I have had TMJ for about 3 months, and it isn't getting any better. When I play the sax, I sometimes get jaw-aches, and am barely able to open my jaw at all. Though my jaw has gotten better from the first few weeks, it limits every day activities.

I've had TMJ for about 8 or 9 years now. I'm only 20 years old and the pains from my jaw are practically paralyzing me. Sometimes I get a chemical pain that overwhelms my head and upper back area. I'm not really sure that there is much to be done for it now. My brother has it too. I know mine is getting worse because of the pain I have been suffering. My chewing has gotten louder too, eating during school lunch hours has become someone embarrassing due to the loud popping my right side is making. I just wish there was a cheaper way of fixing this so I don't fail at life.

About 5 yrs ago, after suffering with a "sinus infection" for close to 3 months, taking a few rounds of oral steroids, I decided to go to an ENT doctor. It was he who diagnosed my TMJ. I wasn't having acute sinus infections at all, although I guess having them could affect TMJ. He prescribed me more drugs and sent me on my way. A few days later, after being zonked out on the couch with pain meds (and even they weren't cutting out all the pain), I decided to try acupuncture. I was VERY skeptical! With the first needle he put in, it sounded like a tire deflating. I almost jumped off the table! I stayed, and we finished the treatment. By the time I got to my car the pain was immensely decreased!! The swelling had been so severe, and now was gone...my teeth rattled on that side of my face! That was it, I was a believer! To this day, when I think another bout is coming on, I make an appointment with my acupuncturist right away.

I suffered severe trauma to my TMJ in an accident over 30 years ago. It left me with fractures and multiple fractures of almost all of my posterior teeth. I have suffered enormously for the past 30 years and have an incredible wealth of experiential knowledge to pass along to anyone who has TMJ. Resultant from the accident is subsequent dental complications that arise from the death of natural teeth and their limited root life post endodontics. I am thankful and grateful to the some of the finest dental post-grad students and their professors and supervising dentists for the treatment at Tufts NE Dental School. I recommend anyone with TMJ to be seen there in the prosthodontics department .

I fractured my skull when I was 5 years old. When I was 9 a dentist removed the molar next to my "eye" tooth because the back broke off of the tooth. He didn't put any kind of bridge or whatever they would use to keep my teeth from shifting. When I was 12 I broke my tail bone during a cheerleading practice. When I was 13 I was punched in the jaw by an 18 year old man. When I was 14 I ran into a girl's head with my nose (playing basketball) and was knocked out. My nose was broken. When I was 15 I was hit in the same place on my skull that had been fractured when I was 5. It was another concussion. I had several children and my tail bone was involved. When I was 28 I had a snow blower shoot out from under me and I landed on my chin on the sidewalk. Another concussion. In the last 10 years I've been attacked by 2 dogs while on my roller blades and landed on my (very fragile) tailbone both times. It now sits at an angle that causes pain if I sit too long in one position, like driving a car. Bear with me here. I told you all this because I believe my TMJ was caused by all these accidents put together. If you all think back you might remember a head or back trauma that you'd forgotten about.

hola.. mi nombre es arleen tengo 30 años y soy assintente dental pero tuve la mala suerte de por ser assistente dental queria lucir unos dientes no perfectos pero bonitos por aquello de dar el ejemplo.estoy en tratamiento de ortodoncia y eso me a causado el sindrme de tmj.mis sintoma son mareos,dolor en la articulacion y mucha molestia dolor de cabeza aveces tengo dificultad al tragar por los espasmos q esta condicion causa . mi pregunta es y si alguie me podria ayudar es que si algun dia voy a sentir alivio porque la realidad es q esto me esta desesperando mi correo es arleenlandrau@hotmail.com ,le estaria muy agradecida gracias

My experience with TMJ has been that I have had a loud popping of the jaw. I am also unable to open my mouth all the way, and my bite is slightly off.

My only symptom was a blinding headache on the right side of my head at the eyebrow bone. Even breathing made it worse. Years before my dentist had warned me I was a good candidate for TMJ. My orthodontist removed three bridges and put braces on my teeth. The bridges had held my teeth solid while the other teeth shifted to the point my jaw had shifted a quarter of an inch to the left through the years. The last bridge was the final straw that brought on the pain in the head. After surgery, that realigned the lower jaw bone, cutting through the bone and screwing it in place. The surgery relieved all the pain and now when I go the dentist they place a block in my mouth so that I can rest my teeth on it and not have to tense my jaw to hold it open. They do this while giving me brief periods of rest. Exercises are also very helpful.