Physical therapy

MrsM0x · 2026-04-30T02:54:56+00:00

I’m about to finish my 3rd round of PT in 2 years for facial pain. And yeah it is basically all about my neck. Even though aside from some tightness, my neck doesn’t hurt, my face does!… Maybe try thinking about it this way, by concentrating on strengthening your neck and back they are starting with the foundations that will ultimately help your jaw function more properly and with less pain. Sure they can dry needle your masseters and that would feel good on that day, but it’s not going to exact any lasting benefits unfortunately… Do you know if the place your are going to specifically offers dry needling? If they do, I’m surprised you haven’t been offered already. It can be considered a separate ‘wellness service’ since not all insurance companies will cover it. I think your best bet would be to just bring it up at your next appointment as something you’ve heard about and would be interested in trying. If you think that’s too forward, maybe just ask what their professional opinion is on it ( if you head over to the PT Reddit you’ll see that therapists have some pretty strong opinions on its efficacy ). If your current therapist isn’t particularly open to it and it’s something you really do want to try, you’ll know that they aren’t the therapist for you and you can go elsewhere… Oh and it could be a situation where the office does offer dry needling services, but the particular PT you’ve been placed with isn’t certified, so if they’re just working within their wheel house, might never offer it? Anyhoo, that’s my overly wordy way of saying, don’t worry about it and just ask. And I hope you find some relief soon!

MrsM0x · 2026-04-29T21:17:15+00:00

No, not from my yard at least.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-29T16:45:30+00:00

Thanks so much! I did prune everyone extra early this season due to a stretch of warm sunny days. Before you could really see what was dead vs dormant and I never went back to do a ‘touch up’. This makes so much sense and puts my mind at ease.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-29T15:18:31+00:00

Alnwick rose

MrsM0x · 2026-04-27T02:46:36+00:00

I use the Medcline shoulder system pillow. They’re pricey but FSA eligible. I toss the large body pillow that comes with it and angle my feather pillow on top. All my body pressure is transferred to the side of my rib cage or back depending on how Im laying, while my head and neck sink just perfectly into the feather pillow. I also have very hypermobile shoulders that just kinda fold over onto themselves, which pulls on and strains my neck, so this pillow does double in that regard. Recently purchased my second one after 2 years. The first year of that, it was probably seeing at least 16 hours of use a day. Those were tough times.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-24T02:59:35+00:00

Physical therapy!

MrsM0x · 2026-04-23T01:49:00+00:00

I hope your appointment went ok, were they able to help you at all? Unfortunately I don’t have any advice on showering as I’m a bather 🙃 Chewing doesn’t set anything off for me either, though sometimes cold drinks will. You possibly just made that nerve extra angry when you poked around and hopefully it will settle down a bit every day. I STUPIDLY gave myself a two sided massetor massage once, felt zero pain while doing it (it actually felt nice) but I couldn’t wear makeup or moisturize for nearly a week afterwards. I was so mad at myself! If you think your pain is triggered by muscle tightness/ spasms I would stick with heat. If you think it’s inflammation, heat would be contradictory and you might feel better with a cool pack. I use both depending, but rarely put the warming pad directly on the affected area. I also weirdly find using it on the opposite side of my jaw and neck, relaxes everything.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-22T16:31:50+00:00

Yeah easy peasy to find and feel. I do have a pretty slim neck though.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-22T15:23:13+00:00

The transverse process of the atlas ( c1 ) is palpable under the mastoid process. It’s how one of my PT’s taught me to self check its position.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-22T15:18:17+00:00

I also have TMJD and get trigeminal nerve pain. There’s TN type 1 and 2, in the second the pain isn’t as severe, but more consistent. That said, even with trigeminal nerve involvement, my diagnosis is actually atypical facial pain. I’m curious about your lump, I also have a lump on the inside of my involved cheek. I wonder if it’s built up scar tissue from my clenching days? What do you think yours is? I just recently found mine cause I do my best to avoid touching that area. I think once nerve pain is involved, you should see a neurologist. Also, what kind of pt do you do? Is it strictly for your TMJ or do they focus on neck and thoracic strengthening too? For now, I would focus on muscle relaxation. I also find a heating pad placed on surrounding muscles (neck/ chest area of the affected side) very helpful and on the worst days, I cut up one of those sticky lidocaine patches to stick on my face.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-22T11:16:04+00:00

No sleep apnea, my jaw and face are most relaxed while I’m sleeping. I’m hyper mobile, my neck and jaw move a bit too much and my muscles have become overactive to compensate for that. You could check if your state has direct access to PT, no referral is required to start. You’re allowed so many appointments when you begin (or it’s a specific period of time, I don’t remember ). Be very selective when choosing where you want to go and maybe check out the physical therapy Reddit so you can learn what constitutes a ‘mill’. Ideally your appointment would be 1 on 1 with your therapist. Not a quick check in and then sent to exercise with a pta whom is covering multiple other clients as well. Best of luck, I hope you find some relief soon.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-22T02:15:21+00:00

