How many of us smoke and do you exercise? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

luvtocamp · 08-23-2006, 01:54 PM

I'm a smoker and I was told its aggravating the facial muscles and should quit.
I got the patches and am going to quit tomorrow again for the hundrenth time. Curious how many of us are smokers.

Also does anyone exercise. Since I started with this tmj 1.5 yrs ago I quit exercising, you never feel like it when you feel rotten.
I am joining the YWCA and going to start the water stretching class (I have MS so am not highly physical) and have taken up walking on my threadmill.
Just wondering how many of us get steady exercise.

When I get a ms exacerbation I can usually pull myself out of it in a month or so, but with this TMJ stuff its like I have no control- I have to depend on the dentist to give me the bite I need - because in my mind its all related to the proper jaw relation and proper verticle height, and although everyone is different I just can't understand why a tmj specialist doesn't know this.

raylp · 08-23-2006, 02:33 PM

I don't smoke.

I did start exercising regularly about 6 months ago, and this made a big difference in my TMJ management. I don't really do anything all that high exertion: just the exercise bike, treadmill, and then swimming around. This with a hot shower and I'm loosened up alot.

Hey Luvtocamp- I recently heard about a friend of a friend with severe MS who after trying everything under the sun alternative and convetional has had remarkable results from the salt-c protocol. You might want to check it out.

Miara · 08-23-2006, 02:47 PM

I don't smoke either, never have. And I do exercise; yoga, tennis and riding a bike (until the snow comes) and walking. I was thinking of starting pilates-type of exercise as well but when I signed up for the class I was given queuing number 25, and it's a group of 50, so I guess I won't be going... Anyway, I think exercising is important for everyone. I can at least recommend (daily) yoga for anyone with muscle stiffness. Actually I can recommend it for anyone, it's just makes you feel good.

Thelma-Louise · 08-23-2006, 07:19 PM

I smoke and have always exercised at home (treadmill, stair climber, step aerobics) or in a gym. I was going to try & quit smoking when the tmj developed but my dr said although this was great the stress it would put on my body - which was already under a lot of stress due to the pain from tmj - would make me feel much worse. He said to try once the tmj was resolved. I haven't been able to exercise since the tmj b/c I have no sense of balance anymore - I am always so dizzy and have a very unsteady gait now - and it seems to aggravate the overall body pain I have as well. For the past couple months I have been using my sisters hot tub and do some leg stretches and upper arm rotations- and I can now do some light house work, but nothing strenuous since I have no upper arm strength and chronic hip pain.

luvtocamp · 08-24-2006, 02:16 PM

Thelma Louise,
I agree about stress and smoking. I had quit and then with this tmj stuff I started back up. I figured if I can't eat I may as well smoke. I really need to quit again, but I'm so stressed its hard.
I don't have the dizziness but I just don't exercise like I use to because I think I'm getting depressed from having this so long, like is it ever going to go away. Its just hard to function period, without exercising too.
Something got to give soon. Why in the world can't they get our bites right?!!!