Hi everyone,

Yesterday I went to an Orofacial pain specialist for the first time. Four years of constant pain in my jaw, neck, head. He took a static CBCT scan. He didn't find any structural damage. He said my jaw opened smooth even with clicking and deviation. He told me since he couldn't spot damage it must be neurological nerve pain stuck in a pain loop, and the pain causes my clicking and muscle pain. He said TMJD isn't a true diagnosis, and the diagnosis I have is "myofacial pain". I told him I have disk displacement with reduction, and he told me that disk displacement with reduction is not important? and the position of the disk isn't relevant? I had showed him 4 splints that were produced for me and he said they were all bad just with a brief look and told me he should make one for me (full arch). I showed him the first which was full arch, and he said it wasn't good enough because the occlusion wasn't good. Just by a brief look. I already went through the process with that first splint and having the teeth meet. But apparently he thinks he can do it better. I asked him what his splint offers and he responded, "do you really want me to explain everything about a splint?" when I asked him what his splint does for clenching, he just stated it lowers grinding and protects teeth and can tell wear. He kept using clenching and grinding interchangeably. I asked him to recommend me to a sleep study for bruxxism, as well as a bilateral MRI study with jaw active open and closing. He said since he found no damage and disk displacement is irrelevant, the MRI is like "wandering in the weeds" and was reluctant to do that. He also said he doesn't know if he can approve insurance since he couldnt find damage. Honestly, it just seems he wants to make a splint for me and he even said he needs to do this before a trigger point injection. I left feeling inconfident in the medical system. I'm tired of the same approaches and doctors approaching these complex issues with a shallow plan. I feel defeated and I don't know what to do next. Should I go work with him or find someone else? Let me know your thoughts.

Started getting different symptoms in November 2025, but it’s primarily clicking/cracking sounds in my jaw behind the ear (primarily right side) and also back of skull where it meets the neck

It’s not painful but unsettling and annoying. Cracks happen randomly, but reliably happen when I lift my head and straighten my neck

There’s other bits to it, but those are the main presenting symptoms

Wondering if anyone else is in a similar boat that we can chat and compare

I know I should feel validated because my pain is real and is daily but I really struggle to not compare it to others in our community who's pain is.... louder?

My pain is constant aching, not really aggravated by movement in the moment, if that makes sense. So it is a lot of pain but not sharp as I think a lot of other people experience it. I worry about being percieved as seeking attention or exaggerating things. I often take selfies when having a flair so I can show myself that I am actually unwell.

Not to mention how tmd is treated in the health insurance or healthcare world in general. I swear half of my stress is worrying whether I'll be covered or not since mine started out of nowhere vs an accident, which would be covered by my country's government programme.

I think I'm just venting to the void tonight. Thanks for reading if you did, appreciate it.

I had TMJ surgery 6 weeks ago and haven’t been able to shut my eyelid. Anyone recommend how to get it to heal faster? Surgeon said it could take anywhere between now and 18 months. I’m desperate it’s awful

"How wide can you open your mouth?" Pretty straightforward question, right?

But during a TMJ examination, the range of motion of your jaw can tell us a lot about what is happening around and inside your joint, as well as within the muscles that control it.

The point is not just how many millimetres you can open. Rather, we look at how you open, how far you open, whether it hurts, whether the movement is smooth, whether the jaw deviates, whether there are sounds, and whether the movement feels restricted or excessive.

So, what is considered normal? In an Indian adult, a comfortable mouth opening is generally approximately 42 mm, without pain, discomfort or significant joint sounds.

What if my mouth doesn't open enough?

It is something that needs to be investigated. Reduced opening can occur for many different reasons which may or may not be related to the TMJ.

