Blonde Metals Road to Recovery W/ Pics. Some Advice Needed..
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 4:35 pm
Well, I don't get my braces for about another week and a half, but I decided I would start my braces story now. I am currently 19 years old, and when I was 17, I started to get SEVERE migraine headaches, ear aches, and popping of my jaw. I visited my Dr. right away to try and figure out the source of the ear/migraine problems. I didn't tell him about the popping because I didn't think that it could be related at all. Boy was I wrong. After two years of missing lots of class, and going from doctor to doctor to try and figure out was wrong I became frustrated and felt that I would have to live with this pain for ever. I would have good months, and bad months. Last month, while at a family reunion, my great uncle, who happens to be a pediatrician, was sitting next to me while we were eating, and he could hear loud popping coming from my jaw. He asked me if I had told my Dr. about the popping, as this could be the source of all of my pain, and when I told him that I hadn't, he told me that I should make an appointment as soon as I returned home to get it checked. I made the appointment, and sure enough, was diagnosed with TMJ! My Dr. ordered X-Rays, and saw that my jaw was not crooked, but that my bite was off, so he suggested I see an orthodontist. I then called up my dentist who referred me to an Ortho. A week later, (which was last week), I had my consultation with my Ortho, and he told me my jaw was popping because I was straining to bite properly, and that he was 98% sure that once we fixed my bite (as well as some crowding and crookedness while we were at it), my pain would be gone, because I was apparently straining a nerve to move my jaw in such a way. He was so confident and enthusiastic, and his office was fully equiped, that we took xrays and moulds right there, and I have my appointment for spacers next week, and full metal braces top and bottom with an expander the week after that.
I am nervous/excited. This is all so sudden. Just three weeks ago I wasn't even thinking about orthidontia, let alone that being the root cause of my suffering. As a child, my dentist would suggest braces for my moderate crowding, but since it never made me self-conscious, I figured I would save my parents the money, and myself the pain. Now that I feel it is necessary for my well being, I am more than willing to have it done, but am a little scared. My boyfriend had braces as a child, and told me that if I can handle chronic migraines, I can handle braces. I am so glad I found this site, as I know it will help me through the rough times. I will be sure to post pre and post braces pictures once I am braces, and will track my progress for all to see..
Thanks for listening!
Ps. Any suggestions before I get my spacers? I hear they are awful!
I am nervous/excited. This is all so sudden. Just three weeks ago I wasn't even thinking about orthidontia, let alone that being the root cause of my suffering. As a child, my dentist would suggest braces for my moderate crowding, but since it never made me self-conscious, I figured I would save my parents the money, and myself the pain. Now that I feel it is necessary for my well being, I am more than willing to have it done, but am a little scared. My boyfriend had braces as a child, and told me that if I can handle chronic migraines, I can handle braces. I am so glad I found this site, as I know it will help me through the rough times. I will be sure to post pre and post braces pictures once I am braces, and will track my progress for all to see..
Thanks for listening!
Ps. Any suggestions before I get my spacers? I hear they are awful!