Re: I finally found TMJ RELIEF!

In Reply to: Re: I finally found TMJ RELIEF! posted by Victoria on October 11, 2000 at 14:30:39:

Krikit, let us know what your MRI reveals.. if you are able to open wide, i dont' think its serious enough for surgery. i take flexeril 5mg once a day. it makes me drowsy in the day though i take it at night. there are a lot of side effects, so that may be why your doctor limits it. i'm hoping i can loosen my jaw muscles enough so that my disc can go back into place. assuming the muscles are the problem... keep us posted on your joint everyone.

: : I Finally found help for my TMJ... My jaw joint was STUCK for weeks!!!! After spending loads of money with no insurance to cover this disorder... This is what gave me relief...
: : Soft (non-chewing) diet... Flexeril 10 mg 2 or 3 times a day... Celebrex twice a day... and the most important thing was 2-3 times a day I applied moist heat for 20-30 minutes followed by ice
: : on the affected joint for 5 minutes. I basically froze the area after the heat and my jaw popped loose. Now I sleep with a mouth guard that I bought at walmart... so far the jaw has
: : stayed moveable... It still pops alot, and I am still going to have an MRI next week, and maybe surgery... But for now I have relief!!!... These things may not work for everyone, but I hope it helps someone out there who has suffered as much as I have... KRIKIT

: Dear Krikit,

: I'm glad you're feeling better! I too, take Flexaril, but am only prescribed 5mg, 2X/day (Doc has me break 10mg in half). I thought that Flexaril was a non-narcotic muscle relaxer, and non addicting. What else do you know about Flexaril? Do you have any idea why MY doc limits my use? I appreciate any reply! Oh, yeah, heat packs ARE wonderful. I initially treated myself with icepacks, and doc finally told me that it actually TIGHTENS the jaw muscles, increasing pain - no wonder it didn't work! Thanks again....