Best products from r/TMJ

I've been making lots of small and not-so-small changes that seem to be helping a lot:

• No more swimsuits that tie at my neck
  
• No more heavy cross-body purses
  
• Got invisalign. I've really benefitted from just knowing my teeth are protected = lowers my anxiety. Not to mention it's improving my bite, which is huge.
  
• Get massages from people who specialize in face and neck issues. This is really key for me. I also got a foam roller and lacrosse balls so I can work out my muscles at home.
  
• No more sleeping on my stomach. Huge improvement! Working on limiting side sleeping, but it's slow going.
  
• Yoga 1-2 times a week to stretch out my muscles and release stress.
  
  Things I'm working on and optimistic about:
  
• Going to a physical therapist specialized in TMJ. Went to one who wasn't specialized and reached a limit of how he could help me. Found a new person and currently jumping through the paperwork hoops to see them.
  
• Going to a therapist to work on stress management. Still too early to say on this, but I think it will be a huge help.
  
• Getting a specialized neck pillow for when I sleep. Just need to purchase.
  
• Improving ergonomics of my desk at work. This is an ongoing project, and I tend to slouch in front of my computer.
  
• Paying attention to and eliminating any habits that strain my neck. Even as simple as how I wear my hair!
  
  It's been a slow process of self care and self advocacy. Luckily things have been getting better steadily. My TMJ was triggered by stressful events about 2 years ago, so a lot of stress management work has helped me. Also, distance from the stressful events.
  
  I am currently reading The TMJ Healing Plan and recommend it highly: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0897935241/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DOERDbEH6YKZC
  
  Good luck out there! I hope some of my own experience can be useful. I'm excited to read what's working for others.
  
  Edit to add: I was working two jobs for several years and this year quit the second one as a way to help simplify my life. While the money was nice, it wasn't worth the overall impacts on my life.

Hrm, looks like my previous reply didn’t go through for some reason. Yeah, magnesium is great. I take magnesium bisglycinate, Because it absorbs the best, and causes the least stomach issues. I also have a spray on magnesium oil that I use, that works really well, and do Epsom salt baths. If you’re going to get a heating pad, make sure you get one that can do moist heat, like a thermaphore. They’re amazing.. I keep a little spray bottle with water so I don’t have to do multiple runs to the sink.

As per stretching, I have a multitude that I do. For my job, I will put my tongue on the roof of my mouth, and push my jaw forward; I also use my fist to push my jaw side to side, lastly, I will use the heel of my hand to push my jaw backward, however, I do this in front of a mirror, to make sure your jaw is straight, because if it deviates to the side, it can irritate the joint worse. I will also do shoulder stretching, in the corner; I put my two hands up, like you would if a cop has a gun on you, and then you lean into the corner, stretching your shoulders. I also like to do backward bands, because they help with vascular perfusion, as well as hang my head off the edge of my bed.

Lastly, I also taking niacin (not the no flush, or extended release kind - regular kind) and yohimbe root (I chew it), for perfusion as well.

For self massage stuff, our use a theracane, which is a freaking awesome tool, and highly recommend it.

There are also massages you can do inside your mouth, for your jaw, that work really well. See here: https://youtu.be/hFBpWCR5yQQ.

These are GREAT for your neck as well:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073KM47H8/ref=asc_df_B073KM47H85250702/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B073KM47H8&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216493071057&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11741050630450869849&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033152&hvtargid=pla-350259849810

I hope that helps!!!!

What does your therapist say about continuing amitriptylline till you're doing better pain-wise? Also discuss the dose and understand the side effects. Usually by the time you get to 50mg at bedtime the pain is improved, but you need to discuss the appropriateness of that with your therapist or PCP. What does he/she say about adding relaxation techniques to the counseling? In the long run, meditation, exercise, progressive relaxation, music, positive social engagement, etc. seems like a better option than medications (or at least a good adjunct if they remain necessary).

At this point the dental part of TMJ syndrome seems less immediate than the psychological part. Check out this book: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/newsroom/articles/2016/opioid-free-pain-relief-kit-10-simple-steps.html. it comes with a relaxation CD and you can get it used on Amazon.

This book also looks good (have ordered it but haven't read it yet). It sounds like it's the chronic pain reduction guide from the American Psychiatric Association: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1591470498/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr=

Thank you so much for your response! Yes, death can indeed be a comforting thought, with the right attitude.

