delilah1963

After 2 years of chasing this TMJD, I'm no closer to a "cure", but I do feel I am closer to a "cope." My first splint (which I did not even realize was a repo splint--such a rookie then) failed miserably and put me in more pain. I thought after I got that puppy my recovery was only 8 weeks away. I've been around the block about 8 billion times since then. After about 2.5 weeks my face started going numb and I kept going back to what I will dub "Smarmy TMJ Doc" and telling him, "something is wrong, it puts me too far right and back." He would make me bite up and down, up and down, then rub my cheeks and say, "It is fine, my friend, fine." He then told me I had myofascial pain dysfunction, that my TMJs were in fine shape, and sent me on my way to PT. After 2 mos. of PT, I went back to him and he basically released me from his care, with my big old check in his bank account.

That entire experience made me splint shy and furious. I've searched locally and beyond for a TMJ specialist, and I've met some that may be able to help, or they may not. This is what really bothers me. I could be worse off than ever before. I am fortunate that I am not dire enough yet to take that chance. I feel as though most of my problem is muscular, due to an arthritic neck and clenching, but I know from an MRI there is some minor trauma to my TMJs.

For now, I have decided on a multi-disciplined approach. I had two cervical steroidal injections in my neck in Feb/Mar that helped for a while, along with an occipital nerve block (back base of my skull), which helped tremendously with neck/shoulder/headaches for about a month. Since the body can only take so much cortisone, I'm holding off as long as I can till another one.

I rec'd a custom made bite guard based on my natural bite(no repo this time) for clenching. I wear it at night and during the day when I am concentrating on something (my all time clenching trigger). I exercise on some level everyday. Walking, leg work, and lots of stretches throughout the day on neck, SCMs, etc. I use those rubber band thingys and do some v. light work with those for neck strength. I constantly check posture (30 min. pop up on my 'puter), stopped some bad habits (lip biting, cheek chewing). I try to keep my head up and back, and chin up (I'm a forward head person to due my kyphosis--forward curve of the spine). I pretend the back base of my head is resting on two tennis balls.

I ice everyday after work and heat at least once during the day at work.

I "talk" to my muscles. Especially neck and shoulder and coax them to stop riding up around my ears.

2x a week I go to a chiro, this includes: chiro adj. on neck, masseter muscle stripping, shoulder, SCM and other muscles (I can't remember their names) stripping too. The appt. also includes 10 min. massage around my neck, base of head, behind my ear, 10 min. of heat/e-stim, and 10 min. ultrasound (all the feel good stuff).

2x a week I go to an acupuncturist. He pins me with about 30 needles on my neck, face, jaw, head and throat, and then hooks me up to 3 sets of mini jumper cables and turns on microamps. It is uncomfortable at first, but I am asleep in 10 minutes. It is almost like an anesthetic.

I take a Vioxx a day, and a Valium at night. On worse days I take a Darvocet.

I am spending a fortune and it is time consuming, but nothing I'm doing is irreversible and I am functioning. I don't always feel great, but I feel better than I did. My headaches are better, and the spasms are too, though still present. Not as much spasm really, but constant muscle tightness like I am in a daily fight against atrophy.

Right now, it's keeping it manageable. It's been quite a learning experience, and a commitment.

Didn't really have a magic bullet for anyone, but for those with minor joint damage, these modalities can make life more bearable.

I lurk a lot to learn and keep you all in my heart.

Best,
Del.