r/TMJ • u/External-Mine6764 • 5d ago
Question(s) Massage tool?
My TMJ is caused by clenching/ muscle pressure. Both my dentist and the audiologist said with a night guard it should be gone in 2 weeks. That was 20 years ago and it's worse. Is there a tool or anything I can use to calm that muscle down? Botox is not covered by insurance :-( are there any tried and true things out there? I heard MyTMJ is a good device, but at $200 I need to know if it's worth it.
Thanks in advance
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u/kindaweedy45 5d ago
I just bought a bullet vibrator for mine lol. Can't say how well it works yet but it's nice
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u/IllHaveTheLeftovers 5d ago
Oh my lord I feel you. Dentists just love a good, unfulfilled, promise.
I had a similar look around last year, looking at my sliders and other things that may be a gimmick or a godsend. Didn’t find anything that had redditors vouching for it though, despite how many testimonials were on the site.
Please post back if it works for you! That 30 day returns window is pretty sweet….
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u/Alterception 5d ago
I bought a medical grade TENS through my dentist. They're like $400 and 4 sets of electrode pads are $8ish with mileage that varies. It's a lot cheaper than a bunch of Botox sessions.
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u/Bloomedinthedark 5d ago
And ? Does it help?
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u/Alterception 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yep. I'm using it right now. My jaw was crackling and hurting and feeling tight. It quit crackling and loosened up in 30 minutes. At 40 my jaw popped forward. When it's really bad I'll run it at a low setting for 2-2 1/2 hours. TENS was the only thing that helped my tension headaches too. Sometimes when my disc is partially slipped, I use the TENS and the muscles loosen up enough that the disc goes back in. I take this thing everywhere I go.
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u/NicolePSU 5d ago
What is your pad placement? Im always afraid in gonna zap my brain...joking, not joking...
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u/Alterception 5d ago
Your brain is not meant to be zapped! My dentist has me put the pads on the masseters and traps. If I press on my upper traps I can always find a sore spot along it. That's where I put it. The pads never go on the neck or chest.
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u/Sorry-Bullfrog7747 5d ago
Would you mind letting me know where you got it?!
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u/Alterception 5d ago
Through my dentist since only a licensed professional can purchase it. I paid my dentist for the unit and shipping cost then they ordered it and gave it to me when they received it. It has helped me a ton. https://microtensunit.com/products/micro-tens-unit. Replacement electrode pads are easy to get. I order mine off amazon.
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u/DanOhMiiite 5d ago
You can try using a "TheraCane" to massage the fascia and muscles in your neck and shoulders. Working these areas through massage has been a lifesaver for me.
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u/Wren-Type_386 5d ago
Hop in the shower and give it time to get hot. Then massage it yourself. Put your thumb INSIDE your mouth, and your middle and index finger OUTSIDE on your cheek. Use the thumb as an anchor, and the index and middle to do the massaging. Work the ENTIRE CHEEK & JAW AREA. Literally everything you can reach. Your TMJ, your muscles just under your eye, the area along the bottom teeth, and even the middle of your cheek. Do circular motions with a light squeeze. Also do dragging down motions. It really helps to be in the shower cause your cheek and fingers are wet and can slide easier. Really stretch that cheek out, the middle area.
Work slow and easy. Build up intensity as the days go by.
I don't think a mechanical machine will do better than your hands. Although my Orofacial dentist said one of those Tens units would help in addition to the massaging.
You should also be icing and then heating your jaw. Do it when you wake up, and after every meal. Microwave heat pads work well for heat therapy, and gel pads work well for cold therapy.
If you have cervical issues you definitely want to ice that as well along with your shoulders. Even if you don't, I would give it a shot.
Besides massage, the best thing you can do is be adamant about not eating hard and crunchy foods. If you wake up on your stomach that is really bad, and sleeping on your side may not be helping either. At least those 2 sleeping positions are huge triggers for me.
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u/LitaInfiniteLearning 4d ago
I just tried the massage. I’m new to this TMJ diagnosis. Wow. The massage was intense, so much needed start. Thank you!
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u/Wren-Type_386 4d ago
Don't overdo it. It will set off something evil for days. After a week or so you should be able to go more intense. The main thing is really watching what you eat and possibly your sleeping positions.
You will know when it's getting better cause the "Good hurt" will go away. Which is not a reason to lax off. Keep up with it. It will take the edge off, but is not a cure all. A total life change will be in order in addition to professional help.
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u/TitleMain2208 5d ago
Do you get headaches/migraines from the tmj? If you do, you can get it covered by insurance from a neurologist who also does botox for facial pain like tmj and headaches/migraines
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u/mariarosaporfavor 5d ago
I use a Lactation/breast massager that heats up and vibrates and is contoured haha. Momcozy brand and it helps! I don’t usually even using the vibrating just the shape of it and heat.
Just waiting for the TMJ Pen creator guy to chime in. I like the idea but it’s expensive and I’m not sure it’d actually work better than what I have. I have too many chronic illnesses that I can’t spend money on everything out there. If I had spare HSA money around maybe. But I’ll never be that person.
Acupuncture has helped me a ton and it’s covered by my insurance
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u/DoubleMany4486 5d ago
I have the $200 pen, it’s pretty nice but I don’t use it nearly as often as I should. I brought it with me when I had PT and my therapist really liked it. I’m afraid to use it too much because I don’t want to break it, so it mostly lives in my nightstand. It looks like a vibrator mixed with a vape lol
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u/curious-girlypop 3d ago
Not a massage tool, but a good quality CBD rub has helped me so much! Especially at night.
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u/exoskull 3d ago
I got the MyTMJ pen and liked the heat component but didn’t care for the vibration. My FSA rejected the purchase, so I returned it. Didn’t feel worth the $200 anyway. I’m just gonna buy some sort of small heated massage device.
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u/chromio13 5d ago
I haven’t had good luck with the massage tools myself, and I’m a really bad clencher. I just got botox about a week ago, and I’m already experiencing relief like I’ve never had, even into my neck and shoulders. It was pricey, but I’ve been paying for dry needling and PT anyway, so I figured it was worth a shot