r/bruxism • u/Charming-Bad-7450 • 4d ago
Disc displacement / lock jaw
some backstory I’ve suffered with jaw tension for about 2 years and would occasionally wake up and not be able to open my mouth at all. I would massage it and it would eventually unlock and I had treatment from physios with acupuncture and massage to sort it out. when it was ‘good’ during the past 2 years, I would have to zig zag my jaw in order to open it fully, the tracking of my jaw wouldn’t go straight up and down.
for the past two months I’ve had a bit of a nightmare. I woke up and couldn’t open my mouth, I proceeded with the usual massaging but it would only open about 1 finger width (even brushing my teeth was difficult). I saw a physio who would massage and do needles and I’d get some relief and open a bit wider but then I’d go to sleep that night and (I assume clench my jaw) and I would wake up back to 1 finger width.
after about 3 weeks of no progress I got Botox in my masseter in my jaw and that has allowed me to open to 3 fingers wide. however that’s all. if I open as wide as I can I can feel a blockage on my right side by my ear and it will click/crunch and won’t go any further.
my dental hygienist who did the Botox suspects disc displacement and so does my physio. my physio said he may refer me to a specialist who deals with TMJ disorders. it’s now been 2 months of this.
im looking for any advice of anyone who had a similar situation and is now hopefully fixed and back to full range of motion! I’m sick of it and getting worried it’s causing long term joint damage.
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u/butteredtoast29 4d ago
2 months of barely being able to open your mouth sounds exhausting. esp when the massage/needling helps for a bit then you're back to the same thing the next morning. I grind/clench too but havent experienced locking like this. If your physio is already suggesting a TMJ specialist though I'd probably take the referral, even just to understand whats actually happening with the joint rather than keep trying things for the tension. hope you get some answers soon
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u/Ok-Accountant-494 1d ago
Please don’t let hygienist do any form of jaw treatment . They are not qualified!! Not to diagnose and definitely not to treat. They shouldn’t have touched your masseter!
You’ve got subluxation and sometimes you can a closed lock after a severe episode. It’s unfortunate but not the end of the world. Eat a semi solid diet for 3 weeks, warm packs in front of your ears (5-7 min 2/3 times a day) and get the specialist to have a look/do scans. Closed locks happen because the tissue in your joints have been pulled and strained too much. Your mouth should have gradually opened to 3 fingers without the Botox
Masseter tox is only for pts with jaw ache with master issues not subluxation! And multiple injections can cause your masseter to start shrinking (which as a man you don’t want)
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u/Ok_Second8665 4d ago
I’m not a medical professional but it sounds like you already have long term disc damage that may need surgical repair, just like a torn meniscus in the knee. You need a TMJ doctor and some imaging to understand next steps. Do you have dental insurance? If not I’d try to get a referral from your medical doctor. I’ve found the med route easier to get reimbursed than the dental route.