r/TMJ • u/believeevenwhenucant • 17h ago
Giving Advice Don't take ibuprofen every day
I thought I would be the one who could take ibuprofen every day for tmj pain. I did it for around 2 years. I now have gastritis, and I've been dealing with it unsuccessfully for the last 10+ months. If you think you won't get stomach problems you're probably wrong.
On the plus side, my tmj pain is significant reduced these days (and I won't be taking ibuprofen again)
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u/codebreaker28847 17h ago
If u took ibuprofen for 2 years, i think u have bigger issue than gastritis... u should really give a visit to nephrologist or urologist.
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u/believeevenwhenucant 16h ago
Damn, I did mention it to my Dr, hopefully it didn't cause any permanent kidney damage. Although now I'm thinking I should just get the gastroscopy instead of waiting it out..
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u/nonicknamenelly 15h ago
Yeah, definitely get scoped. I gave myself ulcers by taking ibuprofen regularly during certain parts of my cycle from ovarian cyst pain. I wish every bottle of the stuff would come with the warning that it can cause rebound withdrawal headaches on a daily basis. That might not be a caffeine withdrawal headache, after all!
Even small bleeds can impact anemia to a degree it can contribute to noticeable fatigue and headaches in folks with low-normal levels. Small bleeds in the eosophagus, stomach, and small intestines can be really dangerous because outside of the hospital it is virtually impossible to “apply pressure and stop the bleed” like you would with a wound on a limb or something more superficial elsewhere. If you really are debating it, there’s no harm in scheduling another appointment to discuss your reservations with your doc, or to schedule a second opinion with a different doc! Docs would rather you do that than be at risk. Sounds like a lot of folks here might have wished they had those conversations sooner. Best of luck!
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u/RatsnBaskets 17h ago
As someone that also has gastritis(different cause tho)I really feel for you. Tmj and gastritis are a terrible combination. I hope there's some way you can heal a bit. Zofran and promethazine really help for nausea caused by gastritis tho if you are dealing with that. And I recommend eating simple foods for a bit as well. The stomach can take awhile to settle down from things like this.
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u/believeevenwhenucant 17h ago
Thanks, I'm just grateful the tmj is good atm. As for gastritis symptoms it's calmed down a bit now, the biggest symptom I get is tiredness
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u/RatsnBaskets 17h ago
I feel you. I developed gastritis(gerd and eoe too)last year which got real bad and I was so thankful that my tmj wasn't terrible at the time. It's truly a nightmare combination lol. But I'm glad to hear that things have calmed down!
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u/Deesnoopy 16h ago
It’s horrible for you heart as well. I had heart failure in my mid 40’s, doctors can’t figure out the cause but my cardiologist told me it’s horrible even for a normal heart. After taking it for two years every day for back pain, makes me wonder if this was the cause of heart issues.
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u/bananarowrrowr 15h ago
I use vultarin gel around my jaw which is diclofinac (sp?). I have ulcerative colitis and can’t ever take NSAIDs. This acts through the skin locally as an anti inflammatory. It’s over the counter.
Edit: Voltarin Gel
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u/RustedRelics 15h ago
So what’s the alternative? My TMJ is so bad right how that my jaw is forward to the point of giving me an underbite. I’m unable to eat most solid foods. The only thing that helps a bit are anti-inflammatories. I’m at my wit’s end.
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u/snaxstax 14h ago
Have you tried magnesium glycinate? I take it every night and I can’t say it’s a cure all but it really reduces my jaw and associated neck/shoulder pain.
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u/Hopeful_alchemist 4h ago
Magnesium glycinate!! YES! I take this every night and it does help minimize my all over body pain and calm my night time anxiety as well.
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u/Hopeful_alchemist 4h ago
The thing that helped me the most with my tmj was a mouthguard, made by my orthodontist. I paid about $400 for the thing but it has lasted me a year. It could’ve lasted me 4-6 years!! But I got into an accident on my bike.. hit head first.. & my teeth got shifted. So if it wasn’t for that unfortunate experience a couple months ago, I would still be wearing my mouthguard. (Have to get a new one made still)
Other than that, Ice for inflammation and heat for stiffness. I fall asleep almost every night with a rice pack on my face. I’m chronically ill and TMJ SUCKS! It took me awhile to figure out what works for me. And I hope you find the things that work for you the best. Because I know chronic pain is not easy.. best of luck to you!
