Trixxie72

Hello folks...
Been reading several topics on these boards for awhile, but just now posting. I'm 33 and have had clicking in my jaw since the late teens...it seems to have started around the time I had braces.

Since then (not sure how long...a few years now?) I developed a habit of clenching (no grinding) at night and also began to hold my stress in my jaw....like when I'm angry or upset about something I tend to keep my mouth shut and the muscles tense. Now I tend to do it even when I'm not upset about anything, just driving or working or whatever. I have to make a conscious effort sometimes to actually relax my jaw. It's to the point now that if it is really bothering me I can not even tell the difference between when it is tense and what is relaxed.

I also recently read that peeps with TMJ should not rest their chin on their hand or palm, and I have done that for years while on the Internet.

So, in the last month or so I've been getting headaches. They are gradually progressing and getting worse. Light is now starting to bother me and it's getting to be where it's a constant ache whereas before it was only in the evening. It tends to be in the front and behind my eyes and on the temples. It's also hard to tell if it's my jaw that's aching or the face muscles or both. It tends to be on both sides, but primarily the left. I realized tonight that in order for my top teeth to be resting so they fit right on my bottom teeth that this is the position which causes me pain - makes my jaw ache as well as making the muscles ache. Not sure what this means...I did have a large overbite as a child, which was a primary reason I had braces (as well as not 'having enough room in my mouth' for all my teeth - had 4 teeth pulled then). Wisdoms were pulled at about 24 I think. I'm now starting to wonder about those braces and if they were a factor.

I DO have a cavity in one of my upper left molars...could this be a factor or cause of the headaches? It seems hard to believe with the jaw pain and pain level of the headaches, but I'm not ruling it out.

My real question is this (only a little more rambling here...) I saw my PCP last week. He said he was going to refer me to a facial pain management clinic. Now this has happened to me before - I've been seeing a spinal pain management clinic for almost a year for low back pain (I have a torn disc at L3-L4 and L4-L5 vertebrae are congenitally fused). I have not been too thrilled with the Here's Your Pain Meds and A Couple of Epidurals approach. Not to say it hasnt helped but...I dont know, I just feel like the back issue is not being addressed aggressively enough and I dont want to go through the same crap again with my jaw. I even asked this doctor about getting a referral to an orthopedic surgeon (for the back) and since they dont think (nor do I yet) that I need surgery, he blew me off. Typical M.D. or do surgeons see non-surgical patients? I've always thought they did...

Part of the problem is, I just so distrust the medical peeps these days I dont know when I should be questioning them or when I should believe them.

Soooo...what is the best type of doctor I should see for the jaw? Does anyone or has anyone gone to a Face PM clinic and are they worth it? Do I need to be seeing a dentist or is there some other type of doctor that specializes in TMJ? Orthopedic? I have an HMO so is it the insurance company that's deciding who I get to see or the PCP? Should I go get one of those jaw thingies (?) at the drug store in the meantime? Of course I am waiting for approval from good ole Aetna and then there will be the wait for the 'new patient appointment'.

I cant handle these headaches much longer. I've never been one to get headaches at all in my lifetime..maybe one a year and minor at that, so this is definitely something I'm not used to, and I'm starting to have to take my back meds for my headaches - not good at all.

Some good advice about where to go/what to do would really be appreciated Thanks in advance...and sorry for being long-winded.

~Jessica