r/TMJ

I went to a dentist yesterday who apparently specializes in TMJ.

The office took X-Rays of my jaw & talked with me about a bite adjustment and custom mouthguard. They didn't seem too pushy as I told them I was concerned about the price. Right now, I am using a shitty mouthguard from CVS.

They gave me a treatment plan of a bite adjustment and custom mouthguard that would cost around $815. (I live in Miami, not sure if that makes a difference on price).

I guess I'm looking for an opinion from those who have TMJ and what they think about all this? Is it worth it?

Hey , suffering tmd from 2 years,just a day ago i met with a cancer patient who will die before the end of this year acc to doctor.he is not financially strong ..he is a relative of mine in a long relation.after having tmd if any person feels smallest pain I also feel the same..when I reached their home he was listening song and eating icecream ..I ask him about his current condition that how r u? He just smiled and answered that I am getting better every day untils my day (his death day)comes.his age was 27.he tells me that when he knows that he will die soon he left social media ..all days he watches movie and evening he romes in a park .I also discussed about my condition and show him some reddit user post about TMD.he just shocked that this type of disorder exist.he brought another icecream to eat and he offered me too.and I tells him that I can't eat icecream anymore after doctor boundation and i will eat only soft food whole life,can't yawn can't laugh can't run can't dance.he shocked and then after some time he asked is people get died in this disorder and I say naah but more than death then he asked anyone get cured from TMD I says naah...then he says that it means cancer is better atleast it can be cured in maximum stages thank God I have cancer..

I feels heavy, wants to cry in front of him..rushed in bathroom ,cried.hugged him when I left him knowing that next time when I comes here it's may be on his death's day..

I think i have finally found my cure for my tight chronic jaw pain.

For background information: i’ve done physiotherapy, seen “TMJ specialist”, talked to my dentist, talked to my family doctor, seen chiropractors, seen massage therapists. My jaw pain Is TMD related however it’s mostly muscle pain, not the actual jaw joint. i have scar tissue in my masseter muscle from clenching so much for so long .

i started getting acupuncture done on my jaw and body every 2 weeks, it was okay however i needed something to help with the scar tissue that causes me discomfort and inflammation. i started getting shockwave therapy done on my jaw and the appointments are a week apart.

I have never felt so much relief until after my first appointment. it feels like little needles poking around or zaps during the treatment, but after my jaw could open wider and felt looser somehow. i went back for my third appointment yesterday and he already noticed a huge difference in how my jaw looks and feels.

In combination with acupuncture this is now my holy grail. I should only need between 4-8 shockwave therapy treatments to help break up the scar tissue and to promote healing.

I was genuinely considering getting masseter botox before finding out about this treatment. I see a chiropractor for this but i don’t get any chiropractic work done. It’s definitely less invasive and cheaper than botox, it was covered by my insurance. Give it a try if you feel like you have already tried everything else. It might just help.

Hi to all, I am seeking urgent help. I am 20 years old, M, and have been struggling. I got a concussion about a month ago, and all my symptoms are gone except for my tinnitus. I crashed my motorcycle at ~35 and went face first into the ground. I had the SLIGHTEST ringing symptoms before the crash, but only at night and when I smoked weed, which is weird because I have NEVER Had this happen before (started 1 month ago, after concussion). It gives me extreme anxiety and affects my sleep, I already REALLY struggle w/ derealization, so it makes it a lot worse. I feel like im not normal and it makes me honestly depressed, any tips, even just kind words and experiences?

And if anyone wants to go Dr. mode, im all ears: So the ringing has not got "worse", but it is almost like its louder sometimes. I feel like it is both ears, and I have a few theories. One, is that it is caused by ear wax. I have VERY small ear canals, and even after 15 min of spraying at the doctors, the doc said he cant even see my ear drum. I have had my ear totally plugged before and no ringing, so this confuses me a bit, but idk. So then I was thinking, my neck is rly stiff, landed on face, what if the ringing is TMJ or neck stiffness from my crash? So I called to ask for a referral for Physical therapy and doc said No, because he thinks I need an ENT and audiologist to remove the wax and test me, and it is not my neck, but I would not be so sure. Just to Clarify, cat scan showed nothing bad. But yeah, I honestly cant tell if it is just the left or both, but I feel like it is the left, which would tie right into my crash (crashed onto left side of my face). Another note, Dentist saw me and said my teeth are flattening from potential grinding, but I am a chronic clencher thanks to my dad, so I stopped doing that right away (had this dentist apt 2 months ago or so), but MAYBE I am a sleep grinder? I also have headaches that are VERY mild but present, which also points me to the neck tension side of things.

