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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by partlycloudy on May 21, 2004, at 8:22:31
I have TMJ and my meds have aggravated it very badly. I'm on wellbutrin xr, effexor xl, xanax as needed for panic attacks.
I have just about chomped thru my night guard. My entire jaw aches, my teeth are sore, my head has a steel band that tightens with each hour, and my ears don't seem to work like they should. (They still hold up my glasses but they don't hear sound very well.)
I'm going to the dentist on Monday and I was wondering if anyone else has this condition and what helps??
Posted by sooshi on May 21, 2004, at 11:44:39
In reply to TMJ misery, posted by partlycloudy on May 21, 2004, at 8:22:31
Hi partlycloudy, me again....
Since posting to you last time, I think I've found something that has REALLY helped me. I've been going to a chair massage therapist for 15 minute massages as often as possible. Since I can't afford full back or body massages, I just go get the head/neck massages. If you tell him/her exactly what the problem is, they will focus in on those muscles. My therapist is very thourough(sp?), massaging every muscle on my scalp, around and even IN my ears, my face, jaws, neck and shoulders. Then she does some stretching of my head/neck area. Oh my gosh, this has really helped!
Also, I've found that if the meds I take dry out my mouth, I will tend to grind or clench my teeth more, so try to keep really hydrated.
Is your mouth guard hard or soft? Every time I tried a hard mouth piece, I tended to grind on it and ended up with even angrier jaw muscles, but at least with the softer ones, there was some "give", and the muscles didn't get as tense. I also had a mouth piece that I wore all day, but really, anything I put in my mouth just irritates me, and I end up biting down on it or chewing it, which makes it worse.
Well, hope I haven't made you more confused! Good luck!
Posted by partlycloudy on May 21, 2004, at 13:17:36
In reply to Re: TMJ misery-found something that helps » partlycloudy, posted by sooshi on May 21, 2004, at 11:44:39
Sooshi - thanks for your suggestions. I have been wondering about massage - it is definitely worth a try.
I have had both soft and hard nightguards. The one I have now (that I have almost bitten thru) is hard but it fits just on your front teeth. It looks like you're Bug Bunny's country cousin :) Before I had chomped down on it, it was keeping my molars from touching. My concern with that one is an orthodontic one; I can't imagine that long term this isn't making my front teeth move into even more of an overbite.
Interesting about the dry mouth - my meds definitely do make my mouth dry. And I know I do most of my grinding in my sleep, but clench during the day.
When I used to have a soft mouthguard, I would spit it out across the bedroom in my sleep!! Can't imagine what I did with a soother when I was a baby...
Thanks again. If I get any other recommendations from the dentist I'll let you know.
pc
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