I have just read your posts and am curious about the surgery you've had. If you do not wish to discuss it, that's OK.
I saw your comment that you didn't know if you had an implant or not????
I would recommend, if you are having discomfort and pain at the surgical site, regardless of how long ago, some of these procedures have a tendency to fail with time, have this checked.
I talked to a Physical Therapist a few weeks ago who had her healthy, but dislocated disc sutured back in to the correct position 15 years ago. One side has just "Dislocated again".
I have to respectfully disagree with your advise to see an Oral Surgeon or be referred to one for TMJD.
All non-invasive treatments and alternative therapies should be tried first, starting with a qualified Dentist. I started treatment 25 years ago with Ortho, then 6 surgeries and finally found the answer and help from my Dentist.
Hi Cymy Sue. Thank you for your reply. I had the surgery done 12 years ago. I am in alot of pain again. My jaw is sore all the time and aches and is causing my headaches and facial pain. Feels like it did before I got the surgery. I think they just cut the tendon and then reattached it so it would stretch again. I don't know if I should see the oral surgeon who did the surgery or go to the dentist or the doctor. When I had problems in the beginning, my dentist referred me to a maxillofacial specialist. It could be that he didn't know many dentists who know about tmj or what. I know things have changed alot and it could be the area I am in as well. I don't have dental insurance but if I had to have surgery again , it would be covered by health care up here. How would I find out if I had an implant? Gosh, I never thought I would be having problems again. What did you have done? You had six surgeries? Could I ask what helped? Thanks for your time :-)
Carebear73
12 years ago, Surgeons were doing a lot of surgeries for TMJD, that many of them don't/won't do now. During the 80's & 90's it seemed they thought going into the joint and "fixing it" surgically would end our problems.
They did find out in time, many of these procedures did not work or last.
A Dentist might could help you with your current problem. If the pain is at/from the surgical site, the surgeon who did the procedure may be who would need to find out if something has happened.
If you had a metal or plastic implant they would have told you and most likely, you could tell.
If you had a replacement of the disc with an autogenous graft (cartilage from your ears or ribs, leg muscle, dermal(skin/fat) you would have had a place on your body where it was taken from or harvested. You would have known, it hurts.
The surgeries I had on my joints were Arthroplasties. In 92 to replaced my shredded disc with ear cartilage.
These failed and shredded also, in about 2 years. They were removed in 97 with no replacements. (These types of replacements don't last)
Before these, I was diagnosed with TMJD after my wisdom teeth were blamed for the pain and surgically extracted in 77.
I had 2 of the Jaw-breaking/restructuring surgeries in 88. These surgeries went terribly wrong and I have damage from them that will never go away.
I had bone grafts in 90 due to infection from the last one in 88.
Then the 2 joint surgeries in the 90's.
In 2000, I had to have a nasal procedure due to nerve damage from these surgeries. My nose closed up and I couldn't breathe.
My wisdom teeth came out OK, but they were not causing the pain.
The bone grafts kept me from losing teeth and stopped the infection.
The nasal surgery worked well. I can breathe through my nose again.
The other surgeries left me in a real nice mess.
My left condyle is a little below the right. I have been numb from my nose down for 16 years. I have so much nerve, bone and muscle damage, they will not even consider doing any more surgeries for me.
( I am very happy about this. I tried to get metal implants or a complete prosthesis last fall and they refused)
I had been in "Pain Management" most of the time for the last 6 years. I was told that was my only option with the mess I had. ( the rest of my life)
In Dec.02, my Dentist designed a splint for my condition. Surgical damage and no disc.
It's the only thing that has ever helped.
I am better now than I have been in 26 years.
This is brief, most of the details of these surgeries are around the board. I hope this helps you understand my post and how careful everyone shoud be about surgery.
I do hope you're not having TM Joint problems again. I would have it checked out.
carebear73 
