I had my TMJ MRI and it confirmed what my Doctor thought I have:
A Displaced Disc without reduction on the right TMJ.
The good news is that the joint and the condyle bone are not damaged..{{YET!}}
I am currently wearing a splint at night and a some during the day; the splint REALLY helps keep my muscle inflammation down and has made a big difference with pain reduction. My dentist is checking my bite every 7 days to make sure my bite doesn't get messed-up. I am also taking 2mg of Diazepam at night to help relax my muscles.
I can open my mouth pretty wide without pain but if I chew a lot then I can really start to feel uncomfortable sore and tender. This can also cause me to have a bad headache and an ache around my chin bone with sharp shooting pains around my right jaw line.
I am currently trying to eat an only soft diet with lots of fruit smoothies, veggie juices, hummus, nut butters, pureed vegetables, mashed sweet potatoes etc.
Does anyone have any advice for me?
Is it remotely possible for my displaced disc without reduction to EVER return to the proper position on top of the condyle?
What about therapeutic massage, acupuncture, acupressure, anything? Is there any hope?
I *think* the disc became displaced in late May 2005, this is when my muscles were very sore and I couldn't chew, since then my TMJ soreness has not gone away.
The first time I had lock jaw and jaw pain was December 2004. Since then the problem has gotten worse.
Before late May 2005, my TMJ soreness would be bad for a days but then It would heal and go back to 100% normal.
My Dentist says that if the disc has been displaced for less than 6 months there is a slim chance it will heal with splint therapy, a soft diet, relaxation and return to the top of the condyle, is this true?
Since it hasn't been going on for TOO long (probably seems like forever), I would think it's possible for it to heal. The thing is that something must have caused it to get out of whack in the first place. If nothing else changes except for splint therapy, I'm not sure how you'd prevent it from happening again when (if?) you stop wearing the splint.
I have an upper slpint made by my Dentist. It is a clear plastic and he checks my bite and re-adjusts my splint every 7 days, otherwise my bite would become messed-up.
Would anyone consider surgery to place the disc back in position?
One Dr. told me that since the condyle and joint are not damaged that NOW would, be the time to try placing the disc back in postion? The longer I wait then studies show that evntually the condyle and joint will start to break down.
I had my TMJ MRI and it confirmed what my Doctor thought I have:
A Displaced Disc without reduction on the right TMJ.
What symptoms were there that gave the doc the ideat that you had a displaced disc? I've been told by 2 docs that I don't, and by one that I do.
Hi,
I went to see my dentist because I was in pain, I couldn't open my mouth but about 2cm and it was VERY painful to chew. I was able to point to exactly where the pain was coming from my right joint. The Doctor asked me to move my jaw around left and right but doing this he knew right away thay my right disc was dislocated, but only the MRI could tell us if it was with reductioh or without reduction, also the MRI can tell you if the joint or condyle bone are damaged.
Godd luck. I highly recommend an MRI. I feel so much better knowing exactly what is wrong. Knowing has helped me choose the next path I need to take to heal.
I came across an interesting article the other day. It was online at oralhealthjournal.com (am i allowed to post that?) It was written by dentist Jamison Spencer, dmd from Boise Idaho. He tells how he uses a technique that can (most of the time in the early stages) get a non-reducing disk replacement to reduce (basically get the disk to go back where it belongs). It sure sounds like something to try before ever going to surgery. I emailed him with a few questions and he replied right away...he gave me the name of a dentist where I live that does that technique. The article was just published and is dated June 2005 under the cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry category. Basically they numb the joint and help you move your mouth so that the disk slides back up, then he trains you to know how to do that yourself incase it pops back out. However the plan is to not have it pop back out and therefore he puts you in a splint 24/7 for 4 days so that the disk can't pop back out, then he suggests you continue therapy by using a night guard. That's basically it.
I'd love to find out what you guys think. I'm considering it but have a few reservations. My dentist is certified in Oral Medicine, DDS, MSD, MS and she said she'd ask around to see what others know about this procedure. My specialist is very conservative and says that we know the disk is not where it is suppose to be and even if we did an MRI we'd still treat it the same. (meds and time). She said that eventually scar tissue will build up and take place of the disk. She says she has seen this happen plenty and that pretty much no matter what treatment people choose for a displaced/dislocated disk, they eventually end up at the same spot in the end...she also reminded me at my last appointment that this takes time and more time. So I'm torn between just letting things heal or trying to get the disk back into place without surgery. I'm afraid the MRI would make things worse because I can't open my mouth far enough and I've been told you have to open WIDE. Any thought on that?
I'm afraid the MRI would make things worse because I can't open my mouth far enough and I've been told you have to open WIDE. Any thought on that? Thanks
When I did my MRI it lasted about 50 minutes, 40 of which were with my mouth closed and only the last 10 minutes with my mouth open. Maybe different Radiologists do it differently? It would at least be worth asking how long *your* Radiologist would want/need you to have your mouth open. Plus you can always take a muscle relaxer before the MRI to help your jaw relax.
Thanks for the tip on the doctor that claims he can manually move the disc back, cool! I will google him.
My TMJ MRI results...I have questions??? 
