Well, I basically don't eat meat, popcorn, peanuts, gum, hard candies, or anything extremely hard anymore. When I want to eat something like cookies, I break them into tiny pieces and eat them while drinking a liquid to help soften them up. I cut things like chicken into small pieces, too. It’s really a hassle. What is your diet like? Do you ever ignore the TMJ issues?
It’s crazy how the symptoms started overnight—I was doing so well. Can anyone else relate? How did your symptoms start?
I’ve worn braces before, and my teeth are aligned. The issue is on the right side, where I have a slight open bite and a midline deviation. Coincidence or not, the side where I feel pain is the right one. Any positive experiences with Invisalign regarding temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction? (I have disc displacement and bilateral osteoarthritis.)
I've worn braces before, but my bite on the right side wasn't properly aligned. I discovered bilateral TMJ issues and I've been thinking about my bite. Would it be beneficial to correct this bite? I know the existing damage to the joint won't disappear, but I think in the long run it might be positive to have a perfectly correct bite. Has anyone gone through something similar and seen benefits with Invisalign?
I don't know if it's just me, but after using the bite guard, the way my teeth fit together started to feel off—especially on the side where my bite doesn't align correctly. Has anyone else noticed this?
I discovered I had osteoarthritis when my temporomandibular joints (TMJs) already showed significant changes, but I lived many years without symptoms and I hope it will return to how it was before. Has anyone with osteoarthritis and a slipped disc for many years managed to become asymptomatic, or is the tendency towards progressive worsening?
I used braces before, but it didn't completely resolve my bite on the right side, although I never felt any discomfort from it. It all started when I accidentally bit something hard, and the periodontal ligament couldn't heal, and I continue to feel pain in my upper teeth on that side. I think my bite might be causing occlusal trauma, which is why the ligament isn't healing. What do you think?
Four months ago, I accidentally bit down on a bone with my upper right lateral incisor. Initially, I felt localized discomfort, but the sensation spread to several other teeth on the same side, eventually even causing ear pain. The ear pain has gone away, but I still feel persistent pain in several upper teeth on the side where I bit down.
I had a CT scan of the tooth and everything looks fine—there is just some thickening of the periodontal ligament (even after four months). Has anyone experienced something similar or have any idea what might have happened? The tooth looks healthy, yet I still feel this pain, and dentists haven't been able to figure out the cause.
I forgot to mention: the pain is intermittent and tends to worsen throughout the day; it isn't directly related to chewing, and I don't experience any sensitivity.
Four months ago, I accidentally bit down on a bone with my upper right lateral incisor. Initially, I felt localized discomfort, but the sensation spread to several other teeth on the same side, eventually even causing ear pain. The ear pain has gone away, but I still feel persistent pain in several upper teeth on the side where I bit down.
I had a CT scan of the tooth and everything looks fine—there is just some thickening of the periodontal ligament (even after four months). Has anyone experienced something similar or have any idea what might have happened? The tooth looks healthy, yet I still feel this pain, and dentists haven't been able to figure out the cause.
I forgot to mention: the pain is intermittent and tends to worsen throughout the day; it isn't directly related to chewing, and I don't experience any sensitivity.
I accidentally bit down on something hard with a front tooth and have had persistent discomfort radiating to several teeth on the right side. It has been four months; the professional I saw took an X-ray and noted that the periodontal ligament was thickened but didn't recommend any procedure. However, I still feel this discomfort that comes and goes. Could this require a root canal? If the tooth needed a root canal, would there be any other signs on the X-ray after four months besides the thickening?
Does plasma injection into the temporomandibular joint really help halt the degenerative process? I’m still in pain but hopeful that I’ll improve with conservative methods; however, my surgeon mentioned that plasma injection is beneficial even if I do improve. Has anyone had any experience with this? Does this approach make sense?
Hello everyone. I’d like to know if anyone else only discovered joint abnormalities after everything was already worn down and displaced. I was very surprised when I received my MRI results, as I had never experienced any symptoms or warning signs. Has anyone else gone through this, showing symptoms late and, only at the time of diagnosis, discovering that the joint already had significant damage? I was struck by how silent TMJ wear and tear can be until it’s too late...
Hi everyone. I’ve never experienced jaw-related pain like this before. Basically, I accidentally bit down on a bone with my lateral incisor four months ago, and since then, I’ve had symptoms like tooth pain on the same side as the bite and ear pain. I had a CT scan to check if the tooth had sustained any damage, but everything looks normal. I also had an MRI of the TMJ, as the working hypothesis was that I had injured the joint. I’m posting the results here; I’d like to know if the wear is very advanced and if anyone has gone through something similar (I haven't been able to see the specialist again yet):
Examination technique: T1- and T2-weighted multiplanar acquisitions, without intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast; sequences acquired in sagittal and coronal planes during closed-mouth and maximum jaw-opening phases to evaluate bilateral temporomandibular function.
