AngelZoo
10-02-2004, 02:52 PM
Hello all.
My family doctor says I have TMJD, he diagnosed me about a month ago.
It's a problem I've had going on for about 5 months now, only getting worse and worse. Now adays sometimes it is really unbearable.
I've also suffered from chronic migrains for about 7 years now.
My question is, I don't have any health insurance right now, so where should a person in my situation go from here. I've read quiet a bit about TMJD but as far as treatment goes I don't know what path to follow.
My doctor told me to go see a pain specialist, or a dentist.
He had me on some medicain a while ago to see if it would help ease the pain, though it didn't do anything at all, a couple like anti inflamitories I believe.
Other then that, he's had me on Percocet to help manage the pain, I basically take one when I need to.
Please someone tell me where to go from here, I can't have the percocet forever, and otc pain killers simply don't work.
My family doctor says I have TMJD, he diagnosed me about a month ago.
It's a problem I've had going on for about 5 months now, only getting worse and worse. Now adays sometimes it is really unbearable.
I've also suffered from chronic migrains for about 7 years now.
My question is, I don't have any health insurance right now, so where should a person in my situation go from here. I've read quiet a bit about TMJD but as far as treatment goes I don't know what path to follow.
My doctor told me to go see a pain specialist, or a dentist.
He had me on some medicain a while ago to see if it would help ease the pain, though it didn't do anything at all, a couple like anti inflamitories I believe.
Other then that, he's had me on Percocet to help manage the pain, I basically take one when I need to.
Please someone tell me where to go from here, I can't have the percocet forever, and otc pain killers simply don't work.
Sponsor
Grrmotts
10-02-2004, 04:10 PM
I find that if I ice the inflammed area for about 20 mins every morn...and night, and take Motrin in between, it helps alot, to keep the inflammation down. But the thing is you have to have a regular routine that is right for you and your symptoms.
Also, try to get it off your mind as much as possible, it keeps your muscles more relaxed and helps tremendously.
My main problems are swollen glands, neck tension, and sore swollen throat.
Also, try to get it off your mind as much as possible, it keeps your muscles more relaxed and helps tremendously.
My main problems are swollen glands, neck tension, and sore swollen throat.
AngelZoo
10-02-2004, 04:32 PM
Well, OTC products don't really work for me, they haven't for years.
I recently took about 1200mgs of Ibuprofine 2 times a day, that seemed to help ever so slightly, it also made me feel incredibly weird, because that is simply too large of a dosage.
Putting cold on it makes it hurt SO much more. Sometimes I will put a heating pad on it, on the low setting and at times it helps a little. But I don't have time every day to keep doing that, or to sit around with it on my face for hours.
I have yet to find much I can do at home to help this.
I don't really clench or grind my teeth, but I have a real hard time relaxing all the muscles in my face, I'm just under far too much stress, so it's impossible to go the route of "lessening" daily stress.
I recently took about 1200mgs of Ibuprofine 2 times a day, that seemed to help ever so slightly, it also made me feel incredibly weird, because that is simply too large of a dosage.
Putting cold on it makes it hurt SO much more. Sometimes I will put a heating pad on it, on the low setting and at times it helps a little. But I don't have time every day to keep doing that, or to sit around with it on my face for hours.
I have yet to find much I can do at home to help this.
I don't really clench or grind my teeth, but I have a real hard time relaxing all the muscles in my face, I'm just under far too much stress, so it's impossible to go the route of "lessening" daily stress.
analog2000
10-03-2004, 12:17 PM
I recently took about 1200mgs of Ibuprofine 2 times a day, that seemed to help ever so slightly, it also made me feel incredibly weird, because that is simply too large of a dosage.
Are you still doing this? That is a really high dose, like damaging your liver and kidneys high. Have you talked to your doc? Maybe he could recommend something less toxic?
Are you still doing this? That is a really high dose, like damaging your liver and kidneys high. Have you talked to your doc? Maybe he could recommend something less toxic?
AngelZoo
10-04-2004, 12:19 PM
As mentioned before, I don't have insurance, and my family doctor I've had for about a year, is now an hour away from me as I have moved. I still have my percocet, so I keep taking that for pain, at least until it's all gone.
Yes I'm aware of how damaging high dosages of things like Ibuprophine can be. I am also aware of how suicidal I get with pain that goes untreated for days.
So... where do I go from here though? I'm working on getting insurance back. But do I go see a pain specialist ( I don't even know where to find such a person ). Or should I go see a dentist first? Should I get x-rays taken of my jaw etc? No one has told me anything.
The pain from the tmj is always there, some days worse then others, but it's always there and driving me insane. It's only getting WORSE not better, which makes me think there is a real problem.
I've suffered from Migraines for 7 years now, and the tmj pain is even starting to overcome the migraines.
Yes I'm aware of how damaging high dosages of things like Ibuprophine can be. I am also aware of how suicidal I get with pain that goes untreated for days.
So... where do I go from here though? I'm working on getting insurance back. But do I go see a pain specialist ( I don't even know where to find such a person ). Or should I go see a dentist first? Should I get x-rays taken of my jaw etc? No one has told me anything.
