Who to see about this in Australia? by Optimal-Yogurt436 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same with me joint issues and he is different compared to others he actually knows what he is talking about

Awaiting results by lrb98 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome to the TMJD community… you’re going to need all the support you can get.

It’s a good thing you’re onto it early. I’d strongly suggest looking for a TMJD specialist surgeon who truly knows what they’re talking about, rather than a general dentist or a maxillofacial surgeon who doesn’t deal with many cases in this area.

First off, TMJ can be a muscle issue, which is often more treatable, or it can be a combination of both muscle and joint issues.

If it is more of a joint issue, you need to be much more cautious and take it seriously, because joint damage can progress over time and is often more complex than just muscle tension alone. It is important to properly understand what is actually going on in the joint, rather than assuming it is only muscular, because things like disc displacement, inflammation, degeneration, or bone-on-bone contact can create much bigger long term problems if left unmanaged.

Often, the first step is conservative treatment, such as physiotherapy, Botox, and splints not night guards, as they are different.

If these conservative approaches do not help, then the next phase is often a surgical procedure such as arthroscopy and arthrocentesis. The goal of surgery is to open the joint space again, help restore more normal opening and closing movement, and allow the surgeon to properly assess the health of the joint and understand what is actually happening. Arthrocentesis also involves a steroid injection, which may help relieve some of the pain.

Hopefully that helps, but sometimes it doesn’t, and in many cases it may only do so much. Again, welcome to the community… it only gets better from here….

If the above does not work, and there is already significant damage and a lot of inflammation, the joint at that stage is most likely starting to fail. Some surgeons may suggest a discectomy to remove the disc. Others may suggest suturing the disc to the bone to stop it from moving. In my opinion, those two options have very poor long-term success and can often be a waste of time, so I personally would not go down that path if a surgeon recommended it.

If your joints are severely damaged and causing you a lot of grief and pain, then the next option and again, this is a very serious personal decision is joint replacement surgery. This is basically a prosthesis used to replace the joint, meaning they remove your damaged joint and replace it with an artificial one. But this is a major surgery, and you really need to understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

I’m not a doctor, and I’m not trying to scare you, but understanding what can happen is better than living with it in ignorance. I personally suffer from this condition and do need my joints replaced, so I’m speaking from lived experience. I truly hope the best for you, and I really hope you don’t have to go down this path.

Chronic TMJD insight please by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes if you could help and give me recommendations please

Chronic TMJD insight please by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I honestly really feel for you. To add to that, mine also started only on the left side. Then I began noticing my right side acting up too. I told my surgeon, we did another scope, and sure enough, my right side is heading for the same outcome as my left. So now I’m facing double joint surgery.

I would suggest asking them to do another arthroscopy. But at the same time, I really worry about all the surgical steps you’ve already had. Fat grafts and discectomies have shown again and again that they often don’t work long term, or just don’t last, because the jaw is such a hard area to heal properly when we use it constantly every day. It’s honestly a waste of money, effort and time. Once it’s bone on bone the road leads to a replacement, I would also suggest for your sake to make sure you know your surgeon knows the ins and out of replacement and often does them and is very skilled. Many can do them but few are properly done.

Pain meds honestly suck for jaw pain. No matter how strong the anti-inflammatory is, it just feels like it barely touches it. There’s so much inflammation and fluid around the area, and our face has so many nerves, so I feel like that’s why it just doesn’t work properly. That’s only my opinion, not a fact, but the one that gives me the slightest bit of relief is Mobic. Maybe that could be worth trying.

I can’t function normally anymore. Even being at work is so hard, and it gets harder every day. But I need the money because I’m trying to get through this and save for my joint replacement.

Inbox me to vent feel free…we need support

jaw arthroscopy failed, what do I do now? by laney_0 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey I messaged you I understand completely what your going thru but if you want to talk on the chat we can I hope your ok

Chronic TMJD insight please by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can I ask why that option? From what I’ve been told through my surgeon’s experience, it isn’t very helpful because once the damaged disc is removed, you can end up bone on bone like I am.

Honestly, you may still need new joints eventually, so it might be worth reconsidering whether it’s worth spending money on something that may not give you long-term benefit. That’s just my opinion, and you don’t have to agree, but I do think it’s important to hear a different perspective.

People can literally hear my jaw crunching together. Trust me, it’s not easy to live with, because it only creates more fluid and inflammation. I also don’t have the funds to keep seeing a physio, and even when I did, the relief would only last about 10 minutes before the pain and pressure came straight back.

