Stress has all kinds of negative side effects. There are the long term effects like heart disease. But there are also the more immediate effects of low back pain, and pain in the neck and shoulders. I'm really feeling those effects right now. Fortunately I am back to the chiropractor on Tuesday. It's been three weeks since I was there last... normally it's every other week. So I am really feeling it.
The more stress I feel the more the more I clench my teeth as well. It's an unconscious response to the stress. The problem is that when you bite down you use a great deal of force. It wears down the teeth and it causes a great deal of pain. When I open my jaw I can hear it pop. I used to have a mouth guard to prevent the TMJ from acting up but it broke a little while ago. I can't get a new one made until a) the cavities are all filled and b) I have the $300 it costs to get one made. Too bad most of the treatment for TMJ is done through dentists... so it ends up being pretty expensive. But the pain is agonizing.
I'm not sure if it is related but I am also experiencing a great deal of sinus pressure. I feel like I am fighting an ear infection or something. That's the downside to chraniofacial pain... It's all connected and since it radiates it's hard to find the source. I tried applying ice but it did not make a difference.
I really should go see my doctor but it's not exactly that easy to go to Pickering. I've been working Monday to Friday for quite a while now. Plus there is the cost of getting there and back. It's been almost 5 months since I saw the doctor... The last time I was there he was referring me to the hematologist. At that point in time he thought I was going to need a bone marrow biopsy. It all started with the rheumatologist... who has already said he won't treat Fibromyalgia because it's too common... Maybe Dr. McLean will send me to Mount Sinai since they have an entire treatment team for both TMJ and for Fibromyalgia. But then I have to be able to get to Toronto for treatment. I am not sure I like that option either. The downside to not having a local doctor. You tend to put off getting treatment unless you absolutely need it.
Showing posts with label TMJ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TMJ. Show all posts
Friday, October 06, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Accountability
This seems to be my week for bashing dentists. But what I want to know is why are they not held accountable for their actions? If some of this stuff happened in a medical field there might be a different outcome.
4 years ago when I had my wisdom teeth removed the dentist did nerve damage. The right side of my tongue was numb and the TMJ was aggravated.
End result: I had to go to the doctor for Naproxen, still slur my words occassionally because the feeling on that side of my tongue never fully returned.
3 weeks go the dentist was working on the lower right. Once again hit the nerve. And he knew it. He saw the reaction on my face.
End result: Agony for a week and a half and then a visit to the ER for medication. I ended up cutting the bottom of my tongue because I couldn't feel it. The right side of my tongue is back to being numb (if it had ever healed) Noticing the speech impediment more but it could just be me.
Yesterday was back at the dentist for more work. My back is still killing me from the way I was positioned in the chair. He hit a different nerve this time. So just below my nose is now numb. That is a new sensation. Once again, had my jaw open too long so the TMJ is bothering me again. Fortunately I still have some Naproxen left.
End result: I need to go see the chiropractor to have my back fixed. Will be taking Naproxen for the pain. And I am not sure what the end result will be for the numbness near the nasal cavity.
So to recap... My jaw is in pain from hitting the nerve and I have to pay for the medication. If I want the nerve damaged corrected I have to pay the high price to have it done. My tongue will likely never have full feeling back, which also affects my sense of taste. I now have a bit of a speech impediment, especially when tired. I will have to pay $35 to have my back looked at. I'm not sure what will happen with the nerve damage under my nose. And the dentist doesn't even have to acknowledge that he made a mistake. No lawyer would ever take the case. The dentist denied hitting the nerve stating that it was just how long my jaw was open for. No that electric shock feeling I had tells me otherwise. So why are they not accountable for their actions? Chances are if a patient was disfigured during an operation they'd be suing for malpractice. Or maybe that is only in the States. But dentists don't even have to admit to making a mistake, apologize or take responsibility and fix it. I wonder why that is
4 years ago when I had my wisdom teeth removed the dentist did nerve damage. The right side of my tongue was numb and the TMJ was aggravated.
End result: I had to go to the doctor for Naproxen, still slur my words occassionally because the feeling on that side of my tongue never fully returned.
