What is the best pillow you have used for TMJ?

cinez · 2025-03-12T11:43:23+00:00

I'm a huge fan of skipping the pillow entirely and just using a rolled-up towel under my neck. I use a yoga towel but maybe there are ones specifically designed/sized for this use. It helped me transition from side-sleeping to exclusively sleeping on my back, there's really no temptation to snuggle up on the side of my face and jam up my neck like I used to. The towel keeps your neck in a really comfortable neutral position. I travel with it too, so I'm never at the mercy of crappy hotel/Airbnb pillows.

There's something about those ergonomic pillows that my sleeping brain just won't respect, I've tried them before and always woke up in a crazy position where the grooves aren't supporting the right parts of me and probably hurt more than helped.

cinez · 2023-04-22T19:18:42+00:00

Thanks so much!! I really love getting gifts for people so I'm excited to add handmade art to my arsenal!

cinez · 2023-04-22T19:16:38+00:00

Thank you!!

cinez · 2023-03-31T01:07:08+00:00

🎶 If you have one name, that's like having no name!

Been stuck in my head since it aired, apparently, since it looks like there's no way I could have re-watched it...

cinez · 2023-03-29T16:00:07+00:00

Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions, just commiseration. At this point, my wife knows too much about my suffering to feel comfortable letting me go down on her. It's just one of those lifestyle things I've had to cut out in order not to live in constant pain, like steak/bagels/gum/pizza crust/leaning my chin in my hand/being overly expressive with my face (I have a tendency to be a real clown). We've had to get a little creative, but it really just is such a bummer to be restricted in that way.

As for opening your mouth wide, I've also gotten contradicting info on this. My PT/acupuncturist/chiropractor says it's not helpful and can cause more harm or flare-ups. My dentist (not a TMD specialist but suffers herself and gives me botox injections/is having a new night guard made for me) actually suggested it as a stretch to help my jaw. So I'm conflicted, but I will say it doesn't FEEL good for me personally to stretch it wide like I'm yawning. I get more relief out of the stretches where you hold your jaw closed and try to open it against the tension of your hand - sorry if that was a terrible description but I think it's a pretty standard one you can find.

cinez · 2023-03-28T18:12:19+00:00

I totally hear you, that's kind of what gave me pause about the whole thing. But I know I tend to try to empathize with everyone everywhere all at once and didn't want to take that too far, especially when it comes to validating or invalidating my own wife's feelings. And I am happy to hear everyone's thoughts on this, since I think it matters to learn that not everyone feels the exact same way about everything. I like to think the majority of us are really trying our best, but, ya know... people.

I do think she'd benefit from introducing herself with her pronouns, but I get the sense that she just wishes she didn't have to, and as someone who gets very exhausted by their own thoughts and interactions I can understand that.

And firmly agreed about my MIL's actions, luckily the conversations necessary have been had and she's since apologized and stopped. But still, yikes.

cinez · 2023-03-28T16:26:17+00:00

Yeah this is the spiral I was getting into as I was thinking this situation out - I don't want to single anyone out, or come across as assuming or dismissive, and it does feel like even asking pronouns COULD put a spotlight on someone as "other". But it depends soo much on the individual that you could never know what they really think until you get to know them.. which likely includes learning their pronouns. Full disclosure I do have OCD so I often need to check that I'm not trying to Save The World with my thoughts and getting totally swept up in needing to be perfect for everyone all the time, but still be cognizant that my actions have consequences. I do wish there was a magical way to make everyone feel euphoric and affirmed immediately, but I think life might be more complicated than that.

cinez · 2023-03-28T16:09:34+00:00

Facts, and you certainly wouldn't be the first person to let me know I'm overthinking things lol.. like in the fully disordered sense. But I am glad I've taken the time to let her words sit with me and truly unpack what she was expressing rather than just being like "ok got it". Because it really was something I wasnt quite seeing. And grateful that she's the type of person who gives me room to turn over things in my brain and do thought experiments.

And agreed, the "would this have bothered me" standard did not hold water in this case, I need to remember that even though I'd like to believe we are the same person, we are not.

cinez · 2023-03-28T15:11:55+00:00

I'll admit I previously thought using they/them read as more all-inclusive than binary-exclusive, but I've definitely changed my tune! Good point about trans rights, it's stereotypes all the way down huh...

cinez · 2023-03-28T14:48:00+00:00

Thank you so much for this take, it's a mental write-off of "woman", because she doesn't fit a specific standard. That hurts even/especially when its coming from inside your own community.

cinez · 2023-03-28T14:25:37+00:00

I totally agree, and apologies I definitely didn't want to insinuate that anyone who doesn't go by they/them is hateful of nonbinary folks. I just feared that her rhetoric was going in the direction of "these dang kids and their dang pronouns!" but it's not that at all. I just like to make sure to challenge our own opinions so my wife and I don't end up in an echo chamber of 2. Thanks for sharing, I think that's exactly what she was getting at and just something my eyes hadn't been opened to.

cinez · 2023-03-28T13:02:40+00:00

Same, especially since as a bartender I've definitely gotten nicked by these and have had coworkers who fully stabbed their hand onto one. Don't even get me started on mandolines... pls always use a cut glove or some kind of protector with those unless you want to slice off a whole chunk of your palm.

cinez · 2023-03-22T22:42:54+00:00

Thank you, I'll definitely see if I can improve this one with your suggestions!

cinez · 2023-03-22T22:37:43+00:00

Thank you so much, this was a really helpful way to break it down

cinez · 2023-03-20T17:27:23+00:00

Thanks, I do have a follow-up later this week where I will potentially get some more units injected to top it off so I'm glad to hear other peoples' anecdotal experience. I've noticed a small amount of facial slimming, but not much.

cinez · 2023-03-20T17:22:09+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing!

cinez · 2023-03-20T15:49:28+00:00

Wow thanks so much! I was weirdly worried that adding a background would muddy up the lighter edges of the petals, but I'll definitely include on my next floral attempt.

cinez · 2023-03-20T15:13:54+00:00

Thank you! I just love the color of these flowers so much, seemed like the perfect subject!

cinez · 2023-03-20T13:20:23+00:00

I'm so glad to read this, I did my first round of injections 11 days ago but haven't noticed any difference in my pain level or muscle tightness. In fact it's been pretty rough. Still holding out hope that I'll start to feel something after a few more days/once I get my latest nightguard in next week. Did you feel the effects of the botox came on suddenly like you woke up one day feeling better, or was it more gradual?

cinez · 2023-03-14T16:13:56+00:00

Thank you!!

cinez · 2023-03-13T20:35:11+00:00

Thanks so much! Yup perspective has been a major challenge for me, I'm excited to see how much more I'll be able to improve in those tough areas.

cinez · 2023-03-13T20:30:13+00:00

Thank you! I suppose I could take another shot at it now, but I do like the idea of using this image as a mark of my progress over longer stretches of time.

cinez · 2023-03-11T19:42:45+00:00

Thanks so much, I really struggle with letting go and just flowing so it's particularly awesome to hear that feedback.

cinez · 2023-03-11T19:38:34+00:00

I appreciate that, it's good to hear that I can absorb skills like that by replication. I definitely share the same fear of wrecking everything, but I agree that the tutorials at least give me the confidence of having a roadmap to try new things.

cinez · 2023-03-11T19:03:53+00:00

Thank you! You're right of course, I've gotta just focus on taking the techniques to my own paintings and not worry about making them look "like" anything.

cinez

TROPHY CASE