I Need Help - Jaw Clenching Relief

[Deleted member 541]

Rach,

Glad that you are getting some relief......

 

[KSS1]

I'd love to hear more about botox

Botox gets my vote.
Its not a nice treatment, the injections are painfull. Had a retreatment earlier in the year its worked well and my jaw muscles have reduced in size and strength.
Feel free to ask any questions.
G.

Wow G I'd be really interested to hear how this works. I've too have tried everything - (including sleeping with one of those devices that beeps to wake you up when you're grinding or clenching).

So you get the injections and then what happens? Can you still use your jaw normally to eat etc? Does the grinding or clenching at night stop? Do you need to do it again? Was it expensive?

Thanks!
KSS

 

[Borderline]

Hi KSS.

Botox. My treatment normally consists of 2 injections into each of the 2 muscles which clench your jaw. I think its about 500-800 units of Botox. Initially its sore and swells a bit. Your ability to "bite" decreases over the subsequent days. This reduces your ability to damage your teeth by grinding, it is not a cure for grinding. With time the muscles waste away and shrink in size and strength.
Things to note, you may lose the ability to smile for a few days/weeks if the toxin leaks into surrounding tissue. The muscles will slowly rebuild themselves. The treatment has to be repeated. Initially it lasted six months, now it lasts up to a year. This treatment has not been tested officially over long term.
It works for me, you should seek advice from a specialist, before going ahead with it.
Cost? a lot! I am lucky, it is supplied by our National Health Service at no cost to me.
Good luck if you think that this will help you. I have been very happy with my Botox treatment, it has saved my teeth and jaw joints. I would rather find a cure, for me this is the next best thing.
G.

 

[Moonshadow]

My jaw has been killing me, for over a week. I think it started around the 15th, a major trigger day for me.

Yesterday, I happened to find an old stash of a small amount of pot (in the freezer). It helped SO much. It's like the tension in my head just melted away. I can feel the tension building again, but it should take a few days to get really bad. It's the only thing that's helped, for me. It also helped with a lot of my other pain, too. It makes me so mad, that it's not legal, at least for medical use. It's a lot easier on my body than the percocet.

 

[linasmom]

Moonshadow -

I'm in FULL support of legalizing marijuana. If pot didn't make me paranoid (it started making paranoid in my early twenties) I would be using it as opposed to all of the prescription drugs I use.

I feel the tension building again in my jaw as well - and like you - it will build up over a few days and then that pain will become unbearable again. *sigh*

 

[trishok]

Jaw clenching and teeth grinding - (bruxism) - can be a side effect of some medications, for me it is antidepressants - particularly anafranil and nowadays cipramil.
After approx 10 years of grinding and clenching, a new doctor told me about the medication side effects.
I have worn enamel off all my front teeth and broken quite a few.
Hope this helps someone.
Trish

 

[rallynut78]

My jaw has been killing me, for over a week. I think it started around the 15th, a major trigger day for me.

Yesterday, I happened to find an old stash of a small amount of pot (in the freezer). It helped SO much. It's like the tension in my head just melted away. I can feel the tension building again, but it should take a few days to get really bad. It's the only thing that's helped, for me. It also helped with a lot of my other pain, too. It makes me so mad, that it's not legal, at least for medical use. It's a lot easier on my body than the percocet.

the pot helped me A LOT with the anxiety. unfortunately this is an expensive therapy. not to mention that i could lose my job if i get pee tested. they so far won't prescribe anything at the VA to help relieve it.:wall:

 

[nemofightsfire]

Hello all,

In my accident back in March I had to have a bridge put in on the top front of foreteeth. Since then I have been constantly grinding my jaws, and tongue thrusting my new bridge. I just saw my dentist yesterday and he made a few adjustments but is bringing me back in in 2 weeks to get an appliance. He made mention of TMJ. I am not that familiar with this. All I know id that I am getting terrible headaches and soreness nightly. Could this be a result from my PTSD?
Just curious,
-Nemo-

 

[linasmom]

nemofightsfire-

It most likely is, which really just means that it's a result of stress.

 

[Bettespaghetti]

I am a teeth grinder and jaw clencher as well. I didn't realize that could tighten so many muscles. No wonder the migraines are worse than ever. I have woken myself up night after night for weeks because of the pain in my head and jaw... I normally get up and check out the forums. That's a way to take my mind off of whatever was in it (sometimes I can't remember). I also take stuff for migraines and sometimes that helps. I recently started counseling and Celexa and can't say that the meds have helped, but it hasn't been a week yet.

I've heard nightguards help, but I throw mine across the room in my sleep because I feel as if I am suffocating. (that's a whole nother can of worms). So I don't even try that any more.

If anyone finds anything that you don't put in your mouth that works please let me know!

Bette

 

[nemofightsfire]

about clenching and such....

Just saw my dentist again yesterday, after reviewing my initial ER records he decided to take more xrays and consult with another dentist... Now they are saying I may have TMJ or some for of nerve damage to a nerve in the front top part of my mouth....They are sending me to an oral surgeon to look at how the bones in my jaw... wow----what a blast.:wall:

sorry to be ranting, I hope everyone is well....:occasion:


Nemo~

 

[rallynut78]

well the VA gave me some ativan/lorazapam 0.5 mg it has helped a little with the clenching but not sure the risk of becoming addicted to this is worth it. pot seems like a more effective (and more fun) alternative.

on the bright side the dentist said there is no sign of wear. then he quoted me $400 for a night guard. no cavities either!:thumbs-up