What sort of doctor should i go to for TMJ?

I'm 98% sure it's anxiety induced and it hurts so bad right now.
so so bad

i had panic attacks most of the day yesterday and i've lost my clonezepam so i rode them out (meaning im pretty sure that my jaw was clenched or i was grinding my teeth all day). i think this has pushed my jaw to the limit


im in tears now.

i think im about to go to the gym to help me relax a bit.

6/7/2010 6:39:43 PM

too much jesus?

6/7/2010 6:41:24 PM

general practitioner

6/7/2010 6:42:48 PM

get an athletic mouth guard thing. nothing a doctor can do. deemarie has this shit.

6/7/2010 6:44:33 PM

^have one. from the dentist.

actually two

i ground through the first one

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:47 PM. Reason : sfds]

6/7/2010 6:46:56 PM

i had to get a specially made mouth guard

^^ i would bite through that in a second. i also chewed through the professional one. well two of them. the first one was super thin material then they gave me a heavy duty one which lasted a LOT longer.

i don't know who you see, though. my dentist did mine.

^ yes. exactly. i feel you. i've been thinking about going back to my dentist because my jaw kills. but i don't have dental insurance right now so i'm just gonna keep thinking about going for 2 more months or so

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:48 PM. Reason : .]

6/7/2010 6:47:27 PM

none. just get a mouthguard and take some pain meds.

6/7/2010 6:47:49 PM

^^yeah i ground through the first one i had which is the heavy duty shit. hard, hard plastic.
the dentist molded it for me.

^well what doctor would prescribe me pain meds fpr that? a general practitioner? a dentist?

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:49 PM. Reason : dfgfdd]

6/7/2010 6:48:22 PM

jesus

you must have a jaw like a boxer's at this point

i was always shocked and awed when my dogs gnawed through those plastic dog bones, i didn't think humans could do that too

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:50 PM. Reason : eat lightning, crap thunder, etc]

6/7/2010 6:50:28 PM

ignorance showing ITT

joie, a dentist is the place to start - they'll give you better information as to what treatment path you should pursue.

^^Depends on the relationship you have with your GP. Also, right now, you want muscle relaxers, not pain meds.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:51 PM. Reason : sdflkf]

6/7/2010 6:50:29 PM

I have this. not fun when it randomly spazzes out

6/7/2010 6:50:29 PM

I wouldn't waste money on them, unless the dentist will replace it for free. my dentist said it would cost me like $800 for one. I said fuck that and just dealt with it on my own.

as far as the TMJ, how long has it been? if only a few days to a week, just keep on the pain meds and get some mouthguards from walmart - cheap and replaceable. if the TMJ lasts for 2+ weeks then I'd go to the doctor.

6/7/2010 6:50:31 PM

i agree with xtine - start at the dentist.

are you going to get them to look at your jaw when you go too and see how it sounds just opening and shutting etc? normally, not during stress i mean. mine sticks, clicks and grinds anytime i open it the slightest bit now so i'm worried the clenching/grinding during stress does actual damage. it gives me horrible headaches (the clenching) like in my temples.

i feel you

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:52 PM. Reason : .]

6/7/2010 6:51:36 PM

no bj's for a week

6/7/2010 6:52:22 PM

mine is just my jaw. no head aches.

ive ground my teeth into nothing in previous years (the dentist is fairly certain all of my molars will be fake within a few years).

Quote :

"as far as the TMJ, how long has it been?"

on and off for years. but today it is the worst it's ever been.
i was eating lunch and every time i shut my mouth it sounded and felt like pop rocks were in my jaw.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:56 PM. Reason : and thanks guys...im gonna call the dentist tomorrow and see if he can fax an rx in :/]

6/7/2010 6:56:04 PM

and you haven't seen someone for this yet because...?

^It sounds like you have a decent relationship with your dentist. Call this in as an emergency - he'll probably help you out tonight, especially having seen what you've done to your teeth.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 6:58 PM. Reason : qdsf]

6/7/2010 6:57:00 PM

oh shit. you're talking chronic TMJ. never mind my advice, I'll shut up. I thought you meant you were just having it now.

I grind my teeth and have 2, 1-week bouts with TMJ, but nothing really chronic/troublesome.

6/7/2010 6:58:58 PM

honestly i do not have a really good reason.

ive had jaw clenching and teeth grinding issues as long as i can remember.
i got anxiety meds and a mouth guard....well several mouth guards.
and they helped a little. i still would randomly wake up with my jaw feeling like i had been gnawing on a rock all night.
and so it went.
until today
never popped like it did at lunch

Quote :

"It sounds like you have a decent relationship with your dentist. Call this in as an emergency - he'll probably help you out tonight, especially having seen what you've done to your teeth. "

not decent enough to call him now. but im sure i can tomorrow.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 7:01 PM. Reason : serdsr]

6/7/2010 7:00:01 PM

gettin old

just blame rapid changes in heat and humidity though, don't give in to age

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 7:02 PM. Reason : i've had my standard go-to doc give me muscle relaxants for my back implosion]

6/7/2010 7:01:25 PM

Quote :

"no bj's for a week"

i scrolled all the way down so that i could post "ibtbjjoke"

but you know what? fuck it. i'm out.

6/7/2010 7:39:39 PM

why so stressed. she can have her pick of TWW creepers in like 10 minutes.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 7:46 PM. Reason : lolz]

6/7/2010 7:46:17 PM

Hope it gets better boo!

