Hi Cheryl - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

shell389 · 06-14-2003, 01:07 PM

Hi Cheryl, I saw your post in the other topic asking how I am doing with the Flexeril and everything. Thanks so much for asking.

Well, thank God for the Flexeril. If I wasn't taking that right now I am positive I would be having a killer headache. Even though I am taking it I know I am clenching at night right now. ( I wake up doing it) That crown still feels so off. I think the tapping that the endodontist did on it made it move even more. I cannot wait to get it taken off. It is the tooth that set of this whole problem so I really believe that if we get a proper fitting crown back there it may help things alot. It is hard to say though since the idiot dentist (sorry, but that's how I am feeling) that I had at the time kept filing every other tooth in my mouth to try to line things up. He may have ruined my bite in other places. But I am still thinking that getting back to the tooth that caused all this is the answer in some way. My appointment is not until next Wednesday the 25th since I wanted to wait till Mike is off. It cannot get here soon enough. Believe it or not I have been putting my upper splint in during the day as it seems to push the crown back into a more comfortable position. I am now wondering if this was done purposely by the orthodontist to cover up for the dentist's shoddy work. I know that every time I would ask too many questions at the orthodontist he would leave and go call the dentist. I know this sounds paranoid but I was beginning to think they were just both covering for each other. I am so glad my dentist now is in a different town and doesn't seem to care what these guys over here would think. The only one he even knows is my endodontist. He was actually one of my dentist's teacher in dental school. The endodontist is a nice guy and he does excellent root canals and he from the beginning had said it was the crown whenever I went back to him. But yet, my old dentist would never listen.

Anyway, sorry this is long. I am just frustrated. My bite seems so off again since the crown moved and it is definitely putting a strain on my muscles. I am praying every day that taking if off and getting a new one will help. I am praying that the dentist I go to now will be good at putting a new crown on and have the knowledge to get it just right. He has been great as a TMJD dentist but I have not had any other work done by him yet. Kind of makes me nervous to have something so big done as my first dealing with him. I have seen his patients coming in and out while I am there and they always look happy. His bedside manner is so good and he is such a calm man and I think that will make a difference as he will take his time with this. My old dentist was always in a hurry and seemed all stressed out all the time.

How is Mike doing today? How did the tens go last night for him? Did it help him alot? Anything exciting going on for the weekend? How is your weather? We are sunny,warm and humid. About 85 I think. Thunderstorms are coming this afternoon though and a cooler front is supposed to come with them. I think the next 3 days look nice. Like upper 70's and low humidity. Tomorrow we are taking Emily bowling as I owe it to her for a sticker chart she filled up for good behavior. Mike gets mad at me when I use those charts. He says kids should not be rewarded for doing things they are supposed to do. Instead he thinks they should be punished for not doing them. He is probably right but my rewards system seems to work for Emily and break the patterns sometimes. Hey, we do what we have to as parents sometimes, right?

Well, I will talk to you soon and I hope all is well today and you are enjoying the weekend. Tell Mike I am still praying for him too. Michelle

CherylLynn24 · 06-14-2003, 02:53 PM

Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going well. I would think that you, of all people, would know what started this whole mess off. You said it was the crown, so maybe by replacing it, your problems will start to diminish. Boy, I thought it was just us who had a real idiot for a dentist, sounds like you had his brother! I know what you mean about being paranoid, I'm the same way. Sometimes, it sure seems like a lot of these dentists, ortho.'s, and specialists all know each other and are friends. Like they're afraid to put another's work down, because they know them and don't want any trouble, or something. The medical/dental field seems to be only fields like that. If you have a plumber come out to your house, he has no problem saying-who did this? Or, I don't like the work that they do over there! Oh well, enough of that!

