeth impressions, but with the muscle spasms at their worst while I am taking 4 skelaxins a day he thought I better just move ahead to the next phase now. I am wondering because it has been about 6 or 8 years since I had the last hard splint made, how long is it before a difference is felt. It seems to me I had a much harder time getting used to the hard splint than I have to this soft one.
Thanks for any replies.
Karen
Thanks for any replies.
Karen
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TiffanyAnn
04-15-2004, 09:47 PM
and I am dreading those stinking teeth impressions. I am JUST seeing some comfort come from the emergency soft splint I had made 2 weeks ago. While the severe pain is gone I am having muscle spasms that are unreal and my dentist feels that what I need is a hard splint so there is no fluctuation like with a soft splint. He was hoping to wait 6 months so he did not have to put my jaw through the trauma of the teeth impressions, but with the muscle spasms at their worst while I am taking 4 skelaxins a day he thought I better just move ahead to the next phase now. I am wondering because it has been about 6 or 8 years since I had the last hard splint made, how long is it before a difference is felt. It seems to me I had a much harder time getting used to the hard splint than I have to this soft one.
Thanks for any replies.
Karen
Hi Karen:
I'm just curious, are you getting an upper or lower splint? The reason I ask is because it seems that the lower splints are easier to get used to and much easier to speak with. I have a lower splint right now which has worked wonders for my TMJ. During phase ll I will have an upper splint. The hard splints are a bit hard to get used to. Oh, I was also wondering if by any chance you take Flexaril? I take it and when I had my impressions done for my splint I took one of them and it helped me immensly. My orthodontist and his staff are extremely careful and gentle when they do work on those with TMJ. They don't jerk or pull around on our jaws at all. Hopefullly your dentist will also be super aware of how gentle they need to be with TMJ patients. The amount of time it takes to get relief from the splint varies from person to person. I had immediate relief from my splint, well within a day or so. Many others have also while others has taken a greater amount of time to find relief from their splint. No two people react the same. I hope your splint works out well for you and that you find relief from it.
Tiffany
Thanks for any replies.
Karen
Hi Karen:
I'm just curious, are you getting an upper or lower splint? The reason I ask is because it seems that the lower splints are easier to get used to and much easier to speak with. I have a lower splint right now which has worked wonders for my TMJ. During phase ll I will have an upper splint. The hard splints are a bit hard to get used to. Oh, I was also wondering if by any chance you take Flexaril? I take it and when I had my impressions done for my splint I took one of them and it helped me immensly. My orthodontist and his staff are extremely careful and gentle when they do work on those with TMJ. They don't jerk or pull around on our jaws at all. Hopefullly your dentist will also be super aware of how gentle they need to be with TMJ patients. The amount of time it takes to get relief from the splint varies from person to person. I had immediate relief from my splint, well within a day or so. Many others have also while others has taken a greater amount of time to find relief from their splint. No two people react the same. I hope your splint works out well for you and that you find relief from it.
Tiffany
westin4
04-15-2004, 09:55 PM
Thank you both. I had a hard splint made years ago and I couldn't remember how long it took, but I do remember that it made my life different. Now, with this flare up, and all the mess I have been through, I started in a soft one. I am in a lower splint and that is what he is making me for a permenant one too. I have worn a splint for almost 8 years now, but there was actually one year in there when I didn't need one at all. This mess is caused my faulty dental work and stupid advice from a worthless dentist.
The dentist I went to today was great! He knew how bad this was going to be on me and really took his time and was sooo gentle. He has prescribed me Skelaxin for a muscle relaxer and I made sure I took one before he even started. He also measured my teeth and face, the center point of my nose compared to the center of my front teeth, he measured my ears and the biting point at which I hit on each side. I was really impressed, I had never had any of that done before. I so hope that when this comes in it is the answer. I have just got to get my life back. He said it will take about 2 weeks.........I am sure a loooooooong 2 weeks!
Karen
The dentist I went to today was great! He knew how bad this was going to be on me and really took his time and was sooo gentle. He has prescribed me Skelaxin for a muscle relaxer and I made sure I took one before he even started. He also measured my teeth and face, the center point of my nose compared to the center of my front teeth, he measured my ears and the biting point at which I hit on each side. I was really impressed, I had never had any of that done before. I so hope that when this comes in it is the answer. I have just got to get my life back. He said it will take about 2 weeks.........I am sure a loooooooong 2 weeks!
Karen
Katie G
04-16-2004, 01:06 PM
Hi Karen:
I'm just curious, are you getting an upper or lower splint? The reason I ask is because it seems that the lower splints are easier to get used to and much easier to speak with. I have a lower splint right now which has worked wonders for my TMJ. During phase ll I will have an upper splint. The hard splints are a bit hard to get used to. Oh, I was also wondering if by any chance you take Flexaril? I take it and when I had my impressions done for my splint I took one of them and it helped me immensly. My orthodontist and his staff are extremely careful and gentle when they do work on those with TMJ. They don't jerk or pull around on our jaws at all. Hopefullly your dentist will also be super aware of how gentle they need to be with TMJ patients. The amount of time it takes to get relief from the splint varies from person to person. I had immediate relief from my splint, well within a day or so. Many others have also while others has taken a greater amount of time to find relief from their splint. No two people react the same. I hope your splint works out well for you and that you find relief from it.
