Arleen

Hi:
Sorry to hear you're experiencing all the bad TMJ stuff. It's pretty hard to cope with, so I know where you're coming from. I've basically had no life for the last 1-1/2 years, and it's only recently that I got a diagnosis of TMJD after seeing numerous dentists, who all said different things.

Anyway, there is a lot of very good and informative information on this site. If you start reading the posts, you'll get some idea of how people cope. We're all at different points in our treatment, so you'll hear some uplifting success stories to balance out those still have difficulties.

I finally found it too difficult and painful to work, so I haven't been for several months. My job requires that I talk a lot, and talking makes things much more painful than they alreay are. It's also impossible to concentrate when I'm in pain.

I've been on all kinds of medication - none of which helped. Most made me feel rotten or spaced out. Now I take either tylenol or advil. I also go to the acupunturist which has helped with the pain. I still have pain, just not as much. I eat a mushy diet, as chewing increases my pain.

I hope you have a decent dentist. You need to find somebody who can accurately diagnose the problem (like why you are experiencing the pain), so that they can properly treat it. I hope you find relief very soon.

Arleen

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Arleen