View Full Version : anyone have TMJ?
hi guys. i recently came down with tmj a few days ago. it's on the right side of my jaw and not both sides, and i still can't open my mouth very wide. what i've been doing so far is holding a cold wash cloth to my right side to reduce the pain and cheek puffiness. the pain isn't as intense as the second day (probably due to chewing and drinking things that may have irritated the area). it hurt so much that i cried. i'm also water fasting... in the hopes of shutting down digestion and sending my body's little doctors to work their magic.
has anyone cured TMJ or used any natural remedies?
also, i haven't talked for days. i'm going to eventually need to. :o
saxmaam
09-23-2008, 07:40 AM
I've had some problems in that direction. The background is a long, irrelevant story so I'll skip that and tell you the one thing I learned that might help.
It's this:
Your jaw and neck and shoulders are all connected. Stretching and loosening your neck and upper back and shoulder muscles can help get the jaw back into position.
So I'm thinking stretches, hot baths, and massage for shoulders, neck, and upper back.
thanks so much saxmaam. i have read that the back, neck & jaw are all related. so stretching makes sense. i will probably try to incorporate some light ones.
i can't do yoga, b/c every time i would feel achy for about a week.
what do you think about chiropractors? i'm about to go on a date with one at the end of Oct. :D
carolg
09-23-2008, 09:37 AM
I HAD TMJ one time and super painful. Found a chiropractor who adjusted that area on my face and it was gone forever. Years later still gone. Best to you. I don't have any further info but this is what I remember working for me. Feel great.
carolg
how did you find your chiropractor, carolg?
i've read some people mentioning their chiropractor saying it would take a lot of time with TMJ, but yours did it in one go? i have also heard of those. so i'm wondering now. :)
carolg
09-23-2008, 10:23 AM
You may call local chiro based on referral. Ask if they helped with people who had TMJ and how many visits. My chiro said 1-2 visits should do it. I hope this is good for you to hear. It worked for me and hope it works for you in finding one.
Are you in a meetup group? Or rawfood group in your community? They may know a chiro like mine. You don't have to go forever; however, with my frozen shoulder that was undetected this chiro couldn't help but my other chiro rolfed me for a year intensely saving me from surgery. It worked. Hoping that is not your case, but I do remember the TMJ chiro said 1-2 visits max. I don't know the point he adjusted. Keep us posted.
googled tmj chiropractor adjustment
"Chiropractors are doctors of the nerves, muscles and joints of the body. As your TMJ is a joint - your chiropractor may be able to help! Treatment of the TMJ commonly revolves around the loosening of muscles around the joints themselves - working both outside and inside the mouth, using massage and trigger point therapy. Adjustments to the joints can also be done by a technique by hand that causes a tiny stretch inside the joint to release any 'fibrous' attachments that have been made by the body due to previous trauma. The typical "clicking or popping" sound with chiropractic adjustments to joints won't occur here and it's not painful!. Home exercises may also be given to help strengthen the joint and loosen the muscles that are too tight. By carrying out all the above, motion of the jaw joint can improve and symptoms such as ear pain, jaw locking, headaches and neck pain can be reduced.
Dr Samantha Westbury did her thesis on the relationship between ear pain and temporomandibular joint disorders. If you have any further questions about the TMJ, feel free to e-mail her on drsam@chiroclinic.co.za
www.chiroclinic.co.za
Lots of other infor.
Check curezone.com
Off for now.
carolg
thank you. i'll check those out. :)
greenfeline
09-23-2008, 11:43 AM
this happened to me last week! My dentist said hot packs, an anti-inflammatory (maybe look up some herbs?) and soft diet. For me, it went away within one day so I didn't have time to look up anti-inflammatory herbs.
carolg
09-23-2008, 11:57 AM
Wow...glad dentist was on top of that...amazing...
carolg
this happened to me last week! My dentist said hot packs, an anti-inflammatory (maybe look up some herbs?) and soft diet. For me, it went away within one day so I didn't have time to look up anti-inflammatory herbs.
damnit! i'm jealous! mine has been going on for... hm... since Thurs., so almost a week now! :eek: i've been using ice packs to numb the pain. when i get home on thurs., i'll be able to apply heat to it. :) thanks for letting me know.
HolyGuacamole
09-23-2008, 02:34 PM
I have had relief from Rolfing and chiropractic. TMJ sucks. You have my sympathy.
...and have fun on your date!
I have had relief from Rolfing and chiropractic. TMJ sucks. You have my sympathy.
...and have fun on your date!
lol. thanks! i will! :)
juliebove
09-23-2008, 10:23 PM
I've never been diagnosed, but have had symptoms. For me, chewing gum and other chewy foods were big culrprits. So were largish baby carrots. I started buying the single serve packs of baby carrots because they are tiny and more tender. Can also sometimes find them in larger bags, labeled mini carrots.
I do also see a chiropractor so perhaps that helps. Haven't had a problem in a long while.
i've been looking around on the net. i have hope and thanks guys for the encouragement. :)
i'm also thinking it could be my snoring (i hear from the fam. i snore loudly :o), bad posture, been stressed lots lately & maybe oil pulling. i've been oil pulling to the point my cheek stretches and i'm still pulling. so i'm not really sure.
right now, i'm water fasting -- day 4 will be done in 25mins. so soft diet is not an issue. ;) after that, if i still can't open my mouth wide, i'll just juice fast. what the heck, right?
i don't really have an issue right now w/ the problem, but i do worry that my fam. is going to be worried that i'm living off of liquids. my aunt says she's scared i may be sleeping & dead. my snoring comforts her, hehe.
and with my chiropractor date, i've been thinking about it and i probably won't even mention it. i don't want to mix professional & potential-romantic relationships. should sparks not fly b/wn us, then at least, the person will have me as a patient afterwards. should sparks fly, i better shop around for a chiropractor, if i'm not better by then. ;)
carolg
09-23-2008, 11:24 PM
You could mention and feel chiro out for his expertise and mention several of your friends online have tmj and wondering how he treats patients with this? How many visits? Is there a chiro point. I don't see my chiro till Monday to ask him.
carolg
oh. that's a good idea. i'll work that in somehow... in the conversation. :)
hey guys. i wanted to update everyone on the TMJ situation. :) thank you for all the advice and encouragement. i was feeling so down, & everyone was just so supportive.
I had immediately started water fasting after I could no longer open my mouth to speak, b/c it hurt too much to move my mouth, swallow or even blow my nose. I always tried to have a wet & cold cloth applied to the right side of my face and sometimes on my forehead (due to developing a fever).
after i could speak again by day 6 of my water fast, i started applying a heat pad to my right jaw and doing mouth exercises. it's now day 13 of my water fast, & i almost have full mobility of my jaw.
so i'm hoping this is all good news. :D
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.4 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.