The Voices of TMJ
Sometimes a TMJ patient needs inspiration just to get through each day. We have received thousands of real life stories over the years and you can read some of them right now here below. We invite any involved in the life of a TMJ sufferer to share their story in whatever format you think best. Drop us a line, share a story on Facebook, record an audio or video message. The point is: if you have a story, SHOUT IT OUT!
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These are just a few of the many stories that will move you and those you know to become active in this vital movement. Repost these stories on your facebook or Myspace page. Tweet about them. Let everyone know there is something THEY CAN DO to help. Above all, give generously to the effort to eliminate TMJ Disorders.
We only present five or six stories here, for more stories check out the archive at More Voices of TMJ. Above all, give generously, to support the mission of The TMJ Association.
Marion: Conservative/Reversible Treatments are Key
Facial pain and jaw pain were once a big part of my life. For a time, I thought it would be the end of me. Eventually, I recovered with patience, physical therapy and time.
This phrase saved my life: Treatments should be conservative, reversible and noninvasive. Following that advice allowed me to avoid harmful treatments. And eventually, I got better. That was more than 10 years ago and though I am normal again, I will always remember those difficult days.
Terri: A Light at the End of the Tunnel
At the tender age of 19, I was forced in to a marriage with a man 16 years older than myself. He brutally abused me every single day. Beatings, emotional abuse, rapes, you name it I got it. One day he sucker punched my left jaw 3 times and broke my jaw immediately. Refusing to take me to the hospital and knowing he would be arrested my jaw had no choice but to heal on its own.
John: The Importance of Education
John had experienced TMJ long enough to cause serious strains on his family. When he began to seek relief from his TMJ pain in 2001– he spent well over $10,000 on treatments that were ineffective. Only to discover in the end that more interdisciplinary research could have helped his doctors find the underlying systemic cause of his TMJ much sooner.
Terrie: Intended or Unintended, the Unforgivable Injury
We have been listening to TMJ patients since 1986. Our conversations and letters have run the gamut from simple questions to in-depth descriptions of what this disorder has done to our lives. Even for those whose short bout with TMJ ended in "life back to normal," the episode has left them questioning this disease that put them into a period of pain and dysfunction, thankful to be better, and somewhat apprehensive regarding recurrence.
We hope this article, based on thousands of phone calls and letters, will shed some light on how TMJ has affected the lives of those afflicted. We share with you the concerns, events, and life decisions that people face in their TMJ battles. Some will recognize themselves in the paragraphs that follow; others will feel fortunate to have had few of these experiences. The importance of this article is that The TMJ Association has listened and learned and is compelled to share this information with you.
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