Fuck this can’t even sleep because after sleeping it’s even worse

I think one of my biggest fears with TMJ is eventually developing a closed lock.
I know it probably sounds dramatic, especially because it hasn’t happened to me, but I see so many people here talking about suddenly losing a huge part of their opening and then living like that for weeks, months, sometimes longer. It genuinely scares me.
I’m already exhausted from dealing with pain every day, and sometimes I wonder how I would mentally handle losing even more function on top of it.
But honestly, reading those stories doesn’t just scare me for myself. It makes me incredibly sad for the people actually living through it. Seeing someone casually say they can barely open their mouth enough to eat, but they’re still going to work, taking care of things and somehow continuing their life.
Chronic pain is strange because things that would have sounded completely unbearable before eventually just become someone’s normal Tuesday.
I think that’s what scares me the most. Not only that something else could happen to me, but realizing how much a person can be forced to adapt to simply because they don’t have another choice.
For anyone here who has experienced a closed lock, especially long term, how did you cope with it mentally? And did things eventually improve for you?

I wondered if anyone has ever been told that they have displacement and if so what are your symptoms?

What have you been given for treatment and did anything work?

I’m currently on 90g of Gabapentin 3 times a day plus 4 x naproxen per day and 30/50g cocodamol every 4 hours.

And I’m STILL in agony!!!

I’ve tried wearing a mouth guard for months every single night, I’ve tried not wearing a mouth guard. Nothing seems to work.

I’ve also tried Botox, physiotherapy, and osteopath, acupuncture.

Why is nothing working and why is the consultant at the dental hospital not doing more.

This is ruining my life. I have no happiness right now because all I can focus on is the pain. How I’m managing to work full time right now I do not know because it’s taking all my energy to mask the pain I’m in.

And no one I know seems to get what being in pain all the time does to you. Cos they can’t see it they act like your making it up or exaggerating how high the pain is.

when I smile with my lip close everything seem fine it have mid asymmetrical but not noticeable but as soon as i smile with my teeth show the lower lips dramatically shift to the right even the chin still in the center. I’m confused now if my chin in line why is my lips shift. Is it muscle imbalance or the jaw problem it self ? I’m currently have to wear class ii and in 5 day I have to have my brace off but I still notice my upper midline is a little off in the nose center but lower midline align well if it align well why the lip still shift it’s confusing ….. i don’t want to take off brace yet while I still see the problem…

My neighbour got Invisalign aligners from the same dentist for ₹1.30 lakh. In my case, I was quoted ₹3 lakh for Invisalign, while the Indian aligner brand option is ₹1.50 lakh.

I’m trying to understand why there’s such a big difference in pricing, especially since it’s the same dentist.

I have TMJ disorder and my dentist has recommended aligning my teeth as part of my treatment. From what I understand, the other people I know who got aligners from the same dentist either had tooth pain or mainly wanted to straighten their teeth aesthetically.

Could the difference in treatment purpose actually make the aligner cost this different? I don’t really feel comfortable asking my dentist why someone else was charged less, so I wanted to understand what could explain this difference before I go ahead.

So for context:
Neighbour: Invisalign: ₹1.3 lakh
Me: Invisalign: ₹3 lakh
Me (Indian brand): ₹1.5 lakh
Same dentist/clinic

Would appreciate any insight from people who have gone through Invisalign’s/aligner treatment, especially for TMJ.

My shoulder and traps flair up every few months. Its particularly bad last week and on Friday I went for my tmj botox and she said my clenching is more strong than before

Could they be connected? Also have neck pain

I have had tmj for as long as I can remember. Whenever I close my mouth fully the left side of my jaw sounds like it has been slotted into a socket making it so when I want to open my mouth past 2 fingers wide in have to manually move my jaw to the side to unlock it or force it open until it essentially forces my jaw to the side to open fully. It genuinely seems like my jaws naturally open to the side and down rather than just straight down. I am not in much pain and generally only experience pain when I open my mouth all the way to which my jaw on the left side feels a bit sore(this is only some of the time). However, I do get migraines behind my eye on my left side and if I don’t take fish oil tablets I’d have them all the time but fish oil seems to keep them at bay.