Any comments would be LOVED, does not even have to be diagnosing me or advice for the anxiety, can just be your experience with things. Anything helps, I am 20 and this makes me feel like a scared kid lol, idk how ya'll thug it out so much.

Ent said call the dentist. Dentist can't help, said call the ortho. Orthodontist won't help. Primary Care doctor will only prescribe muscle relaxers (which doesn't solve the issue, but helps some.) Told me to call an oral surgeon. Then every oral surgeon I call, there's a huge upfront cost.

I don't have that sort of money to drop on something that MIGHT help, and just for the evaluation! What am I supposed to do man?I just feel like crying. Why does insurance have to be such a living hell? Why can't we just get help for this? It's so debilitating

My jaw keeps clicking every time I open my mouth now and I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve had TMJ for a while and usually I can deal with it but lately it’s been getting worse. I use a pain gel from ketro skin since it’s topical and helps when the tightness gets bad, but it doesn’t stop the clicking. Has this happened to anyone else? Starting to worry a little ngl

Hey everyone, hoping someone here might have some insight or a similar experience because I’m honestly at a loss.

For the past year+ I’ve had pretty constant dull aching pain on the right side of my head — mainly around my temple/temporalis area and behind my ear. The sensation is like a mix of burning, tension, tightness, and pressure. On bad days it radiates to the right side of my face — around my eyebrow and in front of my ear. It never really goes away, just fluctuates in intensity.

On top of that I have this constant off-balance feeling, like I’m walking on a trampoline, with a general floaty/disconnected sensation. That part is honestly just as disabling as the pain.

I’ve been pretty thorough on the medical workup side — ER visits, PCP, ENT, and a neurologist. Tests include comprehensive bloodwork, CT of the brain, CTA of head and neck, MRI of the brain, ECG, and a VNG. Everything came back normal.

So here I am, 24 years old, otherwise healthy, with no answers. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Does this sound like it could be TMJ-related or occipital neuralgia? Any insight, similar stories, or specialist recommendations would mean a lot. Thanks

I’ve been suffering for 10 years with jaw clenching and back pain. It started after having a car accident 10 years ago (whiplash) where my jaw would lock and I would have a panic attack. Now I just have the pain and jaw issues.

I’ve noticed the days where I’m in the office the pain starts at the occipital nerve area then to the jaw then back and I try to adjust my posture all day.

I have tried everything - every different night guard possible, I use accuppressure mat every day, therabody massage gun and foam roller. I go to the gym and do weight exercises to strengthen my back.

I am overdue to have my occipital nerve injection which helps migraines but is this all coming from the occipital nerve and imbalance from the neck / jaw / posture?

Has anyone actually done anything to actually eliminate the issue rather than just maintaining the pain I don’t want to keep doing these things anymore…

I have been dealing with TMJD for about 10 years and it's gotten significantly worse in the last 2 years. I just got the results of my MRI, which showed arthrosis in both joints, both discs displaced/subluxation, and significant limitation of anterior translation, but there is also immediate recapture. Both sides have flattened condylar heads, small bone spurs, thickened pterygoid tendons, and the discs are displaced forward and laterally when mouth closed, with the right side being worse. I'm not a medical professional so I don't really know how advanced or serious my case is, just repeating the MRI results.

I deal with pain, teeth issues, posture problems, and all of the other complications, but I know there are still treatments I can try for those (for context I have already done PT, nightguard, masseter Botox, etc). My OM surgeon suggested a stabilizing splint next, likely followed by arthrocentesis. I'm hoping to do Invisilign and dental bonding after that to try to fix my smile.

However, my biggest concern is how it's changing my overall facial appearance, and I've been feeling hopeless about it. I used to be objectively very pretty, even just a couple of years ago, and I'm only 32. But I don't recognize myself anymore. I've lost my chin and my jawline, my teeth and smile are totally warped, my cheeks are misshapen, and my right eye pulls and droops downward. I hate seeing pictures of myself and looking in the mirror. I know it's vain, but I tear up over this frequently. Is there any hope for restoring my appearance? i just want to look like myself again and gain a little confidence back. I've scoured this thread for success stories and have been pretty depressed by what I've read, so I'm wondering if anyone has had any success and feels content with how they look after treatment.