Analysis: Left - Right
Left Temporomandibular Joint:
Changes characterized by reduced convexity of the condylar process, irregular depression, osteophyte formation, and erosions, associated with irregularity of the corresponding glenoid fossa.
The articular disc shows volumetric reduction and morphological irregularity; it is positioned anterior to the condyle (appearing folded) in the closed-mouth phase. It also shows lateral/external displacement on coronal images.
Upon maximum jaw opening by the patient, the mandibular condyle shifted to a position immediately anterior to the center of the temporal articular eminence.
Articular disc centered on the mandibular condyle.
Right Temporomandibular Joint:
Changes characterized by reduced convexity of the condylar process, irregular depression, osteophyte formation, and erosions, associated with irregularity of the corresponding glenoid fossa.
The articular disc shows volumetric reduction and morphological irregularity; it is positioned anterior to the condyle in the closed-mouth phase. ...and lateral outward displacement on coronal images.
Upon maximum mandibular opening by the patient, there was limited displacement of the mandibular condyle, positioning it anterior to the center of the temporal articular eminence.
Articular disc centered on the mandibular condyle.
Diagnostic Impression:
Bilateral temporomandibular joint abnormalities, characterized by wear of the condylar processes and erosions, associated with changes to the glenoid fossae and articular eminences.
Limited displacement of the mandibular condyles upon mouth opening.
Bilateral disc dislocations with dynamic recapture.
Hi everyone. I’ve never experienced jaw-related pain like this before. Basically, I accidentally bit down on a bone with my lateral incisor four months ago, and since then, I’ve had symptoms like tooth pain on the same side as the bite and ear pain. I had a CT scan to check if the tooth had sustained any damage, but everything looks normal. I also had an MRI of the TMJ, as the working hypothesis was that I had injured the joint. I’m posting the results here; I’d like to know if the wear is very advanced and if anyone has gone through something similar (I haven't been able to see the specialist again yet):
Examination technique: T1- and T2-weighted multiplanar acquisitions, without intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast; sequences acquired in sagittal and coronal planes during closed-mouth and maximum jaw-opening phases to evaluate bilateral temporomandibular function.
Analysis: Left - Right
Left Temporomandibular Joint:
Changes characterized by reduced convexity of the condylar process, irregular depression, osteophyte formation, and erosions, associated with irregularity of the corresponding glenoid fossa.
The articular disc shows volumetric reduction and morphological irregularity; it is positioned anterior to the condyle (appearing folded) in the closed-mouth phase. It also shows lateral/external displacement on coronal images.
Upon maximum jaw opening by the patient, the mandibular condyle shifted to a position immediately anterior to the center of the temporal articular eminence.
Articular disc centered on the mandibular condyle.
Right Temporomandibular Joint:
Changes characterized by reduced convexity of the condylar process, irregular depression, osteophyte formation, and erosions, associated with irregularity of the corresponding glenoid fossa.
The articular disc shows volumetric reduction and morphological irregularity; it is positioned anterior to the condyle in the closed-mouth phase. ...and lateral outward displacement on coronal images.
Upon maximum mandibular opening by the patient, there was limited displacement of the mandibular condyle, positioning it anterior to the center of the temporal articular eminence.
Articular disc centered on the mandibular condyle.
Diagnostic Impression:
Bilateral temporomandibular joint abnormalities, characterized by wear of the condylar processes and erosions, associated with changes to the glenoid fossae and articular eminences.
Limited displacement of the mandibular condyles upon mouth opening.
Bilateral disc dislocations with dynamic recapture.
Hi everyone! I wanted to share my story about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), because after at least a year of suffering, I’ve managed to get my bowel function as close to normal as possible. It’s a long story, but I’ll try to summarize it. Early last year, I developed post-infectious IBS (diarrhea-predominant). I underwent every possible test—including a colonoscopy, imaging scans, and blood work—and the results were all normal. After that, I followed very strict diets for months, including the Low-FODMAP diet; I went gluten-free and lactose-free, and tried various fiber supplements, probiotics, and bowel-regulating medications. During this time, I also took Rifaximin; I saw a slight improvement in symptoms, but nothing that truly solved the problem. My main symptoms were daily diarrhea and occasional, intense abdominal pain—it felt like my intestines were being twisted, and I couldn't do anything until the pain passed. On top of that, I felt constantly nauseous, which was my worst symptom.
Finally, let's get to the point where I started feeling better—about eight months after the symptoms first appeared. I was terrified to eat because, even after cutting out most foods, I was still feeling sick. The first step was reintroducing foods; I started worrying less about my symptoms, since all that restriction wasn't helping. I know how awful it is to hear that all this suffering is "psychological"—and I know just as well as you do that it isn't—but trying to cope better with the symptoms definitely helps in facing them. I felt that reintroducing foods helped my gut relearn how to handle them; I saw a significant improvement in my symptoms at that stage, though the diarrhea was still happening every day. Ultimately, what resolved the diarrhea was low-dose nortriptyline. It is a tricyclic antidepressant that causes constipation as a side effect; in my case, this actually normalized my bowel function and reduced the pain. I still have occasional episodes of diarrhea and pain, but they are very sporadic and no longer interfere with my life—I can eat whatever I want without worry.
