Yesterday I got up as usual and noticed the right side of my jaw hurt REALLY bad. I could hardly close and open my mouth. I went all day like that and attributed it to too much gum chewing (which probably is the reason). Last night I was up and down all night because it was hurting so bad. It actually felt like my jaw was dislocated. I barealy ate anything because I can't chew. This morning I got up and the right side of my face by the joint of my jaw was a little swollen and it hurt like the dickens. I did take some liquid vicoden last night as well as some motrin, didn't even touch the pain. So I called my Dr and he had me come in this morning and he said I have TMJ. the joint in my jaw is so swollen that I can barely open and close my mouth and today I cannot eat and seriously it is even hard to just swallow liquids, but I am no matter what! He put me on an antiinflammatory called, mobic. I was scared to take it and he know about the band but he said I really needed to take it. So I am on liquids, AGAIN, whether I want to or not. Lucky me, just when I can actually eat real food again, I can't!!:confused:

Hello!!!

at age 13 I was diagnosed with TMJ after many many many months of pain and my pediatrician misdiagnosing it as an ear infection.

My jaw was so out of whack because of a total malalignment of the joint. Well, I had a slight underbite and they sent me for orthodontia...but...before I could get braces, I needed to lessen the pain, so my parents brought me to a chiropractor. I used to take upwards of 24advil a day...A DAY!!! It hurts so horrendously... I seriously recommend a chiro...specifically one who has dealt with this and can help you...It wasn't back adjustments as much as manipulating the inside of my mouth, my cheeks, neck and upper chest. It worked wonders.

Sorry this is a little random, but I just hope you are able to find something to help you alleviate the pain. It is an AWFUL pain that no-one should have to go through.

Oh, and I was always in more pain at night...I found that by putting a little fan on my head, it lessened the pain...don't know why...but it did and I was able to sleep more soundly than when I didn't use a fan. Who knows!!!

rain

I've also been treated for TMJ by my chiropractor. I don't think my case would've been considered severe, but at any rate, it hasn't been a problem for at least a couple of years. I highly recommend seeing a chiropractor!

OMG! My doctor has been diagnosising me with ear infections for the last year and a half. I don't get sick! So I didn't understand how I was getting ear infections like every three months! I would go to the doctor w/ a sore throat or just to get a check up and he would say You have an ear infection. It's gotten to the point to where I renamed my doctor's number in my phone as, "it's another ear infection."

I just told my mom about your situation and she was shocked! Thanks for the info, I'm calling my PCP first thing in the morning and seeing what he has to say about this. I have been having significant jaw pain lately, one time it was even swollen and I couldn't close my mouth for a few days. I even went as far as to self diagnosis, (habit of webmd addiction)

THank you so much for the information! I thought I was going nuts w/ never feeling sick but always having ear infections. UGH!

I also suffer with TMJ disorder.

A few years ago I couldn't close or open my mouth all the way and the pain was so intense. At the suggestion of my doctor I went to Wallgreens and got one of those mouthguards. You boil them and mold them to your mouth. I slept with mine at night and until I could open and close my mouth again I kept it in during the day too, so that my mouth could relax.

It can be a very painful thing. I clench and grind my teeth at night when I sleep which triggered mine. Chewing gum definitely aggrivates it. I would suggest sucking on mints or just sucking on the gum.. I've heard that having to chew your food up really well can also cause pain too... which is a concern for me since I'm not banded yet. One food to avoid if you can is beef jerkey. Turkey jerkey isn't as bad though, but the beef jerkey causes a lot of stress on your jaws when you have TMJ.