He used the tens last night for an hour and a half. His pain level came down to a 5 from an 8. Tonight we'll try the full 2 hours. I tried it, it's not for me. My head hurt worse, it seemed like it made me clench more. The Neuro. dentist called twice this morning. Apparently, he's not happy with the 'relaxed position' from last week, so later on this upcoming week, he wants him back in the office to tens him more, and retry. I admire that. He could've just slapped a splint in his mouth, and got his $$$, but he's REALLY trying, it makes me happy.

I wish you lived here, I'd take you to see the dentist instead of waiting until the 25th. It hurts me to see or even know of others hurting. Michelle, are you still wearing your splint at night? Keep taking the Flexeril until you get this crown taken care of. Does the splint still seem to be making your neck hurt?

Now, your problems are muscular in nature, right? At this point, his are, and if this Neuro. dentist helps him, maybe it wouldn't hurt for you to find one in your area and get an opinion. I'm not pushing you, only trying to help if this keeps up, so please don't take it that way.

This weekend is sort of blah. I've got bad cramps. Last night the puppy was darting through the house like a jet, I was sitting on the couch with the tens unit on. Here she jumps on me (wildly) and there I am trying to protect this tens unit, and she grabbed my hoop earring, and tore it right out! And I mean tore, it has to heal before I can wear it again. I think if I put it in, it would just fall out! Awww, such is life!

Concerning Emily's 'sticker chart', hey whatever works. When my son was young I did something similar, and it helped with his behavior. I guess it makes them excited about being good. Nothing wrong, there!

Well, Michelle, hang in there. I know this all gets so frustrating at times, especially when we have to go day to day just waiting for appointments, but eventually this will all go away. I have a lot of frustrating days, too. I keep looking into the future, thinking that things won't always be like this. We have to think that way, or it's hard to keep going. Try really hard to think positive.

I hope your weekend gets better, and let me know how things are. Take Care,
Cheryl

[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-31-2003).]

shell389 · 06-14-2003, 04:56 PM

Hey Cheryl, Glad to hear that the tens is helping Mike. And that is really great that the neuro is being so careful about his work and making the splint. I am still wearing my lower splint. Since the adjustments I had done on Monday my neck has not hurt, but I have also been taking the Flexeril since last Saturday night so I am not sure which one is working.

Sorry to hear that you are not having the greatest of times. I hope your ear heals from the puppy pulling out your hoop. I wear hoop earrings every day (the same pair, gold ones) and when Emily was a baby she had grabbed one and pulled it out. Ouch, that really hurts. I hope it heals up fast for you. And that your cramps go away too. It sometimes really stinks to be a woman doesn't it?

My problems are still muscular in nature just like Mike's. I don't think there are any neuromuscular dentists around here but I will definitely check that website. But I do really believe that the dentist I am seeing will be able to help me with this even if he has to refer me to someone else. I am still keeping the positive thought that since the crowned tooth started it all that if we get back to that and fix it somehow things will gradually get better. Like you said, better days are coming.

So sorry to hear that your brother in law tested positive for West Nile. Will he have to take medication now? Now, is that something he will have problems with for the rest of his life or does it go away with treatment? The mosquitos are pretty bad around our area because a river runs through our town, but they are not so bad in the neighborhood we live in now. At our old house a little creek that ran into the river was on our property and you couldn't be outside in the evening without getting all bitten up. They always go for Mike and Emily. Don't bite me much though. I must be too sweet for them. (haha)

Well, we still need to eat dinner here so I better get going. It seems in the summer we eat later and later each day. Hope you feel better tomorrow and hope Mike keeps getting relief from the tens and that the Dr. gets some very helpful information for his case at LVI. I will talk to you soon, Take care, Michelle

CherylLynn24 · 06-14-2003, 05:53 PM

Hey Michelle,

I really do feel that as soon as you get that crown fixed, you'll be on the road to recovery. You only have a little over a week to go, then you'll probably start seeing some relief, so hang in there! Life WILL get better.

Enjoy your evening, Michelle. I'll talk to you soon.
Take Care,
Cheryl

[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-31-2003).]