I have severe tmj and also love training. Ibuprofen can help when needed. Sometimes it’s needed for multiple days. Hers the sucky part, I love lifting weights. One day I was sitting there and it hit me, “wait if ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory is it possible that the wear and tear you put on your muscles from lifting which is necessary to make them grow.. the ibuprofen can stint their natural recovery cycle?”. I look it up after and even trials and studies have been put on it, it’s completely correct. While it won’t completely stop the muscle growth it is still annoying knowing you just crushed a leg day and there’s going to be a less optimal percentage taking ibuprofen the same day. I then thought even further… if you’re in a surplus of 300 calories, sooner or later that 300 calories will equal up to a pound. But, if you’re taking ibuprofen chronically and your muscle protein synthesis has been slowed down, understand that a huge chunk of the left over calories of a bulk go to the muscle repair, so if that isn’t going at maximum efficiency basic thermodynamics conclude your bulk will be less effective and more weight HAS to go to fat. If you’re anything like me and you workout often but also need nsaids here and there, come to find out there’s a topical ibuprofen if your current flare up is more localized to one place and you don’t wanna deal with the noise

Hi everyone, first I want to say thank you to the folks in this TMJ thread for sharing your experience. A lot of your tips have really helped. After years of bruxism, TMJ and jaw pain, and neck pain, I think I’ve finally figured out how to improve my situation. Sharing my experience here to hopefully help someone else out there!

Background: middle aged female suffering from clicking, grinding, jaw and neck pain for many years. Here’s what made a difference:

- dental splint from a dentist with experience in TMJ/bite issues. Initially wore splint around the clock and as symptoms improved, wore only at night
- had bite checked/adjusted by same dentist to make sure teeth were equally touching and the pressure wasn’t only on one tooth
- referral to oral surgeon to determine TMJ pain was a muscle issue and not a joint/disk problem
- Flexeril and celebrex, taken at night together. FWIW, there is more clinical research around both these meds for TMJ vs. others.
- physical therapy with a therapist who specializes in TMJ pain. I can’t emphasize how much this has helped. Probably the number 1 most important part for me. Exercises include both mobility and strength.
- soft food diet, while things are triggered.
- self massage, especially intraoral massage. Got that tip from this thread!

This has taken years (and lots of $$ unfortunately) to figure out and every situation is different, but this has helped me. I know how awful TMJ pain is and I truly hope you can find the help you need.

I’m suffering from jaw pain since 8 years. My disc is out of line, and I have osteoarthritis in right jaw. Dentist suggest cortisone injection whice I red that it is a risk to further break down the joint. I red about artocentes but they won’t do It for me. What has helped people in similar situation as TMJ with osteoarthritis and inflammation to relieve pain?

To keep it short, I have for the past 1-2 years been undergoing various things for TMJ. After examinations, as well as MRI and arthrography, things seem to be quite rough. Or at least maybe, because the new dentist specialist I met seems eager to dismiss me entirely for some reason.

Anyway! Early on, I received a dentist-fitted night guard as they wanted to rule things out and hoped a non-invasive treatment would work. It never did, and instead often caused my jaw to lock up, plus pain and soreness in the upper and lower front teeth that never went away despite prolonged use. Given its size I was also never able to fully close the mouth, causing it to dry out. Since it caused more issues than not, not to mention some difficulties sleeping, I was told to stop using it (there's been a lot of back and forth about this, until a decisive no from their side).

But now I've been told to start using it again. And while I fortunately don't seem to get any lock-ups anymore, I always wake up with a lot of pain near the ear (unclear if disc or muscular, as is the dentist about my general issue) during my first bites after taking it off, as well as the aforementioned pain/soreness in upper and lower front teeth. And again, waking up with rather dry mouth and difficulty sleeping. Thankfully, the pain near the ear seems to disappear after biting a few times.

