Flute playing orthodontics and TMJ- Help, pleaseee!!!!!!!!
Hey, I was diagnosed with TMJ a year ago, and I still have it. I am studying music in college, and now i cant play the flute as it is much too painful and my specialist says it will aggravate the problem. I am heartbroken at not being able to play anymore as music is my life! Its all I ever wanted to do. I have had to miss all my exams this year and all the heads of the college are getting really angry at me i dont think they believe me at all. I cant concentrate on anything, my pain is nearly constant and i cant see it getting any better. I feel sick constantly. I think that my problem might be due to an orthodontic relapse. I underwnt first phase treatment for crossbite but decided against traintracks as they could destroy my flute playing,and i loved the way my teeth looked after that much treatment. However i never got a retainer and my teeth are worse than they were before, and my face looks toally different, i hate the way i look now i dont even want to leave the house. I havent slept in weeks and am so depressed!! I really want to go back to an orthodontist but my specialist says this would make things worse! and on top of this i have impacted lower wisdom teeth which are v sore but which icant get removed cos of my tmj! Could someone pleaseeeee help me i feel like a lost cause!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!
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~He who would leap far must first take a long run~
Hello Ladida-
Oh Ladida I am so sorry to hear about TMJ. I can not begin to imagine the pain involved in playing the flute with TMJ and it is your passion. Diane
[This message has been edited by DianeTMJ (edited 10-30-2003).]
Hey Diane, thanks so much for ur message its great that someone understands!!!! =) I must go look for a neuromuscular dentist, just a question, is it mainly treatment with medication they offer or what? Also anyone know whether orthodontics can aggravate a tmj problem or could it relieve it? before i started with my ortho i used to have awful headaches and earaches and it only struck me now that they couldve been tmj related, when i started ortho treatment the haedaches went away, but they r back now. any ideas???
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~He who would leap far must first take a long run~
HI Ladida,
I never had braces, my problems started after a bad filling. Nueromuscluar dentists treatment is what I call state of the art, they take the approach of your treatment varies, but Drugs, at least my nueromusclar dentist is not part of the plan. Thank goodness as I need a clear head. Besides, that does not cure the TMJ, only masks the symptoms. I have heard of so many stories of people with braces, that it caused the TMJ. But in some cases got rid of the problem. Just don't go to any dentist Ladida, find out what their success rate is, how they treat and be very cautious if they want to hop right in with surgery and provide drugs. The best way to find out about nueromusclar dentistry is most likely either researching it on the internet or visitng one.
Please, let me know how you are doing and what avenue you decide to take.
Later
Diane
Speaking as someone who got TMJD during orthodontic treatment, I wouldn't recommend braces until you get the jaw problem solved. Braces can force your jaw up and back and make jaw symptoms worse - to say nothing of the pain involved in moving adult teeth! Also, moving the teeth with braces is an irreversible change to your bite. Address the TMJ problem first, then see if it makes sense to do braces.
I have had some success with a chiropractor and massage therapist - both helped to relax the muscles involved.
SueSt
SueSt is right! My son developed TMJD during orthodontic treatment, also. Don't go the braces route until you get your TMJD under control, it could cause more problems!
Cheryl
[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 05-27-2003).]
Flute playing orthodontics and TMJ- Help, pleaseee!!!!!!!! 
i'll approach with caution so. Has anyone ever heard of good results achieved through orthodontics???