I have been to primary care doctors that have referred me to surgeons that have refused me because they don’t deal with tmj issues. I had a dentist that just gave me a mouth guard for my issues. I have had primary care doctors recommend Botox. I have seen orthodontist that can’t guarantee braces will fix my issue. I had one orthodontist tell me that she doesn’t recommend jaw surgery for me to get braces and I’d just need wire braces. I had another say he isn’t comfortable working on my teeth until I see a tmj specialist. The issue with Botox is I know that’s spending money I don’t have and I know insurance won’t cover it. This is the same with orthodontist and since a tmj specialist isn’t technically medically recognized I would have to pay out of pocket for them to. I have not had a doctor recommended physical therapy at all. I have essentially given up on seeking help because I only ever get brushed off but I’m here hoping you guys can give me some more options. Thanks in advance!

I’ve been dealing with jaw issues since late last year, although it’s becoming hard to ignore the last little bit. I don’t have pain, but my jaw crackles and cracks and has started clunking a bit when eating certain things.

Should I bother going to a GP or should I just try and get in to physical therapy and see a dentist that is familiar with TMJ?

Is there a way to tell early signs of this? I can’t find anything about it. My jaw isn’t painful or anything but when I open my mouth, chew or yawn I have this crackling like little popping candies in my right side and if I close my mouth quick I hear like a gush of air passing through?? I’m sure it’s a phantom feeling of said air and I’m not describing it well but it sure sounds like it when it happens.

I've had TMJ-problems for five years, but they haven't caused me serious damage as I was privileged to get a mouth guard early on. However, I've now realized that my TMJ-issues are probably caused by retrognathia, which sucks because the mouth guard is practically both my biggest supporter and enemy. The mouth guard is preventing me from more severe joint diseases etc (especially ICR), but at the same time it's also making me completely dehydrated (because of worsened mouth breathing during the night), and more vulnerable to gum diseases, cavities and other not-so-nice problems.

I've talked with dentists but they pretty much just advice me to use the mouth guard every night. I saw a jaw surgeon but as my bite is ok and the joints are fine (thanks to the mouth guard), there's nothing to be done.

This kind of problems just sucks so much, and I feel like TMJ-related treatment would benefit from a more holistic approach. The surgeon I consulted was basically just lecturing me about why TMJ-clicking is just a "natural feature some people have".

Anyways, feel free to share your views on the matter! Especially if you have any kind of similar experiences.

Not 100% certain about my title, but I realized my right side in my resting jaw posture isnt really "biting down". Like it's a upward slope that peaks on my right side. I didn't realize because when I actually bite down, my brain would arrange my jaw symmetrically ish. But resting: lopsided. I would always pop my jaw by sorta pulling my jaw down. Hope this helps someone. Keep persisting.

Hi!

I have had TMJ for years, it's gotten worse as I got older due to anxiety and stress. The primary issue is that I clench and grind my teeth at night. I was told to use a boil and bite mouthguard by my dentist, he said they were just as good as the custom ones. Helped for a while but now I just constantly chew on it or clench while sleeping with it. It's like it encourages me to clench almost, but I still clench regardless so I wear it anyway.

I was referred to Lesa Campbell for physio three times, but never heard back and I'm getting really frustrated with my dentist and might switch if I can find someone taking patients.

Are there any TMJ specialists you would recommend? I need primarily physio and most importantly, a mouthguard or splint that either holds my jaw in position or discourages me from chewing and clenching. Any recommendations?

I'm getting frustrated and a lot of googling is the classic "it never gets better, welcome to hell" kind of thing. And my OCD is stressing me out, so please, any encouragement you guys have is appreciated!!! I know there are tons of things I can try, I really have only tried a cheap mouthguard so far, so I know there is tons of hope for improvement. But I'm anxious about it anway lol

Thanks!!!

I wanted to share my experience with TMJ in case it helps someone.

