diagnosis..tmj..bite..muscle..anxiety?? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Chadstlouis · 12-01-2003, 11:33 PM

I am sure..from reading post on the forum that alot of you feel as I do. Tired of living day to day worrying, how is my jaw going to do today. I can barely take deciding if I will or will not do things based on my jaw. Time for me to make a decision!

5 Years ago I started having jaw pain. Ortho put braces on me. Specialist would all tell me different things..but one thing was consistent..that I had a openbite with a little underbite. Oral Surgeon told me they would have to move my upper jaw up and out.

Surgery was costly and scary..went with braces. Wore braces till this year...pain is still a constant probelm. Oral surgeon still recommends surgery and other orthos tell me to live with it

Symptoms:

Jaw builds with pressure and I need to pop it alot to relieve it. Muscles are always tight and spasms. Eye pain and blurryness, loss of hearing, dizziness etc.

A local ortho that is supposed to be good with TMJ recommends a splint to see how it works and go from there.

Has anyone had upper jaw surgery to help the bite and relieve jaw pain?

Any recommendations of people to see in St. Louis, MO.

Thanks
Chad

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Cymy Sue · 12-02-2003, 03:55 AM

Hi Chad & Welcome,

Orthognathic or jaw altering surgery is very invasive, especially on the top.
It should only be done in the worst of structural abnormality cases.

Many times the appropriate splint therapy can correct slight bite problems as you have described.(slight underbite) Many of our members are using splint therapy for open-bite problems, also.

The other symtoms you have are pretty common with TMJD and splint therapy can correct these in many cases.

Restructuring bone will change your bite, however it will not cure TMJD and may make your joint & ear symtoms worse due to the trauma. This type of surgery can cause nerve damage and in many cases does make muscle problems much worse.

You most likely would still need splint or other types of therapy to correct these other symtoms.

Jaw restructuring is not to cure the TMJD symtoms. It is to restructure bone.

Unless you have a severe abnormality, I would do further research and ask a lot of questions about what to expect on the outcome of this procedure. I would also ask, what type of other treatment would be required for the ear and muscular related symtoms. This type surgery can absolutely make these symtoms worse.

Cymy Sue

Chad, I bumped up a few of threads on Surgery. Not particularly for you to read the details of "Surgeries gone Bad", but for you to see exactly what you would be required to sign in case you decide to have surgery. I've had other types of surgery over the years and never seen anything quite like these consent forms.