3 weeks go the dentist was working on the lower right. Once again hit the nerve. And he knew it. He saw the reaction on my face.
End result: Agony for a week and a half and then a visit to the ER for medication. I ended up cutting the bottom of my tongue because I couldn't feel it. The right side of my tongue is back to being numb (if it had ever healed) Noticing the speech impediment more but it could just be me.
Yesterday was back at the dentist for more work. My back is still killing me from the way I was positioned in the chair. He hit a different nerve this time. So just below my nose is now numb. That is a new sensation. Once again, had my jaw open too long so the TMJ is bothering me again. Fortunately I still have some Naproxen left.
End result: I need to go see the chiropractor to have my back fixed. Will be taking Naproxen for the pain. And I am not sure what the end result will be for the numbness near the nasal cavity.
So to recap... My jaw is in pain from hitting the nerve and I have to pay for the medication. If I want the nerve damaged corrected I have to pay the high price to have it done. My tongue will likely never have full feeling back, which also affects my sense of taste. I now have a bit of a speech impediment, especially when tired. I will have to pay $35 to have my back looked at. I'm not sure what will happen with the nerve damage under my nose. And the dentist doesn't even have to acknowledge that he made a mistake. No lawyer would ever take the case. The dentist denied hitting the nerve stating that it was just how long my jaw was open for. No that electric shock feeling I had tells me otherwise. So why are they not accountable for their actions? Chances are if a patient was disfigured during an operation they'd be suing for malpractice. Or maybe that is only in the States. But dentists don't even have to admit to making a mistake, apologize or take responsibility and fix it. I wonder why that is
TMJ
Now back to the second half of why I believe that dental and medical should be combined.
I have TMJ. It basically means that my jaw is out of place. This affects you in lots of different ways. It puts pressure on your neck and spine. It causes headaches. According to a number of web sites it can even cause the same symptoms as fibromyalgia. And, of course, it can cause jaw pain.
Why do I have it? There are actually a number of reasons. For one, I seem to be the walking medical encyclopedia. *lol* Secondly, I've had a few instances of whiplash, especially when I fell off my bike and cracked my skull open. Humpty Dumpty anyone? I also have a bad overbite. Lastly I suffer from bruxism. That is the fancy way to say I clench and grind my teeth when I sleep.
Okay so TMJ is a problem with the jaw that can obviously cause some serious health issues in the long run... But who treats it? Typically not the medical field. They may give you pain medication but otherwise won't do anything. They just refer you to a dentist for treatment.
Here's the problem for that. The dentist will likely refer you to a specialist for treatment. So that's more money. Often times the treatment of TMJ is not covered by the insurance company so you are left to pay for the treatment alone. Right now I need a nightguard to protect my teeth so I don't cause any more damage. To replace the one I have will cost me about $300. And I can't get it until the dentist finishes the cavities.... so it will be September at the earliest. On top of that the treatments tend to be expensive... for correcting the bite. It ranges from nothing other then the nightguard to partial reconstruction, to full reconstruction and then surgery. Needless to say that would be extremely expensive.
The problem is that it's something I need to happen. I go to the chiropractor every other week but there is only so much she can do for me. And since my insurance company only covers $500 and the year begins in August all year I have been paying for my chiropractor visits. So that's cost me $350 so far and I still have two months to go. I remember the days when OHIP paid part of the chiropractor visit... and physical therapy. That was nice.
When it comes to treating the TMJ I feel like I am damned if I do and damned if I don't. I can't afford to treat it so if I started something then I would likely have to stop treatment pretty quickly due to finances. But if I don't get treatment for it then the jaw pain and the clenching are just going to continue.
I have TMJ. It basically means that my jaw is out of place. This affects you in lots of different ways. It puts pressure on your neck and spine. It causes headaches. According to a number of web sites it can even cause the same symptoms as fibromyalgia. And, of course, it can cause jaw pain.
Why do I have it? There are actually a number of reasons. For one, I seem to be the walking medical encyclopedia. *lol* Secondly, I've had a few instances of whiplash, especially when I fell off my bike and cracked my skull open. Humpty Dumpty anyone? I also have a bad overbite. Lastly I suffer from bruxism. That is the fancy way to say I clench and grind my teeth when I sleep.
