A brief history, i had started getting 2 new molars (very last teeth in the back of my mouth) it started making me uncomfortable, this is before the TMJ flared up, one day i awoke and found my ears semi-plugged. I paniced and called the dentist. Anyhow they said I had TMJ, little did i know that TMJ cannot be cured. I waited a few months before figuring out that i needed to see a TMJ dentist.
The Problems:
-I lose all of my hearing and become deaf until i rest my head on a pillow (a splint has helped a little bit)
-My Vision becomes blurry making it hard to read and see
-I can't open my mouth, not even close to an inch
-Eating is not an option, i went from 205 to 185 LBS in a little less then 2 months
-Depression made it so i would never leave my house let alone my room
- Swelling in my face and neck, the swelling is so bad that it looked like someone beat me with a bat
- I cannot go to work, I cannot move my head to the left or the right, down or up, i can only look straight.
I've been wearing a top splint for about 6 months, it has helped a little bit but not much. I'm thinking maybe they need to adjust my bite, my jaw is very far back it seems.
Right at this very moment I feel very hopless, now that i have alot of information about TMJ I'm almost certian TMJ cannot be helped, I'm trying to figure out a way to deal with the suffering, don't think i can live like this for to much longer. It's hard being 20, a singer/song writer, not being able to express my voice, not being able to go out with my friends, laughing and partying with them, rather I sit at home all day and think about what life would be like without TMJ and who I would be.
I'm looking for any information, any doctor world wide that might be famous for his treatments, help.
Danny, I am so sorry you are suffering in this way. I, too, have TMJ, but not as severely as you do, but I do understand.
In reading your post, what bothers me more than the physcial symptoms is your depression and anxiety about it all. Both of things are so normal when we are not feeling well and the illness seems to engulf us. Maybe, however, you need to try to do some of those things that you yearn to do. If we can get out, even for a short time, we tend to forget ourselves and our misery, or at least it recedes. Our mental outlook towards a problem is sometimes much more important than the physical. Another thing to remember is when we are constantly thinking about how we are feeling or what is happening to us, it can make the symptoms worse because we are stressing, therefor clenching and tightening muscles that so need to relax.
I do understand that it is hard to move past the physcial and I hope that others on here will share what they have done to help themselves or who has helped them the most. I hope that you can believe that your answers will come. Many, many of us live with TMJ and life need not be so bleak. Just as you have seemed to spiral down, you are certainly capable of spiraling up given enough time and the right diagnosis for you. You have youth on your side and a life ahead.
May your answers come swiftly and may others on here offer you encouragement and hope.
Have you tried other tmj dentists or just the one? In terms of seeking treatment, you can try searching some of the web sites for tmj, myofacial pain syndrome, FJO, even orthodontists and neuromuscular dentists - most have a dr "member" listing so you may be able to find someone in your area. Also dental and medical teaching universities often have depts for Pain Mgmt, tmj and myofacial pain syndrome - you can give that a try as well as perhaps checking the sticky post in this forum under Great TMJ doctors. Additionally have you seen an OS to have the last teeth looked at - if they are your wisdom teeth they could be causing pressure due to lack of room within your mouth - extracting them sometimes helps.
Hey there Danny. I really feel for you, you sound like you're suffering terribly. Don't despair though, despite what you might think TMJ can be helped when you find the right specialist for you. Some people get cured completely, others have their symptoms eased so they can function "normally" again. You just need to look around for a good doctor. See a few before you commit to treatment. With regards to never going out and enjoying your life because you feel awful, I was like this too but you really need to drag yourself out and just do it. Believe me that seeing your mates will help you chill out and relax and will make you feel better. Also try come counselling for your depression. Stress and depression make TMJ worse for a lot of people so if you can control those that's a step in the right direction.
Sadly living in California my whole life i got used to the customs and technology. Currently living in Louisiana I have seen 2 tmj doctors, mind you that they practice TMJ on the side.
Brief History of attempting 2 docs --
The First Doctor:
The first guy was a real jerk, this was the first person i met with about TMJ. He measured how wide i could open my mouth and i think he was also measuring my teeth? they took x-rays, he said he didn't see anything? beats me. Anyhow, he gave me a bottem splint, made of plastic. It felt different, didn't really help... I only saw him for 4-5 month's. He just didn't care about me so i left him, the splint didn't help. His plan for me was to get my jaw rested then have a orthodontist put bracers on for me to match how the splint had left my jaw, (I forget the name of the dentist that do TMJ, the kind that put bracers on and reallign your jaw) but there aren't any of those in louisiana
2nd Doctor
I found another guy whos mainly an orthodontist but does TMJ on the side, i went to him and he was very kind, but i believe him to be a bit slow. Myself being a care-bear i tend to read everything I can, so i did, each time i go into him i have tons of questions. Anyhow, when i met up with him he made me a top splint. I've been wearing it and like i had said in the first post it kinda helps but not really, it seems my teeth are always shifting so it always needs readjusted, soooo my facial swelling is a little bit down for maybe like a week tops. I went to see him the other day to ask him what step 2 was, he told me that the splint would be my best friend for life.......... seriously, im really not a person to cry but.... i really wanted to then, there has to be a step 2...... step 2.
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