About 2 weeks ago I was yawning, not that wide, and my jaw cracked really loudly. I didn't think anything of it bc in the past, my jaw has popped and clicked. This time was different. I tried eating and was in pain!! I went to the chiropractor and took a prednisone pack for inflammation . I ate soft foods ever since. I thought i was getting better. About 5 days ago, out of no where, it felt like it came out of place. This happened on and off all day. I've never felt that before and it was only one side. I still only ate soft food. I went to get a tmj massage and then it popped out of place again while drinking. Yesterday I went to the chiropractor and he did work inside my mouth. I am so freaked out bc idk what is causing this feeling of it popping out on the left side. He thinks it's muscular. Has anyone experienced this?? Any advice?? No idea what's going on! Thank you

i keep seeing people say about "go to airway dentistry or airway ortho" but isn't just either palate expander shit or braces basically. Like isn't that just psuedo-medicine shit. Its the same thing as paying 1k-6k for lower splint that you just clench 24/7 on

I don’t know if it’s relevant to every one but I realized that bad neck and shoulder posture IMMEDIATELY(!) (like not gradually worsen, just immediately) affects my jaw pain. But yeah its not easy to fix especially people working at a desk job like me. Oh also browsing my phone on bed lying on my side definitely worsens it so i stopped.

I can’t believe most doctors I met never even mentioned this. Luckily one doctor gave me a sheet of exercises to do including the famous 6-6-6 exercise and some neck, shoulder stretches.

I‘ve been trying to fix my posture, workout more, take breaks in between to stretch when working. The pain is a lot more manageable. One thing to be careful is that workout has to be really light and make sure I dont use the wrong muscles or it can get worse.

Wonder if other people have similar experience. Wish this correlation between neck, shoulder muscle and jaw pain could be researched more.

I don’t know if it’s relevant to every one but I realized that bad neck and shoulder posture IMMEDIATELY(!) (like not gradually worsen, just immediately) affects my jaw pain. But yeah its not easy to fix especially people working at a desk job like me.

I can’t believe most doctors I met never even mentioned this. Luckily one doctor gave me a sheet of exercises to do including the famous 6 by 6 exercise and some neck, shoulder stretches.

I‘ve been trying to fix my posture, workout more, take breaks in between to stretch when working. The pain is a lot more manageable. One thing to be careful is that workout has to be really light and make sure I dont use the wrong muscles or it can get worse.

Wonder if other people have similar experience. Wish this correlation between neck, shoulder muscle and jaw pain could be researched more.

My purpose with this post is reach out other people suffering with ETD and TMJ symptoms, i can't find too much information online and doctors haven't helped in an optimal way.

Here's my timeline:

In 2024:

-I had left‑sided gingivitis infection in the last molar for several months (about 8 months).

-Recurrent sinusitis for more than 4 months in a row.

Both infections resolved by the end of 2024.

Late‑onset symptoms on that year: Pain in the left ear and jaw. Later the pain extended to the left side of the neck and clavicle. I had left‑sided nasal bleeding, sensation of being unable to breathe through the left nostril despite no apparent mucus.

Treatments i had that year: several rows of antibiotics, nasal spray mometasone, antihistamines, and sinus rinse.

Exams: Impedanciometry and audiometry showed left‑sided eustachian tube dysfunction with no hearing loss, but presence of tinnitus. A paranasal sinus CT scan only showed an old deviated nasal septum, apparently not affecting current symptoms.

2025:

-No active infections, but residual pain in the left gum after gingivitis. The last affected molar remained unstable at first but gradually became more stable and mostly painless. Constant nasal drip down the throat on left side. Acute pain in the ear and jaw, and pain when swallowing, all on the left side.

Sensation of mucus stuck in the ear and throat. Constant throat clearing that does not help. Nasal endoscopy (nasovideofaringoscopy) was scheduled but remains pending. Doctors were completely unwilling to commit to the case, some of them didn't even looked at me and told me: "you're gonna have this forever". Too much money spent for nothing.

Treatment that year: only sinus rinse and antihistamines. Some days were better, like actually feeling on track of recovery and then some days were awful.

2026:

-The same discomfort persists; the entire area appears to be compromised: left‑sided TMJ symptoms, crunchy and painful jaw, stiff neck, painful ear with altered air pressure sensation, and sometimes constant postnasal drip. Irritation in ear-nose-throat airway on left side. Voice and resonance affected but not always.

However, there is a new symptom: the thyroid cartilage or hyoid bone is displaced to the left. I can push it to the right with my finger and it makes a “pop” sound, simultaneously triggering sharp pain in that area radiating to the left ear. It feels like being strangled. In addition, the left cervical side of the neck is constantly contracted. There is a persistent sensation of irritation at the internal junction between the ear, nose, and throat that sometimes worsens with vaping weed.

What could this be? i'm quite anxious to rule out cancer and to determine whether there is a muscular dysfunction in that area, for example of the omohyoid muscle.

Anyone else living something like this?

Have any of you guys gotten Botox for muscular TMJ?

I have been recommended this by my dentist but I am really worried about changing my face and getting jowls.

What are your guys experience with this?