What I’ve been wearing is a “true anterior positioning appliance” that pushes my jaw forward. I don’t actually know for sure how the doc diagnosed whether or not I had an anteriorly displaced disc – there was one time after the clicking and popping had been getting worse that my jaw eventually “dislocated” (doc’s term, not sure on specifics). I was spooked by the cost of an MRI and after my hesitation, he never insisted on one. Though with Ibuprofen and time things seemed to be getting better, he had this (expensive, of course) nighttime appliance made for me that I’ve been wearing ever since, along with a daytime appliance that I don’t wear anymore (can’t remember how long I wore it for- months? Over a year?). I’ve never actually been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Except for a sleepy energy drop in the late afternoon, I don’t exhibit potential symptoms of it. Anatomically there are warning signs (small jaw with oversized tongue, scalloped tongue, more) but again I’ve never been diagnosed. This so-called TMJ specialist had me do a home sleep test seven months after I started wearing the orthotics, and I think I was wearing the orthotic at the time. An “interested party” has since told me that there were problems with the test – for instance, no sleep physician examined the results, only a tech – but in any case, this potentially problematic sleep test did not suggest sleep apnea (though I was wearing the orthotic…). And yet I’ve been wearing this anterior repositioning orthotic for five years. Is this all sketchy? Because it seems sketchy to me. (I also don’t trust my current doc very much because of two rounds of prolotherapy, but that’s another story.)

I see that LVI advocates “physiologic dentistry,” which is often a synonym for neuromuscular dentistry, right? I was looking at Dawson’s recent textbook (on Amazon preview), which suggests that these technologies can be useful if people know what they’re doing and make the right scientific assumptions, which seems sane. But then how does the patient know that the dentist knows what he’s doing with these K-7s and TENS and whatnot?

I’m particularly concerned with the neuromuscular approach because there’s another “TMJ specialist” in my area who apparently trained with Dawson for a few years and specialized in oral surgery for about 20-25 years before shifting towards a neuromuscular approach and treating patients for TMD and sleep apnea for the past 5ish years. The past experience would give me hope that he might know what he’s doing more than the average neuromuscular doc, though your perspective is making me hesitant to go down this path. I don’t mind the thought of wearing a gelb splint for 4-6 weeks – seems less manipulative than this orthotic I’ve been wearing. Perhaps it would reset things to a better place after five years of my jaw jutting forward at night and taking hours for the bite to readjust each day? Have you found gelb splints to be beneficial in the short or long term- and does my reasoning hold any water at all? It’s the thought of phase II, getting my bite adjusted with filing and additions, that freaks me out, even though I’m told it would be minimal. Maybe it creates a perfect bite now, but what about after I’ve aged for another 20 years? I guess it’s like you say- the promise of finding a perfect solution, instead of realizing that TMD is the sort of thing that has to be managed.

Yikes, this is long, and I fully acknowledge that just because I’ve spent hours of my life attempting to research this stuff doesn’t mean I actually understand anything. I’ll look further for people with the Spear affiliation. Thanks for reading.

I've been using these with my Android phone: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0117RFPCC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Very comfortable. Other earbuds would lead to discomfort, but these have been nice.

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Unsure how well it works with a PC, it use's one three-pole TRSS connection (2.5mm jack with 3 rings on it; rings for left channel, right channel, mic, so if PC port isn't 3-pole mic input might not be applied.)

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Alternatively, one can look for clip-on microphones that plug into the microphone port and attach them to some comfortable headphones or earbuds.

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Not the best noise isolation though - the price to pay for comfort I guess.

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On my desktop this is what I found works for me:

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S332TQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=AD700&qid=1562693195&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1

with https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=zalman+clip-on+mic&qid=1562693251&s=electronics&sr=8-1-fkmr0

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for clip-on mics you might want to search for one that does a better job with noise cancellations. I'm recalling the zalman will pickup stuff like keyboard typing. I had to alter gain and other stuff to get it calibrated.

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There is a less expensive AD500 model as well. I like the Audiotechnica's because they're quite comfortable. However, I know this isn't exactly the typical 'headset+mic' combo that get's used in sales. I got this equipment for video gaming, back when I still could do that years ago.

Okay I've been in your spot.

You NEED something. Especially if you're getting ear aches etc.

I used this for years. I'm in Canada and it was $30 over the counter for 2 of them. They have slightly different boxing for version of it. I got it at Walmart. Check Walmart and whichever grocery store is popular. Should be in the same aisle as toothpaste near the floss etc.

They say to use them til they're yellowish or something. I personally went as long as 3 months using one. I'd say use one per month.