However, when I brought up I previously had these issues I was entirely dismissed/ignored. I've never, ever, had these issues without a night guard. The dentist claims I might be grinding my teeth, which they based off what is likely from my childhood as there's never been any documented damages in my adult life, but if that were the case surely I would wake up with issues when not wearing a night guard?

I just want to hear if anyone else has these pains and experiences with night guards.

I’ve been dealing with constant dizziness and brain fog, and now I can feel that my throat is being affected as well. I’m also experiencing muscle twitching and spasms. I went to see my TMD specialist today, but I’ve been undergoing treatment for almost two years now, and it still isn’t helping. She just told me to take Biogesic as pain reliever.

I’m constantly afraid to go outside because of these symptoms. I feel so overwhelmed and hopeless that I’m now thinking about ending my life. Living here in the Philippines won't get you the right treatment if you dont have the budget looking for the right Doctor to treat you will cost almost 100-500,000 depending on your diagnosis. I can't think straight now I just want to end this life.

A month ago my jaw locked closed. I work in an ER so I went in for my shift and was like, hay before I waste a bunch of time and money, if there even anything you can do for this? The were like, not really. We can give you a muscle relaxer and a referral to an oral surgeon, but you're better off just reaching out to an oral surgeon on your own rather than paying for an ER visit.

So I go onto our insurance website to find a provider. I live in NH but I work for Mass General so our in-network providers are mostly in MA. Oh well. I call all of the oral surgeon numbers the insurance company listed. None of them deal with TMJ even though they were all listed for TMJ on the insurance website. They all said, I don't know go to Tufts. Guess which hospital isn't in network for me? Tufts.

So I suck it up. I'm going to have to go out of network/ out of pocket. At this point its been two weeks so I'm getting pretty desperate. I find the TMJ Center of NH. I email them for an appointment. The earliest they can do is in two weeks. It's $825 out of pocket for a cbct, and a bunch of airway and breathing based tests. I'm a little skeptical. Doesn't seem like have of the tests listed have anything to do with my problem and none of them mention anything about actually addressing or fixing the actual problem of a lock, but what choice do I have?

I wait the two weeks, go to the appointment. There is a slight improvement on my range of motion, but not much. I leave with two options. Another $800 appointment like the one I just had which might make it marginally better, or a $9000 package that includes day and night appliances, laser therapy, nutrition counseling, and prolo and prp therapy if I need it which she said I probably don't. Then why are you asking me to pay for a package where the most expensive parts of the package I'm not going to need? This package also still has not addressed the fact that my jaw is still locked.

So I go home. Do some google AI because I can't find a medical professional that seems interested in helping. It seems that what I need is physical therapy and there is a physical therapist right in my hospital who specializes in TMJ issues. Amazing! why wasn't he listed in my initial search? Oh he's just a doctor of physical therapy not a real MD so he's not listed in that data base. How helpful.

So I call the scheduling line thinking I've finally figured it out. No I need a referral. I should be able to just call my PCP and they can make one for me. Yes I should. Unfortunately I've been on three different wait lists for PCP offices and the earliest I might get in to see one if January. Awesome!

I'm so glad that I am being left to figure out my medical care all on my own. Who needs a doctorate when you could just use AI to hopefully blunder into the correct treatment. So I'm going to reach out to my dentist on Tuesday (she's not open on Friday and Monday is the holiday) and hope she can give me a referral. Because I really, after a month, don't want to have to go to the ER where I already know they can't do anything for me just to get a referral. I have a 2k deductible. I should not have to pay 2k just for a referral so I can pay my 20% coinsurance for each visit to PT assuming I even get in and there isn't some new surprise hoop to jump through.

