Chiropracters & TMJ

[danaf]

I have the worse imaginable TMJ. My muscles in my jaw and kneck are constantly contracted.

I'm seeing a tmj specialist and next week she will be doing a needle trigger point therapy on me. Never done it, but I hope it helps. This is ontop of all the other therapy - splint, muscle relaxers, strong anti-inflamatory meds.

However, today I saw a chiropracter who was able to do adjustments in my kneck. I had seen one some months ago and my kneck was so bad he couldn't do any adjustments.

And I have to say, it really really helped. I'm going back Sat and looking forward to it. To be honest, the tmj specialist is really a pain mgmt dr and I think the alternative medicine is the way to go.

Luckily my insurance picks up on both (I just have a copay).

I just want to feel better! So for now I'll do both. Probably not having to go to a high stress job everyday would pretty much cure me but I don't have that luxury.

[lrprn]

...today I saw a chiropracter ... And I have to say, it really really helped.

So glad that you finally have some relief, danaf! Chronic muscle and joint problems like yours are miserable! So often meds are just not the answer.

Another option besides a good chiropractor is to find a licensed, certified therapeutic massage therapist (not the kind they have in spas - these massage therapists typically work with a chiropractor or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) and have special training in trigger point, reiki, cranio-sacral and other alternative therapies. This kind of expert massage therapist can work wonders when muscles, not joints, are the real underlying problem. And best of all, when money is short, they cost less than a chiropracter as well plus you get a whole body massage in addition to the work on your problem area. (Personal experience - no more neck spasms since I found mine! And far less than pain specialists and all the meds!)

[Bandit]

I hope you feel better and hope there will be days ahead that you wont even know there was ever a problem, danaf.

My aunt has developed something like this called Fibromyalgia. Only it is in her arms, legs, shoulders wrists and has made her immobile with pain most of the time. The chiropractor and massage therapist are the only ones who have been able to help her while waiting for a specialtist appointment to open. The toughest part is getting diagnosed right and then there is a medicine that helps correct joint and muscle, not just cover up the pain.

Very few doctors know how to treat certain things and several doctors she had seen gave up on her because they did not know what to do.

As lrprn said it, I would also stick with your chiro & massages while being treated by your specialtist.

[danaf]

lrp, thanks for your input!

I have located a chiropracter that includes massage therapy in the cost of the visit. I'll go to him when I get back from vacation.

In the meantime, my appt. with the TMJ specialist is this Wed and she is going to try to induce expansion of my muscles by inserting needles into my trigger points. I'm sorta nervous about it but she is good and the chiropracter I'm seeing did not see a problem with this.

I think I'll have my husband sitting in the waiting room for this one though just for the moral support.

[whatamess]

Hello!~
I have had both trigger point and saw a Chiro 2X a week for chronic neck and back pain/spasms. I LOVED going to the chiro, but my insurance at the time cut me off after six months. Pain came back...
I would love to try accupuncture. Im all about natural, preventative and alternative healing.

WAM

[danaf]

ok, wam, that's not fair. Tell me what the trigger point experience was like - PLEASE............

[whatamess]

Well, hmm tingly, sometimes jerking. It did bring feeling back to my right hand!! Give it a shot.
Can you explain your medical problem cause I have no clue.
My issue is nerve damage and pinches. It doesnt take much to cause pain, just hit particular nerve and VOOOM through the roof.
WAM

[danaf]

ok - so had my trigger point appt. today. Not as painful as I thought. Sort of like acupuncture with medication. They stick the needles in the trigger points and move them around. Sounds more painful than it is. Jury still out on results. My jaw is still cracking so I just don't know.

[whatamess]

I had wondered what type you were having...You will know soon if it helped. I had electrostimulation I think its called. It was a few years ago.
Good luck, keep us posted.
WAM