first time user w/ jaw fracture - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

hectab82 · 08-21-2008, 12:31 PM

I had an accident riding an ATV about 13 tears ago. I lost control of it and fell face first on the ground. Ever since that day my life has been filled with pain and discomfort on my face, particularly my jaw. I'm 26 years old now and painfully regret not ever having told my parents about the accident so I could have gotten the medical help that I need. I can still replay in my head all those times throughout the years where I would tell myself that the discomfort and pain would ease away. Stupid kid. I hadn't realized how real and serious my injury was and still is.

I recently had an MRI done on my TMJ. The MRI tech gave me a CD with my results which I then took back to DR.K who had ordered the MRI. I then make an appointment to see DR.K. He walks in his office and tells me that they don't have equipment to read the disk but that the written report he recieved from the MRI center says that I have TMJ disorder and a fracture on my temporalis and that I most defenitely need jaw reconstructon and treatment. He also tells me that nobody at his clinic can help me. I then ask him what I need to do to get some medical attention. "Go to a dentist," he says.

So here I am $2100.00 later and an MRI disk that no one has read. Could somebody please tell me what to do! I don't have any medical insurance and I don't have any idea of how much this will all cost. Should I just go to the emergency room? Go to Canada? Or what?

pipdog · 08-21-2008, 02:45 PM

Sorry to hear your story.

One good thing: you have an MRI which is the best way of imaging the tmjoints as well as the soft tissue around them.

Take the disc to a copy shop and get them to print out hard copies on film and then find a good TMJ specialist, easier said than done but they are out there, it just takes time and patience finding them.

Thelma-Louise · 08-21-2008, 08:36 PM

Have you looked into whether you qualify for Medicaid or other state provided health insurance?

Do you have a dental school or university nearby - they often charge much less than private doctors although the waiting period to get in may be quite long. The same is true of teaching hospitals.

Also, although this can take a long time and a lot of foot work - contact as many tmj surgeons or specialsits in private practice that you can find - send them a copy of your CD and explain your situation - you never know when you might find the right dr that thinks correcting your problem now is the right thing to do and will let you pay over time.

PS - the disk and report are great - the right type of dr will have the right equipment to read it but do as Pipdog suggested and also have hard copies printed as well.