Recommend or not?

is it just neurologists that just project/assume its taridve dyskenia or oro dystonia. This neuro specialist in 2023 kept having this fixation on botox and was trying to get me on the botox band waggon - I have my own beliefs against it. Unsure if clenching is just treated with botox only, and maybe meds at best

Ok so I had gotten Tmj on left side almost a year ago. I do light massages but certain things like stress or bad posture triggers it. This time I’ve been having cluster headache that feels like a needle going through me left side and my eyebrow feels tense and pressured. I also have been having on and off again eye pressure as if there is something behind my eye.

I got a basic eye check and was just told I have bad vision on my left eye but she said if this persists or if I’m super worried I should go ask for a brain scan.

For the past 3 days I had this cluster headache that won’t ever go away, jaw feels a tad tense but not that bad and my neck hurts. I’m worried it’s something worse going on

Hey guys, new the community but if this is what’s been causing over a year of panic attacks over not breathing correctly then FUCK tmj. Truly. I’m going to lay it out as short as I can but I just need help figuring out of this could be the case from experienced tmj personnel.

About a year and a half ago I quit vaping. Got sick terribly shortly after (pneumonia and flu) and shortly after experienced air hunger and feeling like I couldn’t take a deep breath. So badly I swear I was going to call someone to take me away and keep an eye on me because I couldn’t deal with the feeling any longer. Naturally, I blamed those two things (extreme anxiety from quitting nicotine and lung problems from pneumonia) for my air hunger, but it never really went away. Recently I remembered just a tiny snippet- around the same exact time, I remember dislocating my jaw. (Yawning.). I remember it because my boyfriend and I were in the mirror looking at how creepy it looked. For some reason maybe I thought it had always been like that. Even now, every time I open my jaw to yawn, i can see it slip out then slip back in. I’ve worked up the courage to start working out again even with how uncomfortable my breathing is, and I noticed that when I’m gasping for a breath, it’s never a problem with my lungs, it feels like something is collapsed- and specifically on the side my jaw unhinges. Sometimes too, it unhinges and I can barely hear on that side, which proves to me that when it happens, it could be blocking something, maybe even my airway partially. I used to be a runner, so I know this isn’t normal.

Anywho. Has anyone here experienced problems with breathing associated with tmj? Is it even possible? Also, I know this is probably considered a super mild version of tmj if it is at all. Thank you for the help and for reading this all!

Hi everyone, I'd like to know if anyone who's had any type of TMJ surgery how it went, and if things have improved. I'll leave the survey below.
If anyone can explain in more detail the improvements, any worsening, or what’s changed in general.

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I have had ETD for as long as I can remember. I have had off an on fullness especially bad in one ear for decades and have a great deal of pain when flying or driving mountain passes, often in spite of utilizing Afrin, Sudafed and earplanes. It has really impacted my quality of life as many of you can relate. I have had ear tubes, which end up getting stuck or falling out, balloon dilation (no improvement at all) and tried all of the BS nasal spray routes as well as had successful FESS surgery which helped my sinuses but did nothing to improve my ETD.
After TONS of research, I discovered that cartilage graft tympanoplasty (not a tympanostomy which are ear tubes) surgery could very likely be the answer I have been searching for. My membranes had become thin over the years and my eardrum was retracted even though half of the time I was tested my tympanogram would look normal. Other times I tested it showed retraction. The test is not always accurate. You know when you have negative pressure. It hurts and the Valsalva etc do nothing to relieve the pressure.
I stopped going to regular ENT’s and made appointments with several ent SPECIALISTS who regularly perform ear surgeries. The first 2 blew me off, soooo frustrating, but the next 2 said they thought cartilage graft tympanoplasty with T tube placement surgery would help immensely. If you research using AI you will discover how the thinking about long term chronic ETD treatment is FINALLY changing. I encourage any of you who are dealing with chronic ETD and have ever had an abnormal tymp test to make an appointment with a specialist to talk about the possibility of a cartilage graft tympanoplasty with an ear tube placement. Note: a tympanoplasty is a surgery that repairs a hole in the eardrum that develops due to chronic ETD overtime. The thinking used to be that you could not repair an eardrum if you had chronic ETD because the ETD would just keep causing ear retraction. The discovery was that by adding cartilage graft and T tube it stabilizes the eardrum so it does not continue to retract thus allowing the Eustachian tube to do its job. See below:
“The medical community has traditionally viewed ETD as a functional issue of the inner tube rather than a structural issue of the eardrum itself. Because a tympanoplasty is specifically a surgery to repair the tympanic membrane (eardrum) or middle ear bones, many traditional practitioners historically ruled it out unless a large permanent hole was present. However, reconstructing a chronically weak, retracted eardrum with a sturdy graft can stabilize the middle ear space, stop the painful structural collapsing, and drastically improve quality of life.”