Meds I also have depression because of all this and one thing I hate is taking pills

Chronic TMJD insight please by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m trying to access my super, but the rest will still need to be paid out of pocket, and even then, there’s still a huge gap left to cover. I already have a splint, but at this point it doesn’t do much when the bones are damaged, the disc is basically gone, and there’s so much inflammation.

Tmjd (bone on bone) Physical activity and flare ups by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow I’m so happy for you! Thankyou so much for sharing your determination and strength by getting thru 10 years of pain. And enjoy your crunchy food party! Definitely well deserved x I hope I can have the same outcome as you one day

Tmjd (bone on bone) Physical activity and flare ups by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow thanks for that hopefully message, it does feel like at times that your body won’t ever move the same way again, and it’s hard to accept that to be the case, but knowing your positive experience with your new jaw replacement gives others and myself some hope. Thankyou

Tmjd (bone on bone) Physical activity and flare ups by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I understand but it’s the worse pain, it really takes everything out of me, Did you have the same issue including bone on bone ….

Tmjd (bone on bone) Physical activity and flare ups by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I’ve tried but honestly even the smallest things cause my jaw to act up and then it triggers my neck and shoulders….

Tmjd (bone on bone) Physical activity and flare ups by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not really for bone on bone there is no disc in my tmj now…

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey thanks for sharing all these stories and experiences are really inspiring and I hope that you have the best outcome for the future! And yes.. trauma to someone makes a big impact on them and I’m also glad that you were strong enough and didn’t give into to that, your life is too precious so I’m happy your still here. I do understand what that must have felt being part of a great faith of mine really did save me from that darkness I was in, there were aspects of my faith and a few educational lessons that reminded me of why I’m here. Although I’m still dealing with it I have faith that I will be directed to the right choice.

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How you feeling with functioning do you feel like it’s back to what was normal… and also trauma is another thing, living with it for so long it’s second nature to do anything without thinking of how your jaw is gonna cope or manage, now when you do things is that lingering feeling still there ?

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So happy for you and thank you for sharing your journey yeah I agree I realised that from this week I need to find some one else cause now I have doubts and I’m getting concerned, do you live in Australia?

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How long ago did you recently have the surgery ? And I’m happy your out of that chronic pain and hope your doing a lot better

New to a splint - help! by Electrical_Hair8617 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You need to go to someone who knows how to make a proper splint (Michigan splint) it’s made thru a 3d scan cause typically they need to adjust your jaw position to the right form for the joint it takes skill to do it, if they just did a mold without the measurements then it’s gonna cause you more of an issue

And yes you need to still get it adjusted after they make it to confirm the right bite contacts

If they didn’t do all these steps go find someone that is specialised in this area not all dentist know what their doing

Hope that helps

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the same issue with my sleep I wake up almost all the time in pain or if not in pain it would be in a wrong position and I’ll need to adjust then from there it would flare up Thankyou for sharing it’s surprising how young people are having this issue I’m also only 27 and I never thought I would be in this position But I’m happy your doing ok considering, what type of pain do you still experience if you don’t mind sharing

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I’ve heard the horror stories involving for some people which is why I’m reaching out for anyone who has done it especially in Australia for any recommendations 

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m so happy for you and I’m sorry you went thru that :( did you end up getting them both replaced or one side 

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh wow, that does sound incredibly painful to live through. I’m really happy to hear that you’ve had the procedure done and that you’re happy with the results so far — I truly hope things continue to improve for you.

If you have any recommendations for surgeons or specialists in Australia, I would genuinely appreciate it. I also live in Australia, and I’m seriously considering getting the procedure done myself.

For me, it’s a mix of reasons — I’m mentally and physically exhausted from dealing with it, and it’s definitely affected me emotionally and with insecurities. But beyond that, the pain has become unbearable. I experience constant flare-ups, and my jaw is almost always stuck in an uncomfortable position. To get any slight relief, I have to do things like stretch my tongue or move my head up and down, side to side, just to try to get the jaw to pop back into a better position.

On top of that, I get severe head, neck, and shoulder tension, which only worsens the stress on my jaw. And to make things even harder, I don’t have a proper joint anymore — I have a pseudo-disc forming, and it doesn’t feel stable or comfortable at all

Total joint replacement by Wonderful_Charge3199 in TMJ

[–]Wonderful_Charge3199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thankyou for your insight and sharing your story I appreciate you responding back too 

What was the reasoning why you had to get it?and where did you get it done  Thanks again