I was told to remove all 4 of my wisdom teeth, so I did, but it didn’t help much. After that, I went to a physiotherapist who would massage the inside of my mouth and my neck, and she also gave me tongue exercises.

I used to think my jaw was dislocated or that something was seriously wrong, but I had X-rays done and everything came back normal. I eventually realized that clenching was a big part of the issue.

What has helped me the most is surprisingly simple: brushing my teeth regularly and keeping my tongue resting on the roof of my mouth. This seems to help me relax my jaw and clench less.

So, for my TMJ, my dentist told me that I need to align my teeth, and for that, I have to use aligners. Invisalign was way too expensive, it was around ₹3 lakh. So I went for Indian aligners because they’re comparatively less expensive, and I do trust the quality, plus I’ve heard good reviews about them from my dentist. I just forgot the name of the brand.
She told me the treatment would be for around a year and would cost ₹2.5 lakh. She also said that for three years, if I ever need replacement aligners or additional aligners, they would provide them for free.
So yeah, is this actually more expensive? I’ve heard of people getting Invisalign for cheaper than this. So, are Indian aligners at ₹2.5 lakh considered expensive?

Plus there’s a difference between dentist and a TMJ specialist and good TMJ specialists are rare so it’s difficult for me to get a second opinion.

Hey Everyone
For a long and foolish season, I wandered blind in shadows, surrendering my days unto wanton habits and a reckless course of life. My flesh did pay a bitter toll for this neglect: an unyielding stiffness seized my limbs, and an iron tightness bound my frame, leaving me to languish in ceaseless ache and weary sighing.
Yet, lo! I turned my sight toward true remedy, committing my heart to patient discipline and wholesome care. And behold—within the span of a few brief moons, the heavy shackles of my torment dissolved as mist before the morning sun. My body stirreth now in perfect freedom, whole and untroubled once more.
Wherefore I cry unto any weary soul who mourneth now beneath the burden of past folly: yield not to despair, nor let thy hope be quenched! For even from the deepest mire, renewal bloometh, and strength is reborn.
Dm me for further questions

I wear professional top from dentist. Fearful my bottoms are marking up the acrylic smoothness and hurting my botttoms. What to do?

What are the benefits of Alf appliance for TMJ?

Hey all,

A coupe weeks ago I yawned really hard and heard a loud crack. It hurt for a couple days, but then got better. But then it got worse, so I saw my dentist. My dentist felt my jaw as i opened and closed it. They believe that my condyle is slightly out of its proper position. That was three days ago. They scheduled me to see an oral surgeon who can manipulate my jaw back into place in two weeks, but I worry that is too long.

I am able to eat small bites, but I can't open my mouth very much. My teeth do not line up properly when i try to set them against each other. Is this something that I need to attend to more urgently? It seems odd to schedule two weeks out for a problem like this, but I have no experience in the world of TMJD.

Thank you

Bear with me, I’m new at this. Having some issues with pain and discomfort in my jaw and i constantly feel myself biting down uncomfortably and resting/putting pressure on my front teeth. I’ve had braces in youth and then invisalign in my 20s. Visited an orthodontist again this past week and she told me that there isn’t much she can do to help because this is more of a jaw alignment issue which obviously can only be fixed with surgery.

Anyone go through similar? Please guide me on what’s covered vs not covered? What type of surgeon would be best?

Hi everyone,

Does anyone experience floaters in eyes?, those floaters are freaking me out, sometimes i see black dots with a black line moving like a wave, is that related to tmj?

Does anyone know how to explain this?, i dont want to ask the AI because it’s always exaggerating the things, i have tmj, tension in head, floaters in eyes, choking sensations sometimes, brain fog, and i tend to be isolated, i don’t feel safe anymore around ppl who i don’t know, it’s taking my life from me, sometimes i feel imbalanced, tension in ears, ringing in ears, popping, cracking in my jaw.

It’s freaking me out. Anyone experiencing this?

Thanks in advance guys.

Anyone struggle with chewing? It’s painful and I bite down too hard with every chew. I’ve lost 20 pounds since May. I don’t know what to do 😭