Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Jeanna - TMJ

Did you see your dentist today?

Any news??

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Kristin

Krystyn:

Arent you the sweetest thing in the world for asking

Yes, I just got back from my visit with the dentist and he concurred that yes in fact I was excruitiatingly tender. EVERYWHERE (lots of muscle involvement). Anyhow here are the three main findings from the panoramic x-ray.

#1 - I have two wisdom teeth that are definitely NOT the problem.
#2 - I have a loss of joint space between my TMJ on both sides.
#3 - My stylohyoid ligament is calcified on both side (left worst that right).

#2 and #3 may or may not be related to the AS. Regardless, this whole picture means that I have reasons for hurting.

I was fitted for a mouth guard without a real sense of it being beneficial ultimately. We're going with the - it can't hurt - philosophy. We're also going to look into a referral to an ears, nose and throat specialist. I will likely require surgery to remove the calcified ligaments.

I know this doesnt sound like the most heart-wrenching news, but I'm just numb from it anyhow.

My pamidronate treatment starts at 5 pm. We're increasing the dose from 60 to 90 mg, so everyone please think good vein thoughts. NO whamies!

Thanks again K.

Big soft hugs,
Jeanna

MADE IN CANADA

Sending some positive thoughts and wishes your way.....if that doesn't work maybe try some ice cold beer and topping it off with some tequila shooters (no salt)....it may not get rid of the pain but it won't bother you much.
Dan.


Who knows what the drugs will do to us?

I'm sending some positive thoughts too............
take care you poor little hurtin' thing

hugs,

linda

I'm not so sure about the surgery.... I've heard that surgery is the WORST thing to do for the TMJ. I've heard of many who underwent TMJ surgery and it made their pain worse......I don't want to scare you but I'm not so sure I would get it done myself (I don't even like the idea of having my wisdom teeth pulled for this reason!)!! I'd get a few opinions about the surgery.

Rox
http://www.geocities.com/artisan1998.geo/index.html

(((JEANNA)))

PM me if you wish, I can definitely sympathize with your TMJ issues. Think I mentioned I have dealt with it pretty much non-stop for years. Did they use a TENS unit or similar on you before fitting you for a mouthguard? If they fit you for one with your jaw in the "normal" position they are promoting continuance of that space, instead of trying to realign. (This is how it was explained to me.) I think normal is 3" between joints.. I have about 1/2" on my more affected TMJ.

By muscular involvement, do you mean myofascial pain?

Don't think I have any ligament issues. Shocked that it has just developed and will require surgery. Was told my TMJ specialist that only 2% of cases will require surgery. Might want a second opinion before you proceed with something like this...

I am so proud of you for getting it checked out. TMJD is sort of dismissed, but it can lead to very serious issues, and should be checked/treated ASAP (in my opinion!). I allowed mine to get much worse because it was uncovered by insurance (anything involving the TMJ) and I would only seek assistance when it became unbearable. I think I could have prevented a lot of what has gone wrong by early intervention.

Good luck with ENT, and I hope the mouthguard provides some relief. I can't stress enough how much adding a muscle relaxer at night helped me.

********
Kristin

Oh Jeanna, wish I could offer you my veins for this. They are awesome, even though I'm a big scaredy cat, better than I used to be, but still a baby. When Michelle getting her phlebotomy certification, she used me as her subject for the practical exam. I was shaking, and the instructor said something along the lines of my veins being like a garden hose and not to worry.

Okay, good luck,

Ian



Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. --Benjamin Franklin

Hang in ther kid. Where thinking about you.

Jeanna,

Good vein thoughts, good vein thoughts, good vein thoughts.......

Hugs to you,
Cristina


My daughter at twilight......

Jeanna
Maybe ,....I think that I should have held you longer and made you laugh not so hard last night.
I hope that this TMJ stuff will ease off soon for ya.
I'm still beaming for having met you.
Ray