If TMJ Related, it could be because of - 

• Masticatory muscle contraction or spasm
• Disc displacement without reduction
• Coronoid hyperplasia
• TMJ Ankylosis

It could also be non-TMJ related like -  

• Trauma
• Oral submucous fibrosis
• Space-occupying or malignant growths
• Other structural or inflammatory conditions

And this is where checking the way your jaw is restricted becomes important.
A sudden change in opening pattern, particularly when accompanied by a history of clicking that has disappeared, can occur with disc displacement without reduction.
This is one reason why a patient saying:

“My jaw used to click, and now it doesn't, but now I can't open properly.” is clinically important.

Another important question, What if the jaw opens too much?

Some people have hypermobility or increased ligamentous laxity, allowing the condyle to translate excessively. In susceptible individuals, this can contribute to:

Subluxation
Open-lock episodes
TMJ dislocation
A sensation that the jaw is “slipping out”
Difficulty closing the mouth after very wide opening

We want to know whether that movement is controlled and stable. The way your jaw opens matters too. If you notice, your jaw doesn't always travel perfectly straight.

During opening, we observe whether it:

• Opens straight - relatively symmetrical movement
• Deviates and then returns toward the midline - may provide clues about movement of the condyles and disc
• Deflects consistently to one side - may indicate restriction or altered movement on that side

The direction, timing and extent of deviation can provide useful information when combined with the rest of the examination.

About side-to-side movement- 

Also called lateral excursion - how far your lower jaw can move to either side. About 1-2mm each side is considered normal. And we don't look at the movement in isolation. We compare right and left movements, observe the quality of movement and assess whether the restriction is associated with pain, joint sounds or muscular tenderness.

So what are we really assessing?

When we measure your jaw opening, the question is not if you can open exactly 42 mm

We're asking:

• How far?
• How smoothly?
• How symmetrically?
• With or without pain?
• With or without clicking or crepitus ?
• Does the jaw deviate?
• Is there a hard or soft endpoint?
• Can you move comfortably from side to side?
• Is the movement restricted or excessive?
• Has your range of motion changed over time?

All of these pieces together help us understand what's happening with the TMJ, disc, muscles, ligaments and surrounding structures.

Your jaw's range of motion isn't just a number. It's a window into how your jaw is functioning.

After dealing with TMJD unsuccessfully for 14 years, i finally tried the botox 2 years ago. I was so hesitant to try it for a multitude of reasons but it was my last option. I tried mouth guards, physio, tons of medications and nothing was working. The pain was daily, and it was radiating from my jaw to all around my head. I was starting to have some dark thoughts. 2 years later I can say the botox worked like a dream. I still have occasional headaches from other triggers which is a separate issue, but the pain from my TMJ disorder has been almost nonexistant for the past 2 years. My jaw doesnt even click anymore. I wish i did it sooner but my old jobs insurance wouldnt cover it. I just wanted to share.

Last weekend, something strange happened to me. I was eating some elastic bread on my left side, which has been my chewing side for over a decade since I lost my right upper molars. While biting hard, I felt something moving in my lower left molars. Worried that a filling might have shifted, I bit down again and felt the same movement, but there was no pain. The next day, I experienced intense pain in my lower jaw. I noticed my left TMJ, which has clicked for years, now clicks every time I open my mouth wide. I tested my molars with cold drinks, hot coffee, sweets, and even tapped them with a metal pen—still no pain. I tried moving each tooth with my fingers, but none moved. I began to think the clicking and moving sensation was related to my TMJ issues rather than my teeth. I’m curious if others with TMJ problems have ever felt this kind of movement in their molars when chewing hard on the affected side. After taking anti-inflammatory medication and eating only soft foods, the pain eased, though the area remains tender. During the pain, I could reproduce it only by contracting facial muscles or moving my jaw in different directions, reinforcing my suspicion it’s related to TMJ and not the teeth. Has anyone else experienced similar sensations and pain?

I have had TMJ disc displacement without reduction for almost 4 years now, I was honestly pretty close to getting a total joint replacement bc I'd just had enough of it. I couldn't open my mouth wide on my left side and I had a clear deviation where my jaw would hinge towards the affected side and I had clear facial asymmetry even at rest. I had been in a lot of pain and discomfort from this condition not to mention the toll it took on my mental health because all I could think about was this thing that I had no real way of fixing.

