Help, MRI ? Does it mean surgery? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

meditation · 06-28-2004, 01:35 PM

I've been reading other's threads. And, even though I am a 'vet' in this, I am at a loss right now. My results relayed that both TMJ meniscus' are displaced and off the condyle. I am now set to get a splint, which I am having to pay out of my pocket, and wonder if it will even help me.

Does a displacement, especially where severe pain results and an opening of only 15 mm, mean a person has to have surgery?? Since my accident, over a month now, I look like a chipmunk....for the life of me I can not get the swelling to go down...ice, moist heat, anti inflammatories...even a tens unit.

You would think I remember this from the past, but it has been such a long time....

If it weren't for the pain, I would consider just dealing with this; but....

I really would appreciate some help.

thank you and hope everyone is having a good day.

Katie G · 06-28-2004, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meditation

I've been reading other's threads. And, even though I am a 'vet' in this, I am at a loss right now. My results relayed that both TMJ meniscus' are displaced and off the condyle. I am now set to get a splint, which I am having to pay out of my pocket, and wonder if it will even help me.

Does a displacement, especially where severe pain results and an opening of only 15 mm, mean a person has to have surgery?? Since my accident, over a month now, I look like a chipmunk....for the life of me I can not get the swelling to go down...ice, moist heat, anti inflammatories...even a tens unit.

You would think I remember this from the past, but it has been such a long time....

If it weren't for the pain, I would consider just dealing with this; but....

I really would appreciate some help.

thank you and hope everyone is having a good day.

Hi there - I'm no expert on this whole TMD stuff, but living it everyday gives me some experience. I don't think you are necessarily bound for surgery even with displacement. Most TMJ specialists want to try a more conservative approach first - usually a repositioning splint and then determine further treatment during your adjustment to the splint. If a specialist recommends surgery as the first step - run far away - according to what I've read on these posts, surgery should be a last resort and met with extreme caution.

Katie G

spacenut99 · 06-28-2004, 03:18 PM

Hey there...it sounds like you have almost the exact same problem that I have, except my TMJ problems did not result from an accident. I have 2 displaced discs, and up to a few weeks ago my opening was 15mm and I was in severe pain for over a year.
I never had a doctor recommend surgery for my problem. I was told that my case was severe, but since I've been seeing a new TMJ dentist for the last few weeks I have been feeling better. I am wearing both an upper & lower splint, and my opening has increased to 25-30mm which is pretty amazing b/c I was at 15mm for the last year!

I found that shortly after the discs became displaced the pain was unbearable for a few months, and then it subsided somewhat although I was by no means cured. If the splint you are getting is made properly and your doctor knows what he is doing, you should be feeling better very soon, but if you are like me it might take a couple of weeks before you notice a change.
The purpose of my splint is to bring my lower jaw down and forward so that hopefully the discs will recapture, and it will probably take 3-6 months or maybe more b/c I was pretty bad for so long.

It is SO important that you get a good splint. I had one made by another doctor that made me worse and it set me back a few months b/c he kept making adjustments and telling me to give it two weeks and then two more weeks etc. Find out the purpose of your splint and give it a shot, and if it doesn't work, lose the doctor and try and find someone else.

Hope this helps!
Lisa

TiffanyAnn · 06-28-2004, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meditation

I've been reading other's threads. And, even though I am a 'vet' in this, I am at a loss right now. My results relayed that both TMJ meniscus' are displaced and off the condyle. I am now set to get a splint, which I am having to pay out of my pocket, and wonder if it will even help me.

Does a displacement, especially where severe pain results and an opening of only 15 mm, mean a person has to have surgery?? Since my accident, over a month now, I look like a chipmunk....for the life of me I can not get the swelling to go down...ice, moist heat, anti inflammatories...even a tens unit.

You would think I remember this from the past, but it has been such a long time....

If it weren't for the pain, I would consider just dealing with this; but....

I really would appreciate some help.

thank you and hope everyone is having a good day.

Hi:
No, your results do not mean you must have surgery in order to help your problem. Of course if you see an oral surgeon he will tell you that you need surgery because that is what oral surgeons do is surgery. But the truth is that surgery can often leave a person with more problems than they started with and sugery should never be considered until all other options have been exhausted totally. Please be patient and give the splint time to work but realize that nothing including surgery will make you the way you were before you had TMJ. Your jaw will never be the way it was before injury but you can find relief and without surgery too. So, hang in there and give your splint a chance to work.
Tiffany