I loved it more than the boiling versions. Super simple. Don't need to do anything to it. You can just use it.

Then eventually I went to a dentist and got a mouth guard made for $200ish (Canadian)

It just covers the top of my mouth. But it stays fit in place. It's similar to a sports mouth guard. Not meant to prevent grinding. Just to guard your teeth.

More expensive $1,500-2,000 options are what's called Occlusional Splints (sp?) and they're meant to keep the jaw aligned at night to prevent problems.

Anyway that over the counter one worked well for years. And now my night guard is working well. A dentist should be able to make you one for less than $200. Depending where you live etc.

Turn of the AC and use this for white noise - https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1541728196&sr=1-8&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bmachine&th=1

Very effective - I have recommended it to many people who all have said it was a lifesaver! Apps on phones just aren't the same as this is a physical noise like an AC or fan would be.

I'm not quite sure what a flat top mouth guard would be but I like this one quite a bit. I had braces until about a week ago so I couldn't have the custom made kind. This one has provided a lot of relief for me though. I apologize, I use mobile so I can't make the link look nice-
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZN3D4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1-LYCbYV9MQPR

I'm a Mind-Body Life Coach and I highly recommend Dr. Sarno's "The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders".

I passed on the recommended jaw surgery myself, and keep my jaw functioning better with bodywork. I don't even need to wear an orthotic anymore. You'd be surprised just how much of a problem tight muscles can be. Everything we do is forward: keyboards, steering wheels, etc. Stretching backwards on my balance ball is one of my favorite things to do because it just feels so good.

If you can afford to go to a massage therapist that specializes in ortho-bionomy, you should definitely do that. I would like to be able to see mine more often.

https://ortho-bionomy.org/

Sure thing!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KYZA8DA/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I feel incredibly strong about buying from this company. Their reviews have been stellar and your kit comes with several papers with thorough explanations on how to make sure it fits correctly. You can even correspond with them and send them your formed mouth guard if you need it filed down or trimmed. The best customer service ive ever had via Amazon, let alone on mouth guards, hands down.

Edit: fixed the link

I have a great over-the-counter nightguard, SISU Sova for $50 off Amazon that my dentist recommended, and it's helped A LOT.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NBU4QX8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479446583&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=sova+night+guard&dpPl=1&dpID=41Wnek1VmoL&ref=plSrch

It's way smaller than any other guard I've seen, and I have a tiny mouth (had to get 8 permanent teeth pulled because there just wasn't room). I've used it for months and it's never fallen out or gotten chewed up at all. I have had a few weird gum-stuck-on-my-teeth dreams though, glad that's not just me....

Oh wow. Are you able to get ahold of some EarPlanes to see if they help? You already have a control that you have pain when flying. The reviews seem very promising.

Any way you can get these or find these before then?
https://www.amazon.com/EarPlanes-Ear-Plugs-Pair-Pack/dp/B001HTWL8C

I use chelates magnesium glycinate, which is readily absorbable. Any other kind gives me the shits lol. Make sure to take it with food. I use drs best


https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Glycinate/dp/B000BD0RT0

Heres a good brand and a good set i bought

https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Aging-Jade-Roller-Massager/dp/B07DGPJ7WS/ref=sr_1_52_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1549719364&sr=8-52-spons&keywords=jade%2Bgua%2Bsha&th=1

I really like taking magnesium glycinate because it's one of the most bioavailable forms of magnesium and has the added bonus of quelling some of my baseline anxiety. I usually take it before bed, so no feelings of fuzziness here.

I use [KAL Brand] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00013YZ1Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1), but it looks like OP's brand is very similar.

These massage balls do wonders for me. I wake up 30 minutes early each day and give myself a deep tissue massage which is a thousand times better than stretching at least for me. I totally recommend you give em a try!

this currently looks like the highest rated on amazon

found a nice list here on google for anyone interested

you should be able to get custom fit for one by your dentist, but honestly i bought a $15 set on amazon that you boil and fit to your teeth yourself and i love it. i also have a bad gag reflex but this guard doesn’t bother me.

I use the Knobble II on my jaw sometimes and it seems to help about as much as using my hands or knuckles. Haven't yet found a good one for my neck.

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Reflexology-Myofascial-Pressure-Positive/dp/B0012136E8

I also use a jade roller sometimes since the cold helps me a bit

edit: added jade roller

Some people think it should be lips together teeth lightly touching.

TMJ healing plan is a good book on the topic.