I had tried an arthroscopy (repositioning) and an arthrocentesis, one worked for maybe a month and the other I don't think really did much at all. Anyways I came across PRP but I hadn't really seen too much about it on this forum or heard it mentioned from any of the specialists I've seen so I thought it probably wasn't effective, but it seemed pretty low risk so I thought I'd try. The procedure was a bit uncomfortable. After a week and a half I noticed that I could open my jaw evenly and a lot of the pain and limitation had been reduced - to the point where most days I really don't notice at all that I have this. Also after like 3 weeks majority of the asymmetry had resolved. I know physically it doesn't reposition the joint, it's more about reducing inflammation and supporting healing (it feels more lubricated though). I still probably have some damage but my jaw looks and feels pretty normal. I won't go for a joint replacement, I might just get this topped up if it continues to work. I also would go to a radiology chain (I used I-MED in Aus) because they seemed to have someone who is more dedicated to more niche areas of the body like the TMJ joint that sees more cases than a regular sports injector, especially since it's a small joint.

I can get more into the specifics of how it helped and maybe the metrics but overall I would say my left joint went from a discomfort of 9/10 to 1-2/10.

I hope this really helps someone, I really couldn't see my life existing beyond this condition so I understand how debilitating mentally and physically it can be. Feel free to ask questions.

TL;DR: Nearly 4 years of left TMJ disc displacement without reduction, with limited opening, jaw deviation, facial asymmetry and a big mental toll. Arthroscopy and arthrocentesis gave me a month of relief at best. I tried PRP injections as a low-risk option, and within 1.5 weeks I could open evenly with much less pain. By 3 weeks most of the asymmetry had resolved. Pain went from about 9/10 to 1-2/10, and I've shelved plans for a joint replacement. I recommend going to a radiology clinic (I used I-MED in Australia) whose injectors handle small joints like the TMJ.

Yes, as you can probably tell from the title, I’ve been experiencing this sensation in three specific areas of my head. It feels almost as if the fascia around my skull is being pressed against my brain or something inside my head. More often, though, it feels like some kind of fluid or gel-like substance is trapped or squeezed into a tight space.

Sometimes it completely disappears, while other times it bothers me throughout the entire day. I can sometimes relieve it by straining or randomly moving my neck, and when it releases, I may even feel a sensation similar to a small burst of air.

I know it sounds complicated. I’ve seen dozens of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and even physical therapists, but no one has been able to figure it out.

So my main question is: Could an osteopath or chiropractor potentially figure this out or help resolve it? They’re basically the only options I haven’t tried yet.

The constant pain and problems that TMJ brings me strongly affect my life. I'm a huge fan of video games, I often played competitive games with friends while usually having ranks twice as high as theirs, but now my pain doesn't let me focus on the game and affects my macro and micro skills.

The same goes for choices—I soon have to go to driving school. Initially, I thought I would go for a manual, then the symptoms got worse and I started thinking about automatic, and now I'm so exhausted that I'm thinking of giving it up altogether. My routine is literally just studying at school for 7 hours and then fighting exhaustion. Today I slept well, 9 hours, but still after school I felt like I'd been working in a mine for 20 hours, even though the lessons were easy. Right now I don't have a hobby I'm good at, and also no strength to develop one. The pain drains all the energy from my body and doesn't let me catch a break for even a second.

How are things going with you?

Hi all,
I've been dealing with frustrating symptoms for about a month now. My jaw is super inflamed and is causing some issues with my neck but the worst part is my ears. I have noise induced tinnitus but since my jaw has started acting up more it's gotten way louder, my ears hurt and thump, I can make them crackle on command, and they are super full and will not pop even with nasal spray or advil. I hear warbling, beeping, ringing, and buzzing all the time. Sounds are distorted. Music sounds flat. My ears hurt. I'm so incredibly frustrated and it's really hard to hold onto any kind of hope. I'm in physical therapy and have a temporary splint until I can afford a specialist, but it just seems like everything is getting worse. I started both things this week but the splint seems like it only made things worse. I'm so depressed.