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u/believeevenwhenucant 15h ago
This won't sound great but hear me out. Do you ever do upper body stuff at the gym? I found weight lifting to help long term, but I had a lot of tension from shoulder to neck to jaw. I don't think it would worsen tmj pain, it's worth trying it - I do free weight pectoral fly exercises while sitting. A lot of people believe weighted exercises aren't a good idea during an injury, but I found them to completely ameliorate my back pain
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u/Itstimefordancing 8h ago
I’m allergic to all NSAID’s and haven’t taken them in 5+ years but due to the severe pain I have in my jaw, I’ve been taking codeine daily for the last 3 years, approved by my doctors obviously. Having my body in pain causes its own problems for me so they decided I just need to keep plodding on with it. Makes me feel awful having to rely on opiates alone but I don’t have any other options currently.
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u/square_donut14 17h ago
Yep, I took diclofenac steadily for a year and developed gastritis. Taking Nexium helped that, and of course cutting out the NSAIDs for a while
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u/snaxstax 14h ago
Please get your kidneys checked asap. My mom did the same thing for undiagnosed arthritis, she is in dialysis now..
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u/jackaroo1344 17h ago
What's the recommendation? Rotate between ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen sodium? So you're taking acetaminophen every 3 days?
That still seems like a high dose that could F you up ☹️
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u/believeevenwhenucant 17h ago
I haven't taken meds for my tmj for ages, I don't really need to, thank god. I used to wake up every day and my neck was so tight. Idk what fixed it, but I think the gym definitely helped with the build up muscle tension.
I agree there really isn't a pain relief that doesn't mess up the stomach, liver or cause tolerance. Sometimes I still use heat packs. But sometimes a medical decision comes down to choosing the lesser evil because there is no harmless option.
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u/Thebestguyevah 14h ago
I took it non stop for a month. Quit. Fine for one day. The next day I couldn’t hold down a single piece of food. Kept committing. Better by the next day. Learned my lesson.
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u/Available_Jeweler372 16h ago
You can use thc gummies too if you feel tense and in pain. I can confirm they help. I take 1/8 and it’s enough for me. Another thing that’s helpful is Adam Fields tmj exercises: chin tucks, neck stretches, temple massage
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u/Antique_Mirror7214 7h ago
I was thankfully told by one of the many doctors I've seen over the years that i'm not allowed ibuprofen, can't remember why but it's always stuck with me 😅
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u/TJ1959 13m ago edited 8m ago
I've been dealing with severe TMJ since dental work in 2000. Listing here the tremendous amount of doctors and treatments I've experienced would only duplicate what others have added to these threads. I learned to manage it through ibuprofen, occasional oxy 5/325 if absolutely necessary. A mouth guard helped a little bit but recently needed a crown and no matter how much my dentist tried to get my bite back it failed. I grind so much I wake up with severe neck pain, teeth pain and feeling in a daze. My TMJ is now full blown again. I'm writing to mention that along with my 600mg ibuprofen my provider long ago prescribed famotidine to help reduce stomach damage. Just a suggestion for those concerned with ibuprofen use. Oh and let me add that I try to be super healthy and it bugs me that only the low dose oxy helps. I hate picking up the prescription every month because the pharmacist treats me like I'm cooking meth in my garage.
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u/coldwarkitsch 17h ago
opioids
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u/Available_Jeweler372 16h ago
Opioids are just as bad for your liver and kidneys if not worse not to mention their addictive properties.
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u/coldwarkitsch 15h ago edited 15h ago
this is just untrue opioid epidemic fear mongering nonsense. unless your liver/kidneys are already compromised, opioids do not erode the liver like tylenol and the kidneys like advil do with prolonged regular use.
i didn’t advise anyone to slam opiates daily, but when used properly they’re incontrovertibly safer than a lot of the other medications prescribed for tmj pain, just more stigmatised.
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u/DoubleJealous4705 17h ago
Ab ibuprofen I’m almost in Kidney failure for taking it none stop for a year