Okay so TMJ is a problem with the jaw that can obviously cause some serious health issues in the long run... But who treats it? Typically not the medical field. They may give you pain medication but otherwise won't do anything. They just refer you to a dentist for treatment.
Here's the problem for that. The dentist will likely refer you to a specialist for treatment. So that's more money. Often times the treatment of TMJ is not covered by the insurance company so you are left to pay for the treatment alone. Right now I need a nightguard to protect my teeth so I don't cause any more damage. To replace the one I have will cost me about $300. And I can't get it until the dentist finishes the cavities.... so it will be September at the earliest. On top of that the treatments tend to be expensive... for correcting the bite. It ranges from nothing other then the nightguard to partial reconstruction, to full reconstruction and then surgery. Needless to say that would be extremely expensive.
The problem is that it's something I need to happen. I go to the chiropractor every other week but there is only so much she can do for me. And since my insurance company only covers $500 and the year begins in August all year I have been paying for my chiropractor visits. So that's cost me $350 so far and I still have two months to go. I remember the days when OHIP paid part of the chiropractor visit... and physical therapy. That was nice.
When it comes to treating the TMJ I feel like I am damned if I do and damned if I don't. I can't afford to treat it so if I started something then I would likely have to stop treatment pretty quickly due to finances. But if I don't get treatment for it then the jaw pain and the clenching are just going to continue.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Back to the ER
I managed to stay away for 3 months but tonight I was back to the ER. I was concerned that the nerve damage might have resulted in an infection. Plus I wanted the pain to stop. I was planning to wait until I saw the dentist on Tuesday but figured I was only hurting myself if I waited... and was in agony. I got there around 8:00 and it was 8:30 before I even saw the triage nurse because 5 ambulances came in at the same time. The sign beside triage indicated that it was 3-4 hour wait. They fast tracked me which was a good thing. But with all the patients and the ambulances the doctor for the fast tracked patients was soemewhere else. 2 people were waiting for their test results and there were 8 people ahead of me. It was not looking promising. But I was actually out of there by 10:00. The doctor said to ice my jaw and neck and gave me naproxen for the pain. He thinks the TMJ was aggravated, possibly by overextending the jaw while the treatment was done, from hitting the nerve, or just from having my mouth open for an hour. I had been wondering about that... since the same thing happened when I had my wisdom teeth out. I had to go on Naproxen then too. Hopefully it does control the pain. And hopefully the cut on my tongue actually heals. I'll be back at the dentists on Tuesday so I can also get his opinion. And hopefully when he fills the next cavities he doesn't inflict any more damage.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Under the Weather
Currently feeling a bit under the weather. I'm not sure if it's just because of the jaw pain but I haven't been eating much which is also leading to low energy. First thing tomorrow morning I am off to the dentist finally. Maybe more medication... or at least future appointments to get the work done. Then on Thursday I am off to the chiropractor. Tonight I am definitely going to bed early so I can rest. Or so the theory goes any ways. We'll see what happens in the next hour.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
TMJ
Well I am no longer stoned on Percocets. Even better, I don't need to get any of my teeth extracted. I went to see the dentist on Monday since I was in agony. Turns out it was actually a problem with my jaw. My TMJ has been aggravated. I'm not sure it's ever hurt this bad. It's been bugging me off and on for a while. I can feel the muscles tensing and twitching perodically. When your jaw closes it's approximately 25 pounds of pressure. The TMJ is made worse from stress and the fact I clench my teeth. Posture is also related. Sitting on the couch watching TV for hours is definitely not helping that. As a result the top vertebrae is out of place and has pulled one side of my jaw out of place. That led to overcompensation and more pain. Looking back I am thinking that I should've taken the dentist up on the offer for painkillers. But I was thinking he'd give me more percocets and that was the last thing I wanted. Naproxen (a muscle relaxant), on the other hand, would be good and has worked in the past to reduce/relieve the pain of TMJ. Hopefully when I go to the chiropractor tomorrow she can help me. Last time I was there she was talking about lasers or acupuncture to relieve the pain. I just hope the pain goes away soon.
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