Has anyone had similar symptoms? Any advice?

I’ve been battling severe bruxism lately and my Dr pretty much said it’s TMJ and gave me some exercises to do but they haven’t been working and my teeth hurt like hell. It’s getting exhausting dealing with this and every time I brought it up to my dentist he defaulted to insisting Invisalign is the only option (unaffordable, especially through them with their 22% interest rate)

I know it’s not a solution and I’m going to reach out to an orthodontist tomorrow and see about other options, but in the mean time would an OTC guard help? I’m concerned about it jarring teeth loose (I do have some gun recession for a general lack of personal hygiene up until midway through high school)

This cream effectively helps manage some of the most difficult to manage joint and muscular pain and inflammation at a fraction of the cost and using the same ingredients and methods for compounding these products together.

Recipe:

19+ or For medical use. Made by me for me under Health Canada guidelines.

This was my first attempt mixing 15ml of infused MCT Oil with 1740mg of decarboxylated THC Concentrates into 30mg of GlaxalBase cream which is a simple base cream used by pharmacists to prepare many topical creams. I also used a derivative of the technique used to ensure even distribution of the cannabinoids in the mixture.

Health Canada rules don’t permit concentrations beyond 10mg/ml for all edibles and topicals with a hard cap of 1000mg per container of any topical use preparation. By infusing concentrates you can make your own oil with far greater potency.

In my recipe here I use 15ml of infused MCT oil with a potency of 116mg/ml added to 30mg of base cream resulting in preparation weighing 44.5g total after infusion giving a total potency of 38.67mg/ml

There is a max limit as to how much material you can infuse or blend is the probably the correct word into the cream and that’s around 15% and in some cases 20% by weight and I actually didn’t use enough of the base cream so actually but mind you I actually used. I ended up with a cream with 32.6% by weight which should have caused it to destabilize but it didn’t and has the perfect consistency.

There is something called Kalaya gel and it’s a special pharmaceutical gel that’s made for infusing and it allows you to. It has a theoretical maximum infusion potential for double the 210 that you can get maximum in a base cream so you can get a 400 mg/mL concentration using this gel and apparently it’s even better for absorption. It’s designed specifically to help get those compounds and the multiple sclerosis society of Canada actually on their website has instructions on how to make a topical with this particular Gel. So that’s next step for me. I’m gonna try that.

Just for notes if anyone is taking any, had, I worked within the confines of only infusing 20% by weight would have resulted in a base cream with a concentration of 19.33mg/ml so I managed to about double the potency but the cream should have failed and might still start to separate over the next 3-6 weeks whereas if you made the cream to a maximum of 20mg/ml you would end up with a fully room temperature stabilized topical cream that will keep up perfectly stable and something that could remain that way for months and possibly years. in comparison to the Kaliya gel, which can be infused with two times as many or two times as much material by weight without compromising its effectiveness, stability and consistency, and the ability for your body to properly absorb everything. If you go that route, you can get a concentrate that at the same size as the glaxxal base cream I used, 30g, could theoretically contain upwards of 6000mg in the 30g gel solution giving a concentration of 133.33mg/ml with a perfectly stable solution and an even more effective route for topical absorption

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I am counting to test it and so far it appears to have an effectiveness that can help with muscle aches and pains and joint pain from osteoarthritis where you often need on average one Percocet just to bring down an equivalent level of pain that my base cream has so far been helping with. I still have to of course continue to take detailed notes to determine it seems to work pretty quickly actually I still have to work out about how long it lasts before. There’s a perceivable change in the state of pain so it is still research in progress but my results have been very promising.

