TMJ and meniscus?

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#1 Post by **jackievandam** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:28 pm

HI all,
Have been recuperating well from BSSO and genio on May 21st...but always had some ear pain..Also, my incision did heal up after about 2 weeks because of a few stitches coming loose- it had to "fill in " on its own...Anyway, my latest challenge is that I have TMJ symptoms on the right and a lot of clicking when I "eat" my mush!! I called the OD today (and my kids were screaming when he called back)! But, what I heard is that this is not too uncommon- and that it should go away?? When? It makes you feel so nervous when it hurts and pops..Anyway, just wondering if anyone else had this..He was explaining something about the meniscal cartilage that sits on the condyle of the TMJ getting out of whack>
Hope all is well with everyone- never knew I would think so much about jaws, food, chewing , TMJ joints etc!

#2 Post by **SleazyG** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:19 pm

Prior to surgery, I was diagnosed with anteriorly displaced menisci with only partial recapture of the discs upon opening of the mouth. So I knew I was at a greater risk of developing joint problems if I had jaw surgery, but no one could guarantee my joints wouldn't get worse on their own. I chose to roll the dice and go ahead with the jaw surgery (I had a segmental upper and lower). A couple of weeks post-op I had some strange spasm and my right joint popped so loud the person next to me heard it. For the next month or so, I had a lot of pain in that joint and in the ear, but oddly, no pain or clicking in the left joint. I used heat therapy as much as I could and it really helped. Eventually the pain also appeared on the left as well. Then, several months post-op when I started to get aggressive with eating crunchy food again, I experienced a lot of popping and even some locking (I had to push the joint in with my fingers to get the jaw to close). I was worried and spoke with my surgeon who assured me this was just part of the healing process and should happen sporadically for up to a year. He was right, it does go away. You're surgery was so recent, I'd expect that you'll have to put up with this discomfort for at least several months more. Don't worry, it is annoying but perfectly natural. These surgeries cause a lot of strain on our TMJs and it'll take a while before "they're" happy with you again. If you don't already, definitely get one of those microwaveable heat wraps and press it on the sides of your face when the pain appears. The best one I've found is made by Earth Therapeutics and is called Anti-Stress Comfort Wrap. It smells nice when you microwave it (some of these brands can stink) and was around $10. Here's the link: http://www.earththerapeutics.net/prodin ... umber=4005

#3 Post by **JayC** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:12 pm

i had clicking, tingling, headaches, earaches, clicking on diff parts of my jaw... all at varioustimes during my healing stage. at about the 3month mark im fine.

#4 Post by **jackievandam** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:21 pm

THanks so much for your answers SleazyG and JayC...I guess it is alwasy a leap of faith to have your jaw cut open- and when you get some new symptoms out of it (like constant earaches and TMJ popping) you start doubting your decision...Anyway, with a little confidence that this is most likely temporary- I am feeling better already! I also just purchased the wrap you mentioned Sleazy G!
Thanks again

#5 Post by **loulou123** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:30 pm

I agree with JayC ive had all sorts of weird pains come and go. Some of them are worse than others, but im sure your be fine in a few more days/weeks.

#6 Post by **Emaciated** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:32 pm

I had severe TMJ problems develop at the 4-month mark. They were pretty bad. My ortho sanded down a bit on one of the teeth opposite the side that hurt and after about 2 months it had subsided. Its still there but is not as bad as it was before having any braces or surgery done. Now I barely notice it. (Currently at about 6.5 months post-op.)

#7 Post by **jackievandam** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:56 pm

Thanks for all of the info...again, feeling like others had this and it either "went away" or lessened makes me hopeful...It is hard to keep optimistic when this process is so gradual and you just want to have a pain-free bite and not look like a chipmunk

I hope that the TMJ thing is more of inflammation than the actual meniscus being flip or out of line..that seems like something that would have a tough time correcting itself...but lets hope so!
Thanks again for all of the encouragement

#8 Post by **cmeyer115** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:07 pm

How have you been doing? Just checking in since we were on the same timeline!

#9 Post by **jackievandam** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:54 pm

cmeyer
I have been wondering about your recovery too!! I am still more swollen on my left- that is the side that opened up and never felt good! The other side is almost normal..I dont have much pain in the jaws at all- but the right TMJ is still popping and makes me anxious for some reason- just doesnt feel like it is in synch...I was supposed to have a 4 week check today but the office mixed up my appt- now I have to wait till thursday.I was going to be able to eat soft food as of today- so I just ate it tonight!! Hope things are going well- let me know..Hard to believe we are already a month out!