how do i find relief from TMJ?

Question

I am a junior in high school and have missed 2 and a half days of school bcause of the symptoms does any one know how i can find some relief???

I have a nightguard but it doesn't seem to be helping i have horrible headaches and i have missed 2 days of school just this week

Answer 1

To help stop or minimize the pain from TMJ, apply hot towels or a heating pad to the joints at your jaw. Do this for fifteen minutes. Wait ten minutes then ice therapy.

Place clean tap water into a foam cup and place in your freezer until it is completely frozen. Peel back a small amount of the top of the cup and massage this onto area of pain using constant circular motion. DO NOT hold the ice in one area for more than 3 minutes since this may cause frostbite. Cold therapy should be stopped once the skin feels numb.

Take Advil three times daily. Do not chew gum, eat hard foods, as this will aggravate the joint.

Answer 2

hello
Firstly I had TMJ also about 4 years ago, it both worried and annoyed me. I had a clicky jaw which made noises throughout the day and some pain. There can be a lot of effects of TMJ, I thought this originally occured after I fell on my hip - I thought my body alignment was out of sorts. There is a link between the joints in the pelvis and TMJ. Anyway, I was told by a consultant that nearly most of these cases fade gradually and after several months it did just that. You could get your mum to bring you to a chiropractor, this could correct it and a combined approach along with the dental route could help. It might seem that you will have this forever, but continue with the treatment and advice from your dentist also. As far as pain relief is concerned light massage of the jaw might help you, again chiropractor will be able to show you exact area to massage. Good luck

Answer 3

I too suffer from TMJ. My jaw would lock and I could not open my mouth more than a .250" When I could open or chew, my jaw would pop very loud and with pain. My dentist was not a big help either. Finally I went to see an orthopedic surgeon. I was not really interested in surgery because it can cause more harm than good. Luckily the surgeon agreed and instead of surgery he made a mouth guard for me that I wear at night. This hard plastic device readjusts my jaw slightly and allows the disk that is misaligned at my jaw hinge to move back into position. Slowly my jaw began to realign and now I seldom have problems. I also do not chew gum or try to eat anything that is really chewy, like tough pizza or steak etc. I wear the guard occasionally now just to keep things in line. Luckily over thime your jaw muscles and tendons will realign and allow the disks in your jaw to move back into proper position. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

A chiropractor, physical therapist, or medical massage therapist should be able to help a lot. They will work to correct the cause of the problem rather than just treating the pain. But for the pain, try heat or ice (whichever one you prefer), ibuprofen, or a topical pain relief (like Biofreeze or Theraflex). Also, if your night guard isn't working let your dentist/specialist know. There are many different kinds of guards and splints, and if yours isn't working you may need a different kind.

Answer 5

I have TMJ problems after an MVA, the chiropractor showed me a muscle inside my mouth by my jaw joint. He showed me how to apply pressure there until the pain goes away...... Surprisingly, it works well for me!!! It works better than any medication I've been taken.

Good Luck! I know how it can get very painful. My jaw locks on me too, on top of the headaches, cracking/popping in and out of place and the pain.....

Answer 6

My daughter has tmj and her dentist has given her a prescription for naproxen 500mg to take twice a day. You can get aleve over the counter which is naproxen just a lower strength take 2 to 3 tablets twice a day. Be sure you eat when taking them because they can cause stomach upset if you don't. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

I ended up going to a peridontist and he fit me with a bite splint. I had TMJ so bad and I was getting very bad headaches and jaw aches. I could not open my mouth very far. The bite splint worked wonders, as it realigned my jaw and after about a month the pain was gone, I could open my mouth. Now I need the bite splint only periodically.

Answer 8

Doesn't your dentist have some sort of aparatus you put in your mouth while you sleep---something that will help correct it. Do you have the headaches associated with TMJ.

I read where Botox is helping people with it.

Go here & read up on it....http://www.oceanviewdental.com/Tmj.aspx?gclid=CM-wwbGb-IsCFRkNYAodxkcSYg

Answer 9

800 im

Answer 10

wear a night guard.