This turned into a long story, but I wanted to explain the whole journey in detail. I suffered a lot and isolated myself; I was convinced I would be stuck like that forever. I hope you all find balance after the chaos you are going through. As hard as it is, try not to give the symptoms more importance than they deserve—I know it’s difficult; it used to irritate me when people said it was all in my head (we know it isn't), but trying to take things a bit more lightly makes the suffering feel a little less intense. I’m rooting for you all!
Hi everyone! I wanted to share my story about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), because after at least a year of suffering, I’ve managed to get my bowel function as close to normal as possible. It’s a long story, but I’ll try to summarize it. Early last year, I developed post-infectious IBS (diarrhea-predominant). I underwent every possible test—including a colonoscopy, imaging scans, and blood work—and the results were all normal. After that, I followed very strict diets for months, including the Low-FODMAP diet; I went gluten-free and lactose-free, and tried various fiber supplements, probiotics, and bowel-regulating medications. During this time, I also took Rifaximin; I saw a slight improvement in symptoms, but nothing that truly solved the problem. My main symptoms were daily diarrhea and occasional, intense abdominal pain—it felt like my intestines were being twisted, and I couldn't do anything until the pain passed. On top of that, I felt constantly nauseous, which was my worst symptom.
Finally, let's get to the point where I started feeling better—about eight months after the symptoms first appeared. I was terrified to eat because, even after cutting out most foods, I was still feeling sick. The first step was reintroducing foods; I started worrying less about my symptoms, since all that restriction wasn't helping. I know how awful it is to hear that all this suffering is "psychological"—and I know just as well as you do that it isn't—but trying to cope better with the symptoms definitely helps in facing them. I felt that reintroducing foods helped my gut relearn how to handle them; I saw a significant improvement in my symptoms at that stage, though the diarrhea was still happening every day. Ultimately, what resolved the diarrhea was low-dose nortriptyline. It is a tricyclic antidepressant that causes constipation as a side effect; in my case, this actually normalized my bowel function and reduced the pain. I still have occasional episodes of diarrhea and pain, but they are very sporadic and no longer interfere with my life—I can eat whatever I want without worry.
This turned into a long story, but I wanted to explain the whole journey in detail. I suffered a lot and isolated myself; I was convinced I would be stuck like that forever. I hope you all find balance after the chaos you are going through. As hard as it is, try not to give the symptoms more importance than they deserve—I know it’s difficult; it used to irritate me when people said it was all in my head (we know it isn't), but trying to take things a bit more lightly makes the suffering feel a little less intense. I’m rooting for you all!
Hi everyone! I wanted to share my story about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), because after at least a year of suffering, I’ve managed to get my bowel function as close to normal as possible. It’s a long story, but I’ll try to summarize it. Early last year, I developed post-infectious IBS (diarrhea-predominant). I underwent every possible test—including a colonoscopy, imaging scans, and blood work—and the results were all normal. After that, I followed very strict diets for months, including the Low-FODMAP diet; I went gluten-free and lactose-free, and tried various fiber supplements, probiotics, and bowel-regulating medications. During this time, I also took Rifaximin; I saw a slight improvement in symptoms, but nothing that truly solved the problem. My main symptoms were daily diarrhea and occasional, intense abdominal pain—it felt like my intestines were being twisted, and I couldn't do anything until the pain passed. On top of that, I felt constantly nauseous, which was my worst symptom.
Finally, let's get to the point where I started feeling better—about eight months after the symptoms first appeared. I was terrified to eat because, even after cutting out most foods, I was still feeling sick. The first step was reintroducing foods; I started worrying less about my symptoms, since all that restriction wasn't helping. I know how awful it is to hear that all this suffering is "psychological"—and I know just as well as you do that it isn't—but trying to cope better with the symptoms definitely helps in facing them. I felt that reintroducing foods helped my gut relearn how to handle them; I saw a significant improvement in my symptoms at that stage, though the diarrhea was still happening every day. Ultimately, what resolved the diarrhea was low-dose nortriptyline. It is a tricyclic antidepressant that causes constipation as a side effect; in my case, this actually normalized my bowel function and reduced the pain. I still have occasional episodes of diarrhea and pain, but they are very sporadic and no longer interfere with my life—I can eat whatever I want without worry.
This turned into a long story, but I wanted to explain the whole journey in detail. I suffered a lot and isolated myself; I was convinced I would be stuck like that forever. I hope you all find balance after the chaos you are going through. As hard as it is, try not to give the symptoms more importance than they deserve—I know it’s difficult; it used to irritate me when people said it was all in my head (we know it isn't), but trying to take things a bit more lightly makes the suffering feel a little less intense. I’m rooting for you all!