Looks like surgery is inevitable for me - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

une_fille · 11-09-2005, 09:49 AM

Just saw my TMJ doc and it looks like I'm wearing through my tissue. Since my disc is dislocated we were hoping the tissue would form a pseudo disc, but it doesn't look like that's happening because my back teeth are touching my splint now which means they've shifted due to wearing through the tissue. He's still surprised that I don't experience any pain, just stiffness and soreness. He told me that I will be in pain in less than 5 years, though. So he's sending me to an OS in Tampa (I'm in Atlanta) to go talk to him and see what he says. He definitely wants me to hold off on the surgery until I do feel pain, but that I should still go and talk to the surgeon. If I could just figure out how to stop grinding my teeth at night I could potentially hold off the surgery...I'm doing PT right now, but it's not helping. Maybe I should try biofeedback? Acupuncutre? Ugh.

Michelle W · 11-09-2005, 10:22 PM

I vote for taking pain medication until you can't handle it anymore. OS will try to talk you into surgery, because they want your money. I had surgery and I am still in pain-more pain. I would just keep wearing your splint at night. Stick around and read the board some you may decided against the surgery.

une_fille · 11-10-2005, 09:14 AM

Yes, you are right I know. I guess I will cross that road when I get there. I don't really see how surgery will help me really since I will still be grinding my teeth at night even after the surgery. I'm still doing PT and I'm going to try acupunture. Then after that...I dunno...

Michelle W · 11-11-2005, 06:53 PM

A lot of people find trigger point injections helpful along with such things as massage therapy. Many members heat up this item called a bed buddy in the microwave and sleep with it for relief.

I would try everything I could before I decided to go down the surgery path. I was always a strong supporter of surgery, because I had always had such good luck with it in the past. When my dentist told me I needed surgery to put my disc back in place I didn't give it another thought because he was my doctor. I didn't realize it was so controversial.

Keep asking questions and looking for answers!

VA-GAL · 11-15-2005, 06:43 AM

I agree with everything Michelle said. I thought surgery had to be the answer too because I had had surgery in the past on other areas of my body that worked great. I had no idea the TMJ was a special joint that was difficult to operate on and success was not routine. I had not done my research. I did not know I needed to do research. It was not until after repeated failed surgeries that I started looking for reasons why this was happening. It was too late for me, but you can still avoid this route. Do everything else first. Surgery should ALWAYS be the very last resort and only if things are very dire. I would not have surgery for a displaced disc. Oh, I wish I had known.

Va=gal