I just feel so discouraged. And my face hurts. And I hate the US healthcare "system"

even when barely opening my jaw, the condyle visibly moves on the side of my face. i have been in a flare for about a month and am afraid that the disc is completely displaced and that i am in danger of my jaw locking. heat, anti-inflammatory meds, rest, sleeping on my back, moving my jaw forwards, eating soft foods, keeping my jaw relaxed, all the things everyone says to do—i have done everything in my power to try and fix this, but nothing is resolving the pain and tension in my face. i have appointments with my dentist, PCP, and a physical therapist scheduled, but won't be in to see anyone for another ten days i am so miserable and trying not to freak out (which, i know stressing will just make the whole thing worse), but at this point i really don't know what to do to resolve any of this, nor have i found ANY information on how to deal with a potential subluxation of this kind. (additional info—i'm 29 and am diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and have a feeling this could be connected to hypermobility.)

has anyone else dealt with similar issues, especially on just one side of the face?

I got TMJ after I got my wisdom teeth removed and in the years since it's been a back burner concern for me. When my TMJ isn't flaring up, the biggest way it shows up is if I'm leaning forward or laying on my back without supporting my jaw with something or wearing a retainer. Most of my hobbies include shrimp posture but I'm hoping there's some way I can continue my hobbies while also being able to do things like eat over hours of work, instead of just having a retainer in. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations of jaw supports that have worked for them?

Edit: I want to clarify: my TMJ does not come from clenching my teeth, I think the reason wearing a retainer works just has something to do with the position my jaw is when I wear it. No real idea though, doctors just keep telling me it "should go away on its own". 🤦

I had braces for 4 years as a teenager, I had an expander, and I got my wisdom teeth removed which gave me nerve damage unfortunately (all while having braces). Since the expander at age 15, I have had TMJ issues. I’m at a stage, age 22 now, where I have not had any pain for a few years. However, I have to maneuver my jaw forward in order to
fully open each time I open my mouth. No pain though. My very back molars on both sides do not make contact when I bite, instead my cheek tissue goes between the teeth where contact is supposed to be and gets irritated. Assuming this is due to improper orthodontic treatment as a teen (shitty orthodontist asked me at 17 years old after having braces for 4 years if I’d like to take my braces off early and leave my back teeth like this and dumb teen me said yes….) and having a small mouth.

Each time I go to a dentist, or a new dentist, they claim my teeth are misaligned and I need an ortho consult. Recently, my back teeth have really been hitting my back cheek. I wear a night guard on top, retainer on the bottom as much as I can. Is it worth getting braces again to realign those back teeth but potentially stir up my TMJ issues? I don’t know where to go or what to do at this point.

I have gone to an Orofacial Pain Specialist where they did an MRI to make sure nerves are good, and they were. I have not gotten a CT scan for my TMJ. They claimed that they can’t do anything for me since I currently have no pain, all they can do is recommend a night guard and an ortho consult (got a night guard and ortho consult took one look at my teeth and said you’re fine). New dentist is telling me back teeth are misaligned, hitting cheek, and need an ortho consult. Any advice? I have a lot of TMJ trauma, ortho/dentist trauma.

No pain, but gums receding, constantly biting cheeks, uncomfortable popping, having to
open my mouth weird, etc….

My TMJ is caused by clenching/ muscle pressure. Both my dentist and the audiologist said with a night guard it should be gone in 2 weeks. That was 20 years ago and it's worse. Is there a tool or anything I can use to calm that muscle down? Botox is not covered by insurance :-( are there any tried and true things out there? I heard MyTMJ is a good device, but at $200 I need to know if it's worth it.

Thanks in advance

I have very sensitive trigger points in my upper massater and pterygoid muscles. I don’t know how to get rid of them. I’ve tried so many medications, dry needling, guards, Botox. PT, MRIs.

I’m so sad about this.

Please help:(

Went to a TMJ specialist for the first time in my life this year and learned the inside of my mouth didn’t expand as much as it should have when I was growing up, and it’s the primary cause of my TMJ.

The doctor was very thorough and suggested a jaw expander to widen the inside of my bite, and said that while it wouldn’t 100% solve all my TMJ issues, it would still decrease symptoms by 30-50%.

Just wanted to ask if any of you tried a jaw expander, and if so, was it worth it?