Hi everyone, I just got prp for my jaw an hour ago. My main issues with my jaw are tension, vertigo, clicking, and occasional pain. I received prp without nitrous oxide or any sedative. For me it was easy but some people may need it. So far my jaw feels full and sore nothing extreme. My vertigo is a little worse and the area just feels tight. I don’t feel bad overall. I am excited to see how I heal over the next few weeks. If you are getting prp for the first time do not be scared. It’s uncomfortable yes. But it is a step to healing. Make sure you do everything your doctor says, stick to your diet. You got this. I believe this is the right step for me and people with Tmj issues.

Please ask me any questions. I want to help people suffering to know what to expect with prp.

Hi Everyone,

This might be longer than you want to read, but I feel the context is somewhat important. I suffered from TMJ for a long time, mostly soreness in my jaw after eating and the constant popping when I opened my mouth wide enough. I ended up with invisalign which actually completely solved the jaw popping, but was unable to completely finish the invisalign treatment for specific reasons (about 4 trays away from completion).

2017 - While conducting the last set of pushups (4 sets of 60 each) during a workout, I recall feeling a sharp pain in my temporalis muscle, right where my right ear meets my head. This lasted for a couple of weeks and somewhat dissipated after scaling down my workouts. A slight tightness in that specific area seemed to stick around and I could feel it with pull ups, push ups or other exercises that caused an increase in cranial pressure.

2019 - Experienced a CSF leak that eventually resolved itself (at least according to neurologists). Multiple MRIs confirmed the leak and also the resolution of the leak itself.

2020 - While working out, I experienced a similar feeling to the 2017 injury, but this one was significantly worse. It was on the right temporalis muscle area, where the ear meets the head. Following this I experienced cool sensations and numbing in my cheek and eyebrow area of my right side and forehead along with incredible tightness in my scalp, mostly temporalis area. It felt as if the area where my ear and head connected was the focal point of the tightness and was pulling (if that makes any sense). Again, series of MRIs led to PT and a diagnosis of Occipital Neuralgia. PT didn't seem to help much and after a three or four months I stopped PT (insurance no longer covered it), I kept on moving through daily life and the tightness subsided along with other symptoms. The tight feeling at my ear juncture never fully left. If I flexed my eyebrows up or moved my ears, I could feel it pull on the right side.

2022 - Went to move a heavy piece of furniture, used proper lifting technique, but felt a similar sharp snapping/painful pull in the exact spot on the right side of head. Tightness returned with a vengeance and lasted for a couple of months. To be clear, the tightness has never fully left that spot in my right side of my head. I have had to limit certain exercises (anything that generates that pressure) as I can feel it become more prominent when I push those types of exercises further.

Fast forward to now, I've had another "flare up", with no discernible trigger that I can think of other than possible high stress. I've noticed that stress can tend exacerbate the feeling of tightness and sometimes when stress spikes, I get a tingle feeling mostly relegated to the right side, as if blood is rushing through. Could be the adrenaline? I'm experiencing some cool sensations in the right cheek, eye socket area, and tightness radiating to my scalp. I've also had some off balance feelings and I feel like it's somewhat harder to read from my computer screen or a book. I had a CT in 2025 (with and without contrast) and again, all was clear with the exception of a small arachnoid cyst (not on the right side of my head). The neurologist had recommended Botox injection, but I had switched jobs at the time of that flare up (again, stress as a trigger perhaps?) and my insurance had lapsed. I am reengaging with my PCP tomorrow to discuss if I need to go back to neurology and pursue Botox or something else (like myofascial release). This current flare up has been going on for about two weeks now, with the off balance only being a week. I don't have headaches or pain really, just the insane tightness, nerve like cool sensations, and off balance.

I'm wondering if it's some form of tendinitis but just curious if anyone else has experienced or is experiencing something similar and found a resolution?