Tiffany
Hi Tiffany. Yes, I take Flexiril before every ortho appointment since I know he's going to have me opening/closing, measuring, moving side to side, biting down, taking my splint out repeatedly for minor adjustments, etc., etc.. I'm into my 3rd upper splint (still in Phase I) and actually biting down into the gooey stuff to make impressions was easier on me, than the harder stuff he makes me bite down on to check for bite, alignment etc. as part of the process. My ortho recommended I take my muscle relaxer (which I have for flare-ups of fibromyalgia pain) before each appointment to offset the pain from having to put my jaw through the works with him.
In fact, the ortho recommended I take Valium before my dental appointments since sitting in a dental chair with my mouth open for an hour can really set off muscle spasms and severe pain for me. Worked like a charm the last time I had my teeth cleaned, and allowed me to actually hold my mouth open enough for the hygenist to be able to get in there.
Katie G
I'm just curious, are you getting an upper or lower splint? The reason I ask is because it seems that the lower splints are easier to get used to and much easier to speak with. I have a lower splint right now which has worked wonders for my TMJ. During phase ll I will have an upper splint. The hard splints are a bit hard to get used to. Oh, I was also wondering if by any chance you take Flexaril? I take it and when I had my impressions done for my splint I took one of them and it helped me immensly. My orthodontist and his staff are extremely careful and gentle when they do work on those with TMJ. They don't jerk or pull around on our jaws at all. Hopefullly your dentist will also be super aware of how gentle they need to be with TMJ patients. The amount of time it takes to get relief from the splint varies from person to person. I had immediate relief from my splint, well within a day or so. Many others have also while others has taken a greater amount of time to find relief from their splint. No two people react the same. I hope your splint works out well for you and that you find relief from it.
Tiffany
Hi Tiffany. Yes, I take Flexiril before every ortho appointment since I know he's going to have me opening/closing, measuring, moving side to side, biting down, taking my splint out repeatedly for minor adjustments, etc., etc.. I'm into my 3rd upper splint (still in Phase I) and actually biting down into the gooey stuff to make impressions was easier on me, than the harder stuff he makes me bite down on to check for bite, alignment etc. as part of the process. My ortho recommended I take my muscle relaxer (which I have for flare-ups of fibromyalgia pain) before each appointment to offset the pain from having to put my jaw through the works with him.
In fact, the ortho recommended I take Valium before my dental appointments since sitting in a dental chair with my mouth open for an hour can really set off muscle spasms and severe pain for me. Worked like a charm the last time I had my teeth cleaned, and allowed me to actually hold my mouth open enough for the hygenist to be able to get in there.
Katie G
Katie G
04-16-2004, 02:25 PM
and I am dreading those stinking teeth impressions. I am JUST seeing some comfort come from the emergency soft splint I had made 2 weeks ago. While the severe pain is gone I am having muscle spasms that are unreal and my dentist feels that what I need is a hard splint so there is no fluctuation like with a soft splint. He was hoping to wait 6 months so he did not have to put my jaw through the trauma of the teeth impressions, but with the muscle spasms at their worst while I am taking 4 skelaxins a day he thought I better just move ahead to the next phase now. I am wondering because it has been about 6 or 8 years since I had the last hard splint made, how long is it before a difference is felt. It seems to me I had a much harder time getting used to the hard splint than I have to this soft one.
Thanks for any replies.
Karen
Hi there Karen - I've posted here many times already so won't go through my whole story again. I'm onto my 3rd hard upper splint since Oct. '03, as part of my Phase I treatment. I have to say within a day, I could talk fairly normally with it (just a slight whistle to my "s" sounds), and within a week already noticed a reduction in my headaches, neck and shoulder pain. The jaw muscles felt "fluttery" for at least a week, as they began to relax. I could actually feel the flutters throughout the day. I still have a slight achy feeling to the jaw muscles (like fatigue achy, not sharp pains like it used to be).
I won't say this journey has progressed to entirely pain free, but it's going to be a long process since I've suffered with TMD symptoms for 15+ years, and have just now started treatment for it. I know in time things will get better. Some days, I'm just in more pain than others, but I also suffer from fibromyalgia. You may notice an improvement in your symptoms within a short time of starting the hard splint. Give it shot, and keep us posted on your progress.
Good luck to you,
Katie G
Thanks for any replies.
Karen
Hi there Karen - I've posted here many times already so won't go through my whole story again. I'm onto my 3rd hard upper splint since Oct. '03, as part of my Phase I treatment. I have to say within a day, I could talk fairly normally with it (just a slight whistle to my "s" sounds), and within a week already noticed a reduction in my headaches, neck and shoulder pain. The jaw muscles felt "fluttery" for at least a week, as they began to relax. I could actually feel the flutters throughout the day. I still have a slight achy feeling to the jaw muscles (like fatigue achy, not sharp pains like it used to be).
I won't say this journey has progressed to entirely pain free, but it's going to be a long process since I've suffered with TMD symptoms for 15+ years, and have just now started treatment for it. I know in time things will get better. Some days, I'm just in more pain than others, but I also suffer from fibromyalgia. You may notice an improvement in your symptoms within a short time of starting the hard splint. Give it shot, and keep us posted on your progress.
Good luck to you,
Katie G
westin4
04-16-2004, 09:53 PM
Thank you all for your responses. I cannot wait til it comes in. This soft one is ok, but I need the stableness of a hard one like I used to have. I wish all of you luck also.
Karen :)
Karen :)