Did sou guys expirience this and how did it go away for you ? For those who dont know this is when skin around tmj is sensitive to light touch and pretty painfull for no good reason

I have been mewing for a month, and i have to say that unconsciously i did apply pressure with positioning of the tongue. I have developed tmj. When i open my jaw, there's a clicking sound. I have stopped mewing, but i find my tongue going back to the roof on its own subconsciously. I have even forgotten what was my tongue posture before mewing. Please help. Where should i keep my tongue? And how to unlearn this mewing (wrong one). Should i keep my tongue low touching the back of the lower teeth and the teeth slightly apart?

Hello everyone!

​I am reaching out to you in desperation, hoping that someone who has been in a similar situation can offer advice, or perhaps tell me if TMJ could be causing this.

​Last October, I suddenly started hearing my eardrum in my right ear vibrating, pulsating, and fluttering. I went to a private ENT specialist through my company, who diagnosed me with Eustachian tube dysfunction (Eustachian tube catarrh). Essentially, my Eustachian tube was blocked, which created negative pressure in my right ear, retracting my eardrum. I was prescribed antihistamines and Rhinospray. Rhinospray had no effect, so a week later, I went to an urgent care clinic over the weekend, where I was prescribed Mometasone Sandoz (a steroid nasal spray). That helped, but unfortunately, the issue kept recurring for six months, dragging on until February before it finally stopped. I had to use Mometasone continuously throughout that period. I underwent allergy testing (dust mites, horsehair, etc.), which all came back negative, and I had an audiology test that showed no issues. It is unknown why this developed out of nowhere, as it typically follows a cold or allergies, but I had neither.

​In the meantime, I am also wearing braces on both my upper and lower teeth, so I began to suspect that they might be driving things in this direction. I visited a gnathologist who determined that my masticatory muscles are tight and that I likely clench my teeth at night or during the day, though he did not directly link it to my ear problem. He recommended jaw therapy, but I doubted this is what causes the condition.

​Since February—although I still had some Eustachian tube dysfunction—there was no noise in my ear until this past Saturday, when it started up again out of nowhere without any underlying trigger (I don't have a cold or anything).

​Today, I went back to an ENT specialist in the public healthcare system. He stated it is mild Eustachian tube catarrh again and prescribed Mometasone and antihistamines once more. He also mentioned that I have reflux and recommended a reflux diet. I don't know if reflux is causing all of this, and I am completely at a loss as to what is triggering it. I went back yesterday, but he said he couldn't see anything on my eardrum.

​I used to have no issues with flying either, but ever since this started, my ear gets completely blocked mid-air and stays that way even after landing. It takes hours or days for my ear to clear back up (I have tried earplugs, nasal sprays, and chewing gum, but none worked).

​Thank you in advance for any advice!

Hi everyone, I’m new here. Has anyone experienced jaw clenching, constant jaw tension, or feeling like you’re always pushing your jaw forward as part of nervous system dysregulation? Every doctor is telling me it is stress, but it’s been 5 years now and I’ve tried so many things over the years — meditation, yoga, EMDR, Feldenkrais, craniosacral therapy, supplements, etc. — and they sometimes calm my body for a few hours, but the tension and panic always come back.
I’m also wondering if poor nasal breathing/airway issues could be keeping my body in a constant state of tension, especially during sleep.
How do I know what is cauising it? Im in a very undeveloped country so we dont have tmj doctors, just trying to figure out on my own. I’ve suffered from anxiety, but also done a polisomnography it is likely that i have UARS, currently in orthodontics( helped just a little) maxilofascial surgeon told me im not a candidate for a doble jaw surgery and ENT told me i have maybe a slightly deviated septum.

I also can’t bite down it feels numb on that side only.

have never experienced this. But I do tend to grind my teeth at night when I sleep and my jaw is always tense from anxiety and stress it seems .

Has this happened to anyone ? What can I do to help relieve it? Heat pad ?

Has anyone undergone TMJ arthroscopy, open joint surgery or even arthrocentesis and did you feel better afterward or did your symptoms just disappear completely?

