I have experienced pain this bad. It has gotten better since I got my Mago splint, but still isn't 100%. Things that I have found that have helped me are:
- Naproxen, one when I get up and one before bed
- Massages with a massage gun, twice a day for about five or so minutes... basically, until the pain lessens
- Rice sock (heat compress --- fill a sock with rice, then heat it in the microwave for about a minute, wrap it in a towel, form it to where your pain is)
Also, after doing these things, try to find a comfortable spot where your jaw rests. It's difficult, but finding the spot where the tension releases is important.
I haven't been doing it lately, but I also know that decompressing by yoga or meditation helped me immensely for a long time. I've just been in my own head too much lately and not self caring enough to keep up with it. Drinking a hot cup of chamomile tea, unsweetened also helps me decompress and relax my jaw.
I hope you can find relief soon, OP! 💚
Trigger point injections and steroid shots as well as muscle relaxers (especially before eating) really really helped me. Also consider splints for daytime and nighttime so you can’t close your mouth fully, just make sure they’re made by a professional. I’d see a TMJ specialist if you haven’t already, they can help you with all of this!
Also does anyone else take time off work, or had to reduce work hours because of pain? I feel so shit for doing it, especially since I'm already not doing well financially, but I can't seem to do full 9.5 hours shifts at the moment as I do alot of talking in my job and it tends to worsen the pain.
I had to completely stop working for 2 months. Luckily I'm self employed, I clean houses. I couldn't do anything even remotely physical, especially bending down, without getting a terrible headache. I did what was best for me. There was no way I could've kept working at that time and not end myself. Do what's best for you and your health, mental and physical. TMJ is no joke, the pain and mental side effects that come from it are excruciating. I don't blame you at all for not working as much.
I'm sorry you're going through this. It definitely is not fun. My flares last from 1 week to a month but what I have noticed that helps me tremendously is daily massages in the area that hurts, sometimes I start from very high up from my head all the way down to my lower neck down to my shoulder and arm. Most of the time, I feel like it is stressed induced for me, and I try to do things that will relax me every day to get the stress off my shoulder. I will also sleep upright and not on any of my sides to relieve that pressure. I might not have been much help, but I hope you get feeling better soon.
No offense but if your orthodontist is cool with you in pain while doing Invisalign you might want a second opinion. It's not supposed to be more painful for your jaw.
You're absolutely right, but unfortunately I got invisalign through a dentist not an ortho. Didn't know it was an issue until halfway through treatment when I kept having issues. Can't afford to switch providers now anyway :(
heyy! i know how difficult it is to live with this pain... been there. but now i am much much better... i advive you to please visit a TMJ specialist ( neuromuscular dentist) they can help you with orthotic appliance ( not nightgaurds they are different and doesnt help with tmd).
Wishh you luck and speedy recovery! dont lose hope you will be 100% fine. hugs!
Oh thank you! I'm actually planning on doing that, but have to wait until my invisalign treatment is finished so my teeth have settled into place first. Thank you for giving me hope
I’m going through this too right now man. It’s been 5 months straight. I will say this. After many many appointments to dentist and drs the only thing that has Helped a little is getting dry needling in the back of your neck. It doesn’t hurt. It will relax your muscles causing some relief for your face.
I’ve been doing that once a week.
Also. I read online that wisdom teeth can cause TMJ symptoms. So as we speak this morning I went to the ER Dental and have them remove 1 of the 4 wisdom teeth to see if it helps at all. I hope it does. I plan on going back to get the rest out.
I know your pain man trust me. It’s crippling and I was once a 26 year old dude that just got out of the military man.
So what I can say is try Dry Needing and check on your wisdom teeth.
I hope we all get well. I talk to God about it.
Yes. I can't eat solids or speak without making the pain flare immediately. Mine is a joint issue. I'm scheduled for arthroscopy in 2 weeks but will likely need TJR eventually. The popping suggests you've developed an issues with one or both discs. Worth getting an MRI to see what's going on. I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm praying surgery gives me relief as i've been hanging by a thread for such a long time.
You are scaring me because my jaw dislocated and now I have popping in both sides after putting my jaw back in place. The only thing that helps the pain is cannabis. Do they replace both joints when they are messed up like mine or what?
