Non-reducing meniscus - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

pipdog · 04-14-2008, 02:56 PM

Does anybody have a 'non-reducing meniscus'?

Just got a 6 page letter from the dentist explaining what I have and saying that the treatment plan is to try a splint for 12 months and then review with the possibility of an op to plicate the disc back into position.

I feel very down about this diagnosis, There was a phase until a few months ago when the joint popped and clicked but that stopped - is a splint a shot in the dark? Everytime I swollow I hear a kind of grating noise which is freaking me out

Thelma-Louise · 04-14-2008, 07:18 PM

I did some searching on the web and found some really good helpful info on this - in one study I found it indicated that for patients that started with reducing menicus - which is indicated by popping and clicking - if treatment does not work they can progress to the non-reducing meniscus - but for this instead of the down and forward pushing splint a pivot splint is used.

There still is a possibility here that you will not require surgery if the pivot splint works. Try and keep your spirits up - you may feel quite differently in a month or so with the new splint.

MissHeadache · 04-15-2008, 09:24 AM

Hi Pipdog,

I had a popping/clicking jaw, then it stopped doing that. Now after 3 months of splint therapy I have an occasional click again which suggests to me that my disc may finally be moving. I know mine does recapture, but being posterially displaced they recapture when I open my mouth and are out when it is shut (i.e. most of the time). Definitely give the splint a try, it took me 3 months to start feeling the effects but I have had minimal pain for the last 2 weeks now. I was also told that I might need an op if after 12 months the splint has not helped. But just by opening up the space in your jaw joint, hopefully over time it will get there on its own.

pipdog · 04-16-2008, 02:51 AM

Thanks Thelma Louise and Miss Headache
Good to know you're not alone dealing with TMJ issues.

In the meantime I discovered that what I have is in fact a pivot splint. When I close there are only two points of contact, i.e two pivot points. Maybe its some kind of hybrid design -modified Gelb Pivot splint? because apart from the pivots, its also bough my mandible down and forward and moved it over to the right, Midlines are totally off now