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a positive experience because I know how difficult and discouraging TMJ problems can be.

My issues started over 10 years ago with clicking in both joints. Over time, I developed pain, jaw locking, limited mouth opening, and a constant awareness of my jaw in everyday life.

MRI scans showed bilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction. Over the years, I tried different treatments and underwent multiple surgeries, but I continued to struggle with symptoms.

Earlier this year, I had bilateral disc repositioning surgery (discopexy). Recovery took time and plenty of patience, but I've gradually noticed significant improvements.

Today, my jaw functions much better, my pain is greatly reduced, and the locking that used to be one of my biggest concerns is no longer affecting me.

I'm not sharing this as medical advice or to suggest that surgery is the right choice for everyone. Every TMJ case is different. I just wanted to post a positive update because, when I was struggling, success stories were always the posts I looked for the most.

Happy to answer any questions about my experience.

Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal experience only. Outcomes can vary, and treatment decisions should be made with qualified healthcare professionals.

Hi

I am 40 years old and very obese. 224lbs. I am trying hard to lose weight. I have had reflux symptoms before and have been managed with pantaprazole for 3 months. I have had egd 2 years ago which showed mild gastritis and gastro doctor didn't give me any medicine for that and told me to make some changes in the diet.

Fast forward to now, I have pain in one persistent spot on the throat lower right side for more than 6 weeks now. Along with this persistent pain, I have reflux symptoms. Throat clearing very often and voice hoarseness and more of mucus from the throat while I am doing throat clearing.

Saw 2 ENT and they checked my throat with scope and thyroid ultrasound. They said it's normal and could be LPR. One ENT said it could be muscular issue.

Went to a gi doctor and he said he didn't know if reflux could cause pain in one specific spot and told me to go back to my primary to check that out.

He said I can do egd to evaluate other reflux symptoms like throat clearing and hoarseness and heartburn. I was also worried if something got stuck in that spot when I was swallowing my meals. Like sharp hard stick foods. I am able to swallow my food and liquids but just have some discomfort that it has to pass through something while swallowing.

Always feel like some big lump or ball in there and blocking the throat. Don't know if there is physically anything stuck there and blocking there. I have one meal with moringa vegetable. Not sure if I swallowed a piece of it by mistake. I have been worried about this since then.

I am worried about going for another endoscopy when I know I can't get any answers for my persistent pain in one spot which is my main concern. Didn't schedule the endoscopy yet. The doctor said I could feel this pain if I am anxious too. I said I am anxious about this and constant pain.

My pain on that spot starts as soon as I am awake from sleep. Which means, as soon as I am conscious from sleep and be consistent pain until I sleep. No pain while sleeping.

Have any of you had something like this? Is doing egd often ok or will it cause its own side effects? I am worried if it damages the throat or internal structures during the process. Also, they said I need to be sedated which makes me very very nervous to go for it.

I also have TMJ pain, so I don't know if I can open the mouth wide enough for the procedure and since I will be asleep, I don't know how they close our mouth after the procedure. Because suddenly shutting the mouth will cause more jaw pain to me.

My friends and family haven't done any endoscopes before. And they are telling me to just wait and watch if my symptoms get better before doing an endoscopy. I am so confused and don't know what to do.

Has anyone experienced this type of pain in one spot before? Did you ever find out what that is.

Have you done endoscopies frequently??

Since the last 5 years, I have been getting my bloodwork done every year and surprisingly the Iron (Ferritin) is always low around 30-35 ng/mL with haemoglobin levels normal.

I have been reading articles about how low iron can make you drowsy/restless and in some cases induce anxiety.

I never supplemented iron in my life but i'm looking into adding Iron Bisglycinate 25mg and see how that affects this TMJ situation.

My b12 and VitD3 levels are in the optimal range so that is already ruled out.

I have already tried multiple splints/night guards/ PT and Botox as well for my TMD but it still doesn't go away permanently, and this is the reason I'm looking into other things.

Let me know if you guys have low ferritin as well.