The pain from the tmj is always there, some days worse then others, but it's always there and driving me insane. It's only getting WORSE not better, which makes me think there is a real problem.
I've suffered from Migraines for 7 years now, and the tmj pain is even starting to overcome the migraines.
Grrmotts
10-05-2004, 11:38 PM
When having any health problem, a positive attitude goes a long long long way. And that is something I found out the hard way. I was extremely hopeless, and pesemistic about my problem when it started to get bad......and that only made it worse.
Its not easy to be positive, but with the treatment of any chronic disorder it is a necessity, otherwise you keep looking for more and more problems. Thats what I did, every little pain or tingle in my body "Must be my TMJ" and then I would think about it, and dwell, and then the pain would increase cause I would tense up. Eventually your mind takes over and tells you that you are in pain, and the funny thing is you could go to the doctor for pain killers, and he could give you a placebo that would "Take all the pain away" and you would believe it and feel better. Its a hard process to reverse when you let your mind take control of you. I started having panic attacks, I'd be curled up in a ball on the floor crying saying "Nothing works, Im never gonna get better". Til my mom told to me to grow up, cause it could be alot worse. She gave me a huge lecture about being positive and optomistic....and eventually I am getting back to a normal state of mind.
It also helps to get out and exercise regularly. I have read alot of that on this forum, so I tried it. I rollarblade usually 3-4 times a week, for an hour each time, and I feel alot better. And don't make excuses like "There's too much pain, I can't do anything". Its not easy, but it has to be done, cause there is a possibily that you may have problems for the rest of your life. Especially if you don't take control. I try as hard as possible to get thru the day without a pain killer.....its very difficult sometimes, on the bad days, I take a nice long bath, and breath a little deeper when I feel stressed. It may sound silly, but it works.
CONTROL THE DISORDER....DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOU. Be strong and positive, and one day you might actually feel good.
Good Luck.
Its not easy to be positive, but with the treatment of any chronic disorder it is a necessity, otherwise you keep looking for more and more problems. Thats what I did, every little pain or tingle in my body "Must be my TMJ" and then I would think about it, and dwell, and then the pain would increase cause I would tense up. Eventually your mind takes over and tells you that you are in pain, and the funny thing is you could go to the doctor for pain killers, and he could give you a placebo that would "Take all the pain away" and you would believe it and feel better. Its a hard process to reverse when you let your mind take control of you. I started having panic attacks, I'd be curled up in a ball on the floor crying saying "Nothing works, Im never gonna get better". Til my mom told to me to grow up, cause it could be alot worse. She gave me a huge lecture about being positive and optomistic....and eventually I am getting back to a normal state of mind.
It also helps to get out and exercise regularly. I have read alot of that on this forum, so I tried it. I rollarblade usually 3-4 times a week, for an hour each time, and I feel alot better. And don't make excuses like "There's too much pain, I can't do anything". Its not easy, but it has to be done, cause there is a possibily that you may have problems for the rest of your life. Especially if you don't take control. I try as hard as possible to get thru the day without a pain killer.....its very difficult sometimes, on the bad days, I take a nice long bath, and breath a little deeper when I feel stressed. It may sound silly, but it works.
CONTROL THE DISORDER....DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOU. Be strong and positive, and one day you might actually feel good.
Good Luck.
AngelZoo
10-18-2004, 11:56 PM
ha! You crack me up.
I have several emotional disorders on top of the tmjd issue.
I'm sorry to see that you think, panic attacks and such are just all in your head, and something you can stop with a snap of your fingers, but REAL anxiety suffers just don't work that way.
There is something physically wrong with your body when you have a true anxiety disorder, telling someone to "just be happy" or "cut it out" is about as effective as telling a person with no legs to stand up with out any help.
On another note, I'm down to my last 3 percocets, I guess I'll be calling my family doctor soon and see what he suggests. We are waiting for a final qoute from 2 insurance companies for one of our businesses. So hopefully I'll see whats what soon, and look into finding a pain specialist.
The TMJ pain hasn't gotten any better, or worse, about the same, it's there about 90% of the time, with it being REALLY bad about 20% of the time and thats when I will take a percocet, the rest of the time I just try to tough it out the best I can.
I'm not hopeless or pesemistic, I just want answers and maybe even eventually solutions.
I have several emotional disorders on top of the tmjd issue.
I'm sorry to see that you think, panic attacks and such are just all in your head, and something you can stop with a snap of your fingers, but REAL anxiety suffers just don't work that way.
There is something physically wrong with your body when you have a true anxiety disorder, telling someone to "just be happy" or "cut it out" is about as effective as telling a person with no legs to stand up with out any help.
On another note, I'm down to my last 3 percocets, I guess I'll be calling my family doctor soon and see what he suggests. We are waiting for a final qoute from 2 insurance companies for one of our businesses. So hopefully I'll see whats what soon, and look into finding a pain specialist.
The TMJ pain hasn't gotten any better, or worse, about the same, it's there about 90% of the time, with it being REALLY bad about 20% of the time and thats when I will take a percocet, the rest of the time I just try to tough it out the best I can.
I'm not hopeless or pesemistic, I just want answers and maybe even eventually solutions.