Hi All
Now I have to advise that you can't correct or edit spelling or grammer mistakes on this Board and that's OK, you'll have to forgive me. If you're worried abt this: Build a bridge - get over it! Also, this is my opinion only and you should check for yourselves, ask yr dr and everyone has different outcomes for their condition and with meds etc. Ok, I hope I've cleared all the necessary warnings, whatever.
I have been searching for an answer to the above problem for years, since 1998 to be exact. It is chewing or grinding of the teeth, like bruxism but for me it is constant. It is known as Temporal Mandibular Joint, TMDisorder or TMJDisorder. This joint exerts approx 300lbs per sq inch of pressure and may be the most used joint you have. You use it for talking, eating, etc, essentially it is the joint which allows yr jaw to move.
These are the ppl I've seen abt this: dentists, prosthodontist (I don't think I'll ever be able to spell this), orthodontists, a physio, psychiatrist, speech therapists, hypnotherapist (GP) and other GPs.
The problem may be med related, stress, anger related or may not even exist! I've heard from a GP that there is doubt if this condition is valid. I have looked at this from the start. The start date for this condition came from my dentist to whom I first complained abt this. He gives the date as 1998. Now what happened to me in 1998? Well lots of things but I won't go into that as I'm sure it's different for everyone. I am especially interested in this Board as already M1 and Rosalie have said they have this disorder too.
Socially it is v embarrassing and you may not want to see or talk to ppl b/c it can be quite loud as yr upper and lower teeth slide over each other and noises made can range from sounds such as gnawing, chewing, crunching, biting or clicking and ppl will turn around and say "What was that?"
I saw a professor (dentistry) who thought it may be med related (Stemetil used v occasionally if things are going downhill = psych disorder) or to think abt botox and seeing a neurologist. Notes from an orthodontist say "Occasionally pts may suffer pain or dysfunction in the jaw joints. This may present as joint pain, headaches or ear problems. These problems may occur with or without orthodontic treatment. Any of the above noted symtoms should be reported (to orthod). Some pts are susceptible to TMJ problems and some are not. Stress is the major contributing factor in these disorders.", prosthodontist made up a splint as Rosalie described (cost $400), speech therapist and physio will give you simple exercises to do, hypnotherapist - couldn't continue as at that time it was too dangerous for me and later a GP with extra qualifications in Psych Med, Obstetrics and Hypnotism, Celia is her name.
I think prof and Celia have the best answers to this. Prof is 1/2 right, I am sure it is a side effect from dex as this has nearly stopped (TMD) since changing meds slowly from dex to prednisolone and now Hysone. The TMJ is disappearing with each change of meds in the Corticosteroid class of meds. Hysone is the closest to the natural form of cortisol which we do not produce. Other options which may be successful are seeing a neurologist and botox injections (Botox Clinic run by ENT I know + neurologist I haven't seen yet. Botox comes in units of 100 and is expensive at $17 per unit so that is why they have a clinic so they do not waste any). Botox is a temporary solution to train yr mouth to keep still.
You may remember that side effects for dex or CAH (can't remember & still loooking) suggest neurological problems so I am quite interested in this option. Physio (has a Masters in TMJ) doesn't think botox is the answer to the problem if it is psychological. Don't be worried abt botox being a poison, half of Hollywood would be dead if this was the outcome for medical procedures! Malcolm & I worked out I had taken 83 tabs of Stemetil over 3 years and this is unlikely to be the result. We have also changed depression (d) meds and other long term meds I have taken to see if this is the result. No to Prothiaden (anti-d) and other psych meds. Lastly, Celia and hypnotism.
Celia is just great. We both agreed accessing my sub-concious is far too dangerous as I have had psychotic issues before (don't worry abt this, it is very, very interesting and only to do with you). I have worked out self-hypnotism and tried this and it worked! I did this at the same time reducing dex meds, so I don't think this is the answer although for a while there I did think I was a genius.
Celia agrees with Malcolm's referral that TMJ is to do with surpressed anger and this could be right. Celia thinks this clearly it is an anger issue too. She said to write down freely all the things that upset you and then burn this piece. I can touch type and don't need to look at the screen but I was astonished what came up. Delete, delete, as showing Dad, CAH, The Idiot (my younger sister) and very high anger levels.
So there you have the last of the options: meds, neurologist or botox. I am waiting to see if meds are the answer as I only changed to 20 mg daily of Hysone on 22/9/06. If this is right I could just scream as I have been arguing with the endo's for years that dex has a lot of side effects!!! AND DEX was first prescribed for me around 1998!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhh!!!
Love
