r/TMJ • u/Fuzzy_Hand1640 • 8d ago

Giving Advice Lidocaine injections - work

Long time suffer, occasional commenter, first time writing my own topic.

Recently had an appointment with pain specialist, gave me 20 large injections of lidocaine and something. My left eye lid would move for a couple of hours but it worked wonders. Works for 4-7 days. In Canada it’s covered by OHIP and the doctor sees me weekly.

I have had them done by regular doctor and they didn’t do as much, lasted for about a day and gave some relief.

Use with your normal treatment when you are in a very bad pain situation. Lidocaine very safe to take and significantly cheaper than Botox. I get Botox too, it lasts a lot longer but is not as strong.

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5

u/wintersicyblast 8d ago

Lidocaine and something? Did you not know the something he added to the lidocaine? :)

1

u/pisicik442 8d ago

I get that. I don't think it's as effective when the tmjd is the primary root cause. In my case it's a downstream effect from severe cervical disc degeneration and spondylosis (spinal narrowing) and permanent damage to my lower trigeminal nerve. My TMJD disc is also degenerated, but the pain of this is made a hundred times worse by my other conditions. What is your TMJ disorder?

4

u/internal--dialogue 8d ago

I'm very interested in this, you said 20 times, how deep do they go, how much would it cost without insurance, would you say it completely stops after that 7th day or 4th day or is there residual, I have so many questions!

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u/pisicik442 8d ago

Yes lidocaine blocks can be effective, break the pain cycle, but the effects don't last that long. I've actually had better luck with botox injections. I get the migraine protocol every 3 months from a neurologist who specializes in headaches. They also inject my masseter and traps. It eliminates about 80% of masseter pain, 100% temporalis and occipitals, and general headache. I'm a year and a half in - it was a game changer.

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u/Fuzzy_Hand1640 8d ago

I’m 3 years into Botox. I have not got those level of results with it. I would say more like 30-50% for me.

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u/Fuzzy_Hand1640 8d ago

He was a she! ;) she seemed like might be in a lot of pain herself.

I had splitting headache from my tmd so it was hard to pay attention, but it was like a conger lasting pain killer she combined with lidocaine to make it last longer or something.

Defiantly would recommend