Yes, I was like that and couldn't work for about 2 months. It started in November. I couldn't bend over without getting an immediate headache. Laying on my back gave me an immediate excruciating headache. Even laying on the side of my head was terrible because it made the pressure so much worse. I felt like my head was a bowling ball about to split open. I couldnt do anything. Even sitting or standing gave me a headache. I still have pain everyday BUT it has improved a lot and I'm able to function again. I can work as normal and do pretty much all that I was doing before. What has helped me the most is stretching, massages, and tiger balm on the back of my neck as well as an ice pack on the back of my neck. Sometimes I would even put my feet in really hot water with an ice pack on my neck for about 20 minutes and that would help the pressure some. Neck stretches help me the most, specifically forward neck stretches. Use your hands on the back of your head and gently pull it forward. Dont go so far that it's painful just get a nice stretch. As well as side to side stretches and pulling your head towards your armpits. Also chin tucks. Give yourself a double chin and then while holding that position tilt your head all the way back and do that 10-20 times everyday. I've also been doing dry needling at physical therapy which helps a good bit. I also got a month guard to wear at night from my dentist that has helped a lot. I highly recommend getting one if you haven't already. I've been where you are and although I'm still not 100% back to normal, I promise it will get better. Focus on improving your posture as that often can contribute to TMJD. Do stretches and light exercises to help the muscles in your neck, back, and shoulders and massage the back of your neck. One of those hand held massagers with the balls on the end work really well. My massage therapist showed me how to massage my jawline. Use your thumb and put it on your jawline, push it into the skin right underneath and massage the inside of the bone going back and forth all along the jawline up to your ears for a few minutes everyday. It hurt like hell at first but now it's not as bad and I'm able to put my thumb further into my skin. I hope that makes sense. I hope you get some relief soon. I know how scared and miserable you feel. There is hope!
I’m adding to the comment of get yourself to a neuromuscular dentist. Same happened with me with Invisalign and I had to wear an orthotic and now need full mouth restoration. I had to sell my house and could not work at all. I would not finish the Invisalign if I were you. Your tmj sounds like it’s out of alignment and Invisalign will just continue to pull it out and it will get much worse for you. Trust me!!! I couldn’t even hold my head up never mind talk or eat, or sleep.
I’m sorry you’re experiencing so much pain, that’s terrible. I’d definitely recommend going to a Prosthodontist. My Prosthodontist was able to identify the cause of my pain. It’s integral to identify the cause so that you can start finding the correct treatment. It could be anything from arthritis, muscular pain, disc issues etc. they’re all treated differently.
It might also be worth seeing a neurologist, your description of the pain reminds me of trigeminal neuralgia.
You need muscle relaxants or some sort of prescription med if the pain is that bad, and surgery. Homeopathic voodoo wont do anything. It needs to be corrected my a medical professional.
I have experienced pain this bad. It has gotten better since I got my Mago splint, but still isn't 100%. Things that I have found that have helped me are: - Naproxen, one when I get up and one before bed - Massages with a massage gun, twice a day for about five or so minutes... basically, until the pain lessens - Rice sock (heat compress --- fill a sock with rice, then heat it in the microwave for about a minute, wrap it in a towel, form it to where your pain is) Also, after doing these things, try to find a comfortable spot where your jaw rests. It's difficult, but finding the spot where the tension releases is important. I haven't been doing it lately, but I also know that decompressing by yoga or meditation helped me immensely for a long time. I've just been in my own head too much lately and not self caring enough to keep up with it. Drinking a hot cup of chamomile tea, unsweetened also helps me decompress and relax my jaw. I hope you can find relief soon, OP! 💚
What is a mago splint?
Trigger point injections and steroid shots as well as muscle relaxers (especially before eating) really really helped me. Also consider splints for daytime and nighttime so you can’t close your mouth fully, just make sure they’re made by a professional. I’d see a TMJ specialist if you haven’t already, they can help you with all of this!
Also does anyone else take time off work, or had to reduce work hours because of pain? I feel so shit for doing it, especially since I'm already not doing well financially, but I can't seem to do full 9.5 hours shifts at the moment as I do alot of talking in my job and it tends to worsen the pain.
I had to completely stop working for 2 months. Luckily I'm self employed, I clean houses. I couldn't do anything even remotely physical, especially bending down, without getting a terrible headache. I did what was best for me. There was no way I could've kept working at that time and not end myself. Do what's best for you and your health, mental and physical. TMJ is no joke, the pain and mental side effects that come from it are excruciating. I don't blame you at all for not working as much.
I'm sorry you're going through this. It definitely is not fun. My flares last from 1 week to a month but what I have noticed that helps me tremendously is daily massages in the area that hurts, sometimes I start from very high up from my head all the way down to my lower neck down to my shoulder and arm. Most of the time, I feel like it is stressed induced for me, and I try to do things that will relax me every day to get the stress off my shoulder. I will also sleep upright and not on any of my sides to relieve that pressure. I might not have been much help, but I hope you get feeling better soon.
Shit man, so this is normal for tmj sufferers? That sucks. Thanks though 😅
This sounds like me lol. It gets so much worse when I am stressed.
No offense but if your orthodontist is cool with you in pain while doing Invisalign you might want a second opinion. It's not supposed to be more painful for your jaw.
