FOR: Cheryllynn24 - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Kim24 · 07-25-2003, 01:43 AM

Hello,

Unfortunately you have gone through so much for your son. I am so sorry he has to deal with this at such a young age. However,your spirit seems to come through this board and I am so happy you are here. Your posts have brought a lot of hope and inspiration to me. I value your help you post on here for others to read. so I want to say thank you! But...

I do have a question for you. What are the symptoms of MPD? I'm so confused. I was told by my specialist I fall into MPD category. I was told by two dentists I don't. I know my insurance will cover treatment for MPD and I am seeing my primary physician to get help with a letter to my insurance co, that I may be suffering from MPD. I'm confused at this point if the symptoms I am having are MPD related or not. Your knowledge and help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Kim

CherylLynn24 · 07-25-2003, 02:05 PM

Kim24 · 07-26-2003, 07:08 PM

CherylLynn,

Thank you for your response. The definition really helped me to understand more of what MPD is. The dentists I've spoken with were all confused and said the dizziness, muffled hearing, sweating I was having were not symptoms of TMJ. So I went to see a specialist and he told me I do fall into MPD and was willing to help me push that code through my insurance plan since TMJ is not covered. In the meantime though, I was told by the specialist and my psychiatrist to go and get a physical done by my internest to make sure that and the other symptoms I am having aren't signs of anything else going wrong.

I was put on a splint by my regular dentist, but he wasn't doing things right (after comments I read on here and what my specialist had to say). His purpose of the splint was to help me stop grinding and alleviate some tension when I slept. However, he was adjusting the splint every week to every other week for 2 months. He started, but didn't finish my equil (grinding teeth) and the next night I locked open for several hours. I was supposed to have an appointment with him the next day to finish the equil he started, but when he heard from his receptionist what happened to me, he called me and cancelled the appointment and told me to find a specialist. He felt he wasn't helping me. So, since he didn't know who to refer me to, I had to look on my own. He also accused my oral surgeon that he made my TMJ worse when he did my biopsy and surgery in February. So my oral is hesitant to follow up with me on my recovery, thinking I am upset with him. I cleared that up fast and Yeah, lots of misconceptions all from that one dentist. I got really depressed and found this board. Then searched through the yellow pages and internet. I found 1 Dentist that was competant and compasionate.I clicked with his work techniques and people skills. I researched his practice and found out he is reputable and respected here.

The specialist I saw was very comforting and understanding. I broke down on him thinking there was no hope. He took the time to show me what was happening and listened to my dental history. I will be seeing him again after my internest. The $350 splint my dentist gave me is of no use. So I argued the bill with them and told them about all the anger and depression they caused me and my husband. Not to mention the trouble they started. My husband is really upset with our dentist and cancelled himself as a patient. He feels my dentist did more harm then help. He should have sent me to someone when he saw me lock the first time. He didn't know what he was doing, yet continued on like he did know.

Unfortunately, this has taked a lot of things that make me happy out of my life. I no longer sing because I lock later in the night. I eat the same thing and play it safe (boring). I don't play my instrument anymore because it affects my jaw. So...I have to find other things that make me happy.

I am so happy though that I found this board. It's helped educate me and keep me calm knowing I'm not alone.

I did mean what I said in my post to you, and thank you for inspiring me to keep going and not just give up.

Thank you,
Kim

CherylLynn24 · 07-26-2003, 09:26 PM

Kim24 · 07-26-2003, 09:53 PM

CherylLynn,

Oh my! I read about your son's former Orthodontist. I would've have slapped him for acting that way. What an unprofessional thing to do! For a child to say that is something! That Ortho is an idiot not to recognize it. There was times speaking with my dentist I told him, Let me pry your mouth open until the point it hurts and you stay like that for hours. Tell me if you think it's nothing or you don't need help. Oh then he tells me "try not to yawn." Oh boy! He would get mad at me and shake his head because I would lock due to yawning.I told him you try not to yawn and tell me how easy it is to keep your mouth shut.

What other types of treatment has your son had? I work for a psychiatrist and spoke with her about all this because it just flared up my anxiety and depression. She believes that with stress management and exercise I will have less lockings. I just wondered what you thought?

Honestly, when she told me that I just laughed (luckily she's a good friend of mine also). I told her, um...so basically I need to leave my life and start over? I'm 30 years old with a 30 year old husband that went blind and has severe allergies. I care for him since he is disabled,constantly clean due to his allergies, work at a psychiatrist's office, run my own business and now have TMJ.So I need to just be happy and numb? I lock when I talk too much or sing too much. So therapy sessions with a psychiatrist are out of the picture too because it brings on too much emotion and tension in my jaw. So how am I not too stress? She advised medication, but I refuse to go on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety. With so many people depending on me, I'm scared I won't be able to function or make mistakes. Your experience is welcome. I'm sure you've been through a lot more than I have.

Kim