6/7/2010 7:50:30 PM

thanks

cod and i went to the gym to life weights
he thought it was a stupid idea but i really wanted to calm me down (this is doing nothing for my anxiety)


but the point im getting at-i buusted ass because i purposely thought about NOT clenching my jaws and putting all of my energy into the set.
i squatted 160 (not including weight of the bar-it was the smith machine so im guessing like 10-15?) for a set of 10
new PR

one day i will do a 1 rep max.
one day.






[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 9:35 PM. Reason : yuhiuy]

6/7/2010 9:34:23 PM

Why don't you chill out and relax a bit? Maybe that'll help

6/7/2010 9:36:34 PM

easier said than done

im just naturally on edge a lot.
and i have a real bad oral fixation (hur hur hur). i bite my nails, pens, gum, candy you name it.

and i cant really control my grinding in my sleep

i may have to start back doing lots of cardio in the morning to wear me out

6/7/2010 9:41:28 PM

Have you ever used a muscle relaxer at bedtime instead of anti-anxiety meds?

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 9:42 PM. Reason : or both]

6/7/2010 9:42:23 PM

I hear heroin is a great pain reliever.

6/7/2010 9:42:25 PM

^^no.
biut i actually don't take anti anxiety meds at all unless i feel like im going to have a panic attack.... (so like .5 mg clonzepam 3-4 times/month)

6/7/2010 9:43:38 PM

Quote :

"and i cant really control my grinding in my sleep"

6/7/2010 9:43:48 PM

lol

6/7/2010 9:44:10 PM

My gf was given a muscle relaxer for night time teeth grinding and it seemed to help a lot

6/7/2010 9:47:38 PM

mmmk. i might have to look into that.

thanks

6/7/2010 9:48:25 PM

I went to Urgent Care, described my issues (couldn't open mouth all the way) and the feeling, like I had been punched in the face. The prescribed Flexiril every night for two weeks, and then a trip to the dentist. Also said don't eat anything big, like a sandwich, or chewy or crunchy for two weeks, and stip chewing gum. My dentist has been taking care of it since then. They did x-rays, would give me 2 weeks of flexiril whenever I started getting locked, and told me to never chew gum again! Also, wanted me to get an NTI mouth guard, but that is gonna cost about 400 bucks. It is specially made and you only bite down on your front teeth so your muscles in your temple don't flex all night. Prevents migraines, which I have had since 3rd grade.

6/7/2010 11:41:09 PM

WHY NOT JUST GRAB A BEER AND CHILL THE FUCK OUT ALREADY GOOD GOD WOMEN

6/7/2010 11:42:26 PM

i mean just grab a beer and relax already would you =/

6/7/2010 11:42:53 PM

I used muscles relaxers for a while but the only thing that really has helped me with my TMJ is a grind guard. I have currently misplaced it so I have had some tooth aches going on.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 11:45 PM. Reason : I realize this has been covered.]

6/7/2010 11:43:46 PM

1. Make roommate mad
2.
3. ????
4. Profit

6/8/2010 12:19:57 AM

i didn't really read past the 6th or 7th post so this is probably a dumb question

instead of getting mouth guards why don't you people just stop biting down so hard?

like, make a conscious effort to just not do that

6/8/2010 12:24:29 AM

why don't you people just stop trolling so badly?

like, make a conscious effort to just not do that

6/8/2010 12:34:40 AM

i was just asking a question

if something hurts you normally stop

does that mean some people can't stop?

6/8/2010 12:40:36 AM

i can't help you, but something like this recently happened to me for the first time ever

for a couple weeks i must have been clenching in my sleep because my jaw was in some MAJOR PAYNE during the day...couldn't open or close it beyond a small speaking range without an unholy bone-wrenching pain

i wasn't stressed about anything that i'm aware of though i did notice taking a kpin before bed helped a good bit. it eventually just tapered off

weird.

[Edited on June 8, 2010 at 1:16 AM. Reason : good luck ]

6/8/2010 1:16:23 AM

damn my mouth guard takes care of my grinding issues....

6/8/2010 1:32:01 AM

today i'm feeling much much better.

which confirms my suspicions that sunday's panic-attack fest was to blame.

i will be making an appointment in the very near future to make sure this doesnt happen again.

thanks ya'll

6/8/2010 8:10:44 AM

Bump.

Another Dr. question.

I've been having these shooting pains in my left wrist (save the J.O. jokes -- I'm a righty). From about 1.5 inches up on the outside the wrist through the mid-section of the hand. It's not like a dull pain, but just a very quick shooting sensation.

What could this possibly be? It's not annoying enough to go to the doctor and have it looked at yet, but I'm curious... the only thing I looked up and found my symptoms match up with is arthritis... can't imagine at my age I'm suffering from that!

[Edited on August 3, 2010 at 4:31 PM. Reason : i've had a pinched nerve before that affected my neck -- different feeling in this]

8/3/2010 4:30:54 PM

Quote :

"the only thing I looked up and found my symptoms match up with is arthritis... can't imagine at my age I'm suffering from that!"

i knew a girl who was diagnosed with arthritis at like age 12 or something

i occasionally get those pains, not often enough to worry, but i always assumed it was either arthritic, or some carpal tunnel shit

8/3/2010 4:32:44 PM

Its just JO...no periods

8/3/2010 4:35:46 PM

i guess if you JO very deliberately and with purpose it could be J.O.

8/3/2010 4:36:25 PM

Sounds like someone's worn out the stranger.

8/3/2010 4:38:20 PM

Only if you root for the N.Y. Mets and have a B.S. in M.E. from N.C. State

[Edited on August 3, 2010 at 4:38 PM. Reason : x]

8/3/2010 4:38:26 PM

I don't think that applies to anyone in this thread.

8/3/2010 4:40:24 PM