An update on my jaw, prepare to be disappointed.

[SomeRandomDude]

Hello again, if you'll remember I posted a couple days ago about my jaw and how I might've sprained it or worse.

As I said in that post, I don't feel so much fatigue in my jaw anymore and my bite doesn't feel so weak. And that is absolutely still the case. But it just feels so strange, the mandible just feels out of place slightly and the muscles that I don't remember the name of at very end of the mandible feels very stiff and I have trouble getting to my back teeth while brushing.. I am terrified I've done serious damage either that or my anxieties are making me notice things that aren't there.. And one of the very helpful members here, I don't mean that sarcastically btw, I probably wouldn't be back if I didn't find anything here helpful. advised me to get it checked out.

And I have yet to do that, mostly because I can't drive and i'm too anxious and embarrassed to bring it up to anybody that can. But also because I am terrified over the thought of surgery. If there's anything that can cause me more stress than health anxiety. It is the fear of doctors and medical procedures like surgery. Hypochondira and the fear of doctors, doesn't sound like a good mix at all does it? it absolutely isn't. It's a terrible situation to be in. Anyway, the thing that scares me about surgery isn't the actual surgery and is the thought of dying under sedation or anesthesia. I know anesthesia has come a long way and the anesthesiologists are very specially trained to deal with a terrible situation if it arises. But still, there is no greater sense of impending doom for me than being told I need simple procedures like impacted wisdom tooth removal (Which I still have yet to do because of my crippling fear of surgery) and corrective procedures like relocating a jaw. And most of the treatment for anything to do with jaw problems is corrective surgery! Uuugh I hate being like this guys!

Is surgery the absolute only option for jaw issues? Please tell me there is so I can atleast work up the courage to get it checked out.

 

[Mandyhiero]

If you’re talking about TMJ, I don’t think surgery is your only option. Of course I’m not a dentist or anything, but they can do mouthguards, therapy, etc. Surgery would be your very last option. I have to have my impacted wisdom tooth cut out. I go next Wednesday for the consultation. I’m nervous but like you said anesthesia has come a long way. I’m sure all will be fine. I wish you the best and hope you figure out what’s going on with you.

 

[SomeRandomDude]

If you’re talking about TMJ, I don’t think surgery is your only option. Of course I’m not a dentist or anything, but they can do mouthguards, therapy, etc. Surgery would be your very last option. I have to have my impacted wisdom tooth cut out. I go next Wednesday for the consultation. I’m nervous but like you said anesthesia has come a long way. I’m sure all will be fine. I wish you the best and hope you figure out what’s going on with you.

If the TMJ are apart of the muscles that bulge when you bite down than i think that's what is affected.
But thank you for the information, i also forgot to mention i'm not insured for dental, do you know how much any of this will cost?

 

[Mandyhiero]

I’m not sure about that either, but maybe start with some kind of clinic that charges on a sliding scale based on what you make and see what information they could maybe offer you before shelling out your money to someone who wants to start out running expensive tests you may not even need.

 

[hatboxghost]

Hi there!

No one is disappointed in you for feeling the way that you do about not wanting to go to the doctor.
Quick story about my “first” anesthesia experience:
I had tubes put in my ears when I was 5 so I was put under. Of course I don’t remember that, but I had an endoscopy almost 2 weeks ago and I consider that my “first” time.

I was not really nervous about the experience up until I got back to when I had to get in the operating room bed and they put the IV in my hand. At that time, they hooked me up to an EKG machine and my heart rate soared to between 100-120 BPM. My blood pressure kept going up and down. I was a mess. It took almost an hour for them to finally take me back and put me under. In the meantime, I met the really nice anesthesiologist and told her that I could not relax (mind you the EKG machine kept beeping for every heart beat so it was obnoxiously reminding me that I was having an anxiety attack) she gave me 2 doses of calming medicine. Finally, when they wheeled me back for the procedure, they put the supplemental oxygen in my nose and she told me “okay, I am about to give you your sleepy medicine, think of a really nice place or vacation spot!” I immediately said “Disney World!” And I was out. Twilight anesthesia which is what they call and use for any type of “quick” surgery is very fast acting and does not take long to get out of your body. I don’t remember waking up or 10 minutes after waking, but I felt pretty normal about 2-3 hours after I left the GI doctor.