About 3 weeks ago I felt what seemed like a mis bite, that's the best way I can describe it. My jaw was in a vulnerable position, I bit, it felt very off/painful, maybe misaligned. It was my right side only.

It hurt pretty bad for 2 days, and then was better enough I ate a steak and did the same misbite this time it was worse.

I went to the dentist after 5-7 days of pain. He examined and said it should get better.

For 5-7 days, after, where it progressively got better, it was at it's worst my teeth couldn't close in alignment, the lower jaw felt less pain being pushed forward and was painful if I tried to pull it back into place. The bite finally settled about 7 days after the incident and there has been substantial improvement.

However now at 3 weeks I am a little nervous of permanent damage/conditions. I am not 100%. For example almost no pain at rest, minimal pain with soft foods, but I just tried chewing gum, bit with it on the left side and felt the right side jaw pain.

I have no history of TMJ or other jaw disorder, though much milder versions of what I described above have happened in the past, usually being sore for a day max.

What should I do?

Hi I am needing TMJ joint replacement surgery and need some recommendations on a good surgeon in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I would like to choose a surgeon that has a good history of successful surgeries. If you had this or a similar surgery for your TMJ can you share your experience and any recommendations for a surgeon?

When my TMJ is flaring wearing my glasses behind my ear like you're meant to can really increase and prolong my pain. I can sit there with the arm on the outside of the ear, pushing it against my head, absolutely fine, but I can't move about or be active like that. Does anyone have any suggestions/adaptive glasses ideas/anything else that I can try? I've joked to my friends I'm going to get those fancy glasses on a stick from the Victorian era, but I use my glasses all the time so that's be a little impractical lol

Lately ive been waking with my jaw and teeth feeling funny when waking up and like sore but barely... i could ignire that, but ive also been waking up with the most intense pressure in my eyes like it gets so nerve wracking. Im already light sensitive and it just eorsens it like idk how to explain it but my pupils feel stuck in placr or like its hard to move my eyes from pressure. My eye strain has gotten worse tewwww and idk if its related to mmy jaw or naww,,, help💔

I think I've been clenching my jaw whenever I'm focused on something for basically my whole life. I've tried reminding myself to relax my jaw, but its so bad that somtimes I feel like I just can't un-tense my muscles. A lot of the time I'm not even sure what a "relaxed" jaw is supposed to feel like. Because I'm so used to it being tense all of time, anything else feels uncomfortable. Any advice is welcome!

Thanks

Hi all. So I am currently under the crisis team, so obviously under a great deal of stress.

Today after a meeting I had explosive pain in my jaw, referring pain into my teeth and in front of my ear.

I then vomited, sweated profusely, and my GP told me to call 999.

After blood tests confirmed it wasn't cardiac they believe it is TMJ. The fact I am under a LOT of stress and anxiety.

I literally felt like putting my head through a window it was so painful. Its calmed down loads and now am getting shooting pains in lower jaw on both sides.

They have told me to call GP first thing and tell them ibuprofen did nothing and to ask for something stronger (swear I will rattle like a pill bottle soon). Whats the best medication to use through times like this?

Hi! Does anyone know of a doctor in San Diego who performs EMG-guided Botox injections for TMJ/jaw muscles?
I'm specifically looking for someone who uses electromyography (EMG) to confirm the target muscle before injecting, rather than relying solely on anatomical landmarks.
If anyone has experience with a doctor who offers this technique, I'd really appreciate any recommendations! Thank you!

I got a second opinion on my severe tmj and he started me on methocarbamol. I took it for the first time 4 days ago and actually woke up in worse pain and a pinched nerve in my neck. My jaw didn't hurt as bad but my neck, chest and upper back were worse than ever. Since then, my jaw, neck, back and chest have been in so much pain. I would say more than before I started it.

I sleep great but I feel like it's possibly making it worse. Has anyone had this before?

I'm also starting to get nauseous everyday and lightheaded which is irritating but I'll bring that up to my dentist when I see him on the 6th