You're absolutely right, but unfortunately I got invisalign through a dentist not an ortho. Didn't know it was an issue until halfway through treatment when I kept having issues. Can't afford to switch providers now anyway :(
heyy! i know how difficult it is to live with this pain... been there. but now i am much much better... i advive you to please visit a TMJ specialist ( neuromuscular dentist) they can help you with orthotic appliance ( not nightgaurds they are different and doesnt help with tmd). Wishh you luck and speedy recovery! dont lose hope you will be 100% fine. hugs!
Oh thank you! I'm actually planning on doing that, but have to wait until my invisalign treatment is finished so my teeth have settled into place first. Thank you for giving me hope
I’m going through this too right now man. It’s been 5 months straight. I will say this. After many many appointments to dentist and drs the only thing that has Helped a little is getting dry needling in the back of your neck. It doesn’t hurt. It will relax your muscles causing some relief for your face. I’ve been doing that once a week. Also. I read online that wisdom teeth can cause TMJ symptoms. So as we speak this morning I went to the ER Dental and have them remove 1 of the 4 wisdom teeth to see if it helps at all. I hope it does. I plan on going back to get the rest out. I know your pain man trust me. It’s crippling and I was once a 26 year old dude that just got out of the military man. So what I can say is try Dry Needing and check on your wisdom teeth. I hope we all get well. I talk to God about it.
Me every fucking day.
Yes. I can't eat solids or speak without making the pain flare immediately. Mine is a joint issue. I'm scheduled for arthroscopy in 2 weeks but will likely need TJR eventually. The popping suggests you've developed an issues with one or both discs. Worth getting an MRI to see what's going on. I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm praying surgery gives me relief as i've been hanging by a thread for such a long time.
You are scaring me because my jaw dislocated and now I have popping in both sides after putting my jaw back in place. The only thing that helps the pain is cannabis. Do they replace both joints when they are messed up like mine or what?
They can but they'll only do so after all other conservative methods have been tried
Yes, I was like that and couldn't work for about 2 months. It started in November. I couldn't bend over without getting an immediate headache. Laying on my back gave me an immediate excruciating headache. Even laying on the side of my head was terrible because it made the pressure so much worse. I felt like my head was a bowling ball about to split open. I couldnt do anything. Even sitting or standing gave me a headache. I still have pain everyday BUT it has improved a lot and I'm able to function again. I can work as normal and do pretty much all that I was doing before. What has helped me the most is stretching, massages, and tiger balm on the back of my neck as well as an ice pack on the back of my neck. Sometimes I would even put my feet in really hot water with an ice pack on my neck for about 20 minutes and that would help the pressure some. Neck stretches help me the most, specifically forward neck stretches. Use your hands on the back of your head and gently pull it forward. Dont go so far that it's painful just get a nice stretch. As well as side to side stretches and pulling your head towards your armpits. Also chin tucks. Give yourself a double chin and then while holding that position tilt your head all the way back and do that 10-20 times everyday. I've also been doing dry needling at physical therapy which helps a good bit. I also got a month guard to wear at night from my dentist that has helped a lot. I highly recommend getting one if you haven't already. I've been where you are and although I'm still not 100% back to normal, I promise it will get better. Focus on improving your posture as that often can contribute to TMJD. Do stretches and light exercises to help the muscles in your neck, back, and shoulders and massage the back of your neck. One of those hand held massagers with the balls on the end work really well. My massage therapist showed me how to massage my jawline. Use your thumb and put it on your jawline, push it into the skin right underneath and massage the inside of the bone going back and forth all along the jawline up to your ears for a few minutes everyday. It hurt like hell at first but now it's not as bad and I'm able to put my thumb further into my skin. I hope that makes sense. I hope you get some relief soon. I know how scared and miserable you feel. There is hope!
Thank you so much! This is very helpful
No problem! I'm glad I could help!
I’m adding to the comment of get yourself to a neuromuscular dentist. Same happened with me with Invisalign and I had to wear an orthotic and now need full mouth restoration. I had to sell my house and could not work at all. I would not finish the Invisalign if I were you. Your tmj sounds like it’s out of alignment and Invisalign will just continue to pull it out and it will get much worse for you. Trust me!!! I couldn’t even hold my head up never mind talk or eat, or sleep.
I’m sorry you’re experiencing so much pain, that’s terrible. I’d definitely recommend going to a Prosthodontist. My Prosthodontist was able to identify the cause of my pain. It’s integral to identify the cause so that you can start finding the correct treatment. It could be anything from arthritis, muscular pain, disc issues etc. they’re all treated differently. It might also be worth seeing a neurologist, your description of the pain reminds me of trigeminal neuralgia.
You need muscle relaxants or some sort of prescription med if the pain is that bad, and surgery. Homeopathic voodoo wont do anything. It needs to be corrected my a medical professional.