All that’s to say, anesthesia does not worry me anymore. Anesthesiologist and your doctors are trained in emergency medicine and situations, so on the very very off chance something WERE to happen, they will do everything they can to make sure you are safe. If you are nervous, it will be obvious by the machine you’re hooked up to and talk about it. Saying “I am nervous and here’s why.” To your doctor or anesthesiologist will not always help, but they will reassure you that they are there to take care of you and sometimes you might need a little help with some medicine in that moment. That is OKAY.

Also, I’m no doctor but I would not be concerned with surgery until it was mentioned. Mandy mentioned finding a dentist that will work with you without insurance and a lot will. Just call around when you feel up to it. The hardest thing to do when we are scared is face our fears. Do it in your own time.

Anxiety is so tricky and will make you have feelings that aren’t true. I’m writing this at 3:00 AM because I woke up having an anxiety attack about my heart because I focused on it for about 4 hours today after I got home. Knowing good and well, my heart is fine. Since I got my anxiety fed this evening before bed, it decided to wake me up and say “time to worry!”

We will be okay. Our bodies are built to fight anything that interferes with its natural abilities to keep us safe.

Take your time. And keep us posted.

 

[RobbyH]

I suggest you take some 400mg of Advil about three times a day fora couple of days. Advil is a good anti-inflammatory drug and may help with your jaw if it is muscle related.

If it is TMJ, there are options other than surgery - in fact, surgery would most likely be the last option. most dentists/doctors want to try other options before operating. Mouth pieces, medication, theraphy are all options for TMJ - if that is even your issue.

Good luck

 

[SomeRandomDude]

Thank you all for the advice, info and reassurance!

Are there other things I can do at home to help the issue while waiting for an appointment or finding proper solutions? I've seen all kinds of questionable articles online that state there are exercises and other things I can do by myself to help. But I don't really trust things like this and i'm a little hesitant to do anything on my own besides taking medication or buying a support pillow / bite guard.

Do any of these techniques help? atleast enough for me to feel comfortable while I find affordable treatments?

Also, does what I describe something really serious? I don't feel any pain (Yet) and my jaw mobility seems fine for the most part. What worries me the most is the feeling that my jaw is out of place. It kind of feels like it's pushed back a little. I don't know if it's actually out of place or it's my tongue or muscles making it feel that way. I'm terrified that I've dislocated something even though there isn't pain or mobility issues. Can these things heal on their own provided I follow yours and any dentist's advice?

 

[SomeRandomDude]

Hi there!

No one is disappointed in you for feeling the way that you do about not wanting to go to the doctor.
Quick story about my “first” anesthesia experience:
I had tubes put in my ears when I was 5 so I was put under. Of course I don’t remember that, but I had an endoscopy almost 2 weeks ago and I consider that my “first” time.

I was not really nervous about the experience up until I got back to when I had to get in the operating room bed and they put the IV in my hand. At that time, they hooked me up to an EKG machine and my heart rate soared to between 100-120 BPM. My blood pressure kept going up and down. I was a mess. It took almost an hour for them to finally take me back and put me under. In the meantime, I met the really nice anesthesiologist and told her that I could not relax (mind you the EKG machine kept beeping for every heart beat so it was obnoxiously reminding me that I was having an anxiety attack) she gave me 2 doses of calming medicine. Finally, when they wheeled me back for the procedure, they put the supplemental oxygen in my nose and she told me “okay, I am about to give you your sleepy medicine, think of a really nice place or vacation spot!” I immediately said “Disney World!” And I was out. Twilight anesthesia which is what they call and use for any type of “quick” surgery is very fast acting and does not take long to get out of your body. I don’t remember waking up or 10 minutes after waking, but I felt pretty normal about 2-3 hours after I left the GI doctor.

All that’s to say, anesthesia does not worry me anymore. Anesthesiologist and your doctors are trained in emergency medicine and situations, so on the very very off chance something WERE to happen, they will do everything they can to make sure you are safe. If you are nervous, it will be obvious by the machine you’re hooked up to and talk about it. Saying “I am nervous and here’s why.” To your doctor or anesthesiologist will not always help, but they will reassure you that they are there to take care of you and sometimes you might need a little help with some medicine in that moment. That is OKAY.

