TMJ Resources - Our Family - Patient Talk
In 1996 I underwent a nearly 2-hour procedure to remove 5 wisdom teeth, four of which were bone-impacted. During the surgery, bone was removed from my upper right jaw to make room for the fifth wisdom tooth as it was too close to my sinus cavity to extract. This tooth eventually erupted in 2003. Also, the doctors had difficulty removing my upper left tooth and suspected that my left joint was hyper-extended. A few months later, I noticed clicking and popping in both joints. This continued for ten years. On occasion, my jaw would lock, but only for a few seconds at a time. I never experienced dull or sharp pain, so my dentist felt that there wasn’t a need for further testing. Also, occasional muscle soreness in my jaw was often assumed to be caused by overuse, because I have been acting since I was 12 years old.
Over the last five years, from additional procedures (fillings and a root canal), and increased use of my jaw (teaching and singing), my jaw muscles would become easily fatigued. 2006 brought a great deal of stress professionally and personally. Beginning in April, I experienced great anxiety, months of restless sleep and most likely clenched my teeth at night. In July/August, I was simultaneously working on a musical, opera, and an open audition. For the first time, I started to feel pain in my left joint along with a great deal of popping, clicking, and locking. It felt as if my lower jaw was separating itself completely any time I spoke or sang. In the middle of September, I was treated for muscle spasms in my left joint and after four days of rest and a soft diet, the symptoms were alleviated.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, I noticed that a dull pain returned, but the clicking and additional noises ceased. My jaw muscles became extremely tight and my range of motion was limited; for the first two weeks of December, it was painful to chew. An MRI on December 7th revealed a symmetrical dislocation of my TMJ discs, with particular inflammation in the left joint. Since December 22nd, I have been seeing a physical therapist 2-3 times per week, wearing a dental appliance to release pressure off of the joint, applying ice to my left jaw, continuing to limit chewing and sparingly taking naproxen and valium. I experience headaches, muscle soreness, and discomfort in my face and neck constantly. On a scale of 1 to 10, my pain on average is a 4/5 on a good day, and will hit 6/7 with sharp, stabbing pain on a bad day. I was recently informed by a specialist of three typical procedures: arthrocentesis, arthroscopic surgery, and open-jaw surgery. Many people have told me to avoid surgery completely, but I am very much in pain and am concerned that my career will be affected for a longer period of time than desired.