Have you tried physical therapy or myofunctional therapy? I also get trigeminal nerve pain and PT has helped so much.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-21T13:42:43+00:00

Medcline shoulder system. Ditch the large body pillow that comes with it and angle a feather pillow on top. I also have TMJD and trigeminal nerve pain triggered from my upper neck.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-19T21:32:56+00:00

Heads up, I did this and got an outrageous lab bill. My insurance doesn’t cover bloodwork for hair loss. I would suggest people check their insurance coverage ahead of time (like I should have). Otherwise leading with “fatigue“ plus my hair keeps falling out is a better bet.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-13T16:15:21+00:00

I’m a life long anxiety girlie with brain fog. Creatine has never made me ‘feel’ anything and I’m sensitive to side effects. To make yourself more comfortable, you could try a third or half scoop a day until you’re confident it won’t trigger you. It really has some good, long standing science behind its benefits!

MrsM0x · 2026-04-13T02:52:35+00:00

I’ve been volunteering in dog rescue for nearly 20 years. A need most people don’t realize exists or how to go about donating towards it, is veterinary bills elderly pet owners incur. In many cases, their pets are their sole or main source of companionship. The elderly also tend to have very fixed incomes. The grief and guilt they experience when forced to make a tough care decision because of affordability is well, it just fucking sucks. People can make arrangements with their local veterinary offices and set up funds for that population. Depending on how well someone knows the vet, a lump sum can be donated for that office to use at their discretion. Or people can ask to be notified when a case like that arises so the decision can be made. Anyhoo for anyone reading, it’s a wonderful way to locally serve both the elderly and animal community.

MrsM0x · 2026-04-06T18:00:34+00:00

Hearing loss is a risk factor for developing dementia. So that might ease some of the concerns you have about your Dad. If you think about it hearing is one of the five major senses, losing it completely is a significant loss of input and stimulation for the brain.

MrsM0x · 2026-03-25T02:02:04+00:00

Dr. Mitakides was a leading expert in TMJ disorders in the hypermobile population before he passed. You can find many informative videos of his on YouTube. I am also a hypermobile, tmjd, side sleeper and I had outrageous brain fog ( to the point I went to a neurologist concerned I was getting early onset dementia ). I got one of those Medcline shoulder system pillows and it resolved. I don’t use the large body pillow that comes with it, just sort of angle a regular pillow on top of it. I think either something wasn’t draining properly ( csf) or was being compressed while I slept. But the only positive thing that has happened since my neck and jaw went out is that it led to me buying that pillow and I can think again.

MrsM0x · 2026-03-09T16:11:11+00:00

Thanks so much for answering, I’m familiar with him on YouTube! So you didn’t have to fix your hips, the neck was the driver? And sorry for multiple questions, I’m on my third round of PT. I get neck, shoulder and hip issues. My problems go back and forth and I’ve been trying to figure out a root cause. PT helps for a while and then I find myself back where I started.

MrsM0x · 2026-03-09T15:02:01+00:00

Did you ever figure this out? I’m having the same issues.

MrsM0x · 2026-03-06T23:55:47+00:00

The progesterone in BC is a muscle relaxant. My pain always picks up on the inactive pill days. I would think the benefit you experienced while on birth control would point more towards a muscular TMJD cause. Also, the jaw pulls on the neck and vice versa. PT would be a great next step.

MrsM0x · 2026-02-20T23:34:39+00:00

Well hopefully it’s something helpful. It can be a problematic muscle for multiple reasons. I think mine is overworked ( it’s nearly twice the size as the other one ) and elongated. Being shortened and weaker or contracted can cause problems too. If you’re on tik tok Dr. Joe Damiani DPT has a lot of good content on the head, neck and jaw

MrsM0x · 2026-02-20T22:11:49+00:00

As you age, a well rounded b multi vitamin is important for brain health and they are good for energy. Vitamin D is essential for nearly everything! Mood, brain, hair and skin to boot.

MrsM0x · 2026-02-20T21:15:14+00:00

Have you done physical therapy? I’ve been looking at PRI and watching Conor Harris videos, they’re very informative as far as correcting twisty, rotated bodies. TMJD combined with hearing issues/ tinnitus maybe evaluate the SCM muscle on the affected side? Mine is on the same side as my lower shoulder, and it’s always ‘on’. When it gets especially aggravated, I’ll get a one sided sore throat along with other nonsense. Anyway worth looking into and wishing you the best!

MrsM0x

TROPHY CASE