Also, I’m no doctor but I would not be concerned with surgery until it was mentioned. Mandy mentioned finding a dentist that will work with you without insurance and a lot will. Just call around when you feel up to it. The hardest thing to do when we are scared is face our fears. Do it in your own time.

Anxiety is so tricky and will make you have feelings that aren’t true. I’m writing this at 3:00 AM because I woke up having an anxiety attack about my heart because I focused on it for about 4 hours today after I got home. Knowing good and well, my heart is fine. Since I got my anxiety fed this evening before bed, it decided to wake me up and say “time to worry!”

We will be okay. Our bodies are built to fight anything that interferes with its natural abilities to keep us safe.

Take your time. And keep us posted.

Thank you for the reassurance over being put under for procedures, same with mandy. That does help quite a bit, i too had surgeries done as a very small child, one for my teeth and a few for my eyes, and if i recall correctly, i was put under full blown general anesthesia for the ones on my eyes. But it has been so long and the combination of amnesia caused by the medicine and my memories of anything that happened to me at a very young age aren't that good. I don't remember much from those procedures.

So i too consider my impacted wisdom teeth removal to be my first, when i eventually get it done. I was tolde to get them removed nearly a year ago in August. And for the first few weeks or even months i was a complete wreck and couldn't stop stressing out because of it. It got to the point where i was depressed and spent most of the time in bed. Now that a year has passed and i've heard so many stories about surgeries going well and all of the clarification and explination of anesthesia. I am a little less frightened of having it done.

 

[SomeRandomDude]

I apologize if there are a lot of grammacal errors in my previous posts. and perhaps this one.
Because of my anxiety over this situation i've had to resort to taking sleeping aids. And once those kick in it does affect the way I type and speak.

 

[hatboxghost]

Thank you all for the advice, info and reassurance!

Are there other things I can do at home to help the issue while waiting for an appointment or finding proper solutions? I've seen all kinds of questionable articles online that state there are exercises and other things I can do by myself to help. But I don't really trust things like this and i'm a little hesitant to do anything on my own besides taking medication or buying a support pillow / bite guard.

Do any of these techniques help? atleast enough for me to feel comfortable while I find affordable treatments?

Also, does what I describe something really serious? I don't feel any pain (Yet) and my jaw mobility seems fine for the most part. What worries me the most is the feeling that my jaw is out of place. It kind of feels like it's pushed back a little. I don't know if it's actually out of place or it's my tongue or muscles making it feel that way. I'm terrified that I've dislocated something even though there isn't pain or mobility issues. Can these things heal on their own provided I follow yours and any dentist's advice?

I’m not too familiar with exercises you can do. So I’m of no help there. You also want to be careful with at home exercises you find online to help with symptoms you’re having for the sole reason, you may be over working something that isn’t in need of being worked. I can say though, if your jaw were completely out of place, your mobility would be fairly limited. Take an NSAID (ibuprofen) when you have pain, get some rest and try Googling local dentists that do income based service. Hang in there!

 

[SomeRandomDude]

Hello again.

I thought about what you said about overworking something that isn't in need of being worked. And all of yesterday and last night not thinking about anything regarding any of my problems regarding this, sto constantly checking for symptoms and really try to stay calm. Which isn't easy especially since the night before. I woke up early in the morning to myself taking deep breaths, as if i wasn't breathing on my own. to see if i overreacted over something small. Hence why I haven't responded to this thread or created any new ones.

But, i stayed as calm as i could and didn't try to notice anything "wrong" with my mouth. And for the most part, it seems like I did overreact a little. , which is a very common trend of mine. And I guess health anxiety in general. Anyway, during the day i noticed that I wasn't salivating as much, the Masseter (Yay I finally figured out the name of those muscles!) wasn't as stiff and bulging on the right side. And my mouth just felt normal. However, I was still quite a bit anxious during the night, i'd wake up every few hours instantly worried about my teeth and mouth again first waking up with one really deep breath like I was waking from a nightmare. And that went on to this morning when i'm writing this now. And when I finally woke up this morning, my teeth and jaw did feel like I was clenching throughout the night so that sucks.

So even though I felt mostly normal yesterday, the whole situation seems to have me still a little stressed. And i'll still be visiting a dentist when I can. Because even though things felt fine I did definitely do something to my jaw when I first started writing here. And as I said it seems like I have been clenching my teeth quite a bit.