Re: New & Intro

[Guest guest]

Noreen wrote:

The lawyer for the defendant has also decided that he wants medical

examinations done by their doctors so am waiting to hear about dates for those

appointments.

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Mostly, they have no idea what do do about it.

I've been dealing with the same " crap " after I smacked my jaw in an

accident. I couldn't move my jaw for five days afterwards, and here I

am, three years later FINALLY seeing a specialist.

The treatment and research for TMD, TMJ is miniscule and no one course

of action has been agreed upon among countless " specialists " . I once

had a DDS whose first conversation with me was about how TMD does not

exist. Presumably, this is how the man made his money, but

apparently, it was imaginary...(I'm rolling my eyes here, he was

obnoxious.)

But, like I said, I finally saw a specialist where I believe, at

least, I have a direction to go in. While I'm not confident that his

diagnosis is 100% accurate, I think it's around 80% accurate which is

a lot closer than the countless surgeons, doctors, dentists I've

spoken with so far.

My best suggestion is to keep pushing. See your doctor, get a

recommendation. They can't help, get another recommendation. Go

online, check out what other specialists have to offer and if you can

afford to invest in them. But keep pushing.

Pain in my face has been awful. Eating and talking have become major

chores and almost always put me in pain. I used to be a singer and

now can't do that without major pain medication. By the end of the

day, I just want to remove my face and put it in the drawer until the

next day.

And I also know it's not easy with so many other issues vying for

attention...be patient. Two steps forward, one step back. Keep

pushing for the person that is listening and provides plans of action.

Good luck and try to find the absurd as funny as possible as much as

possible.

Staci

[Guest guest]

Moderator's note:

I removed the doctor's name, because we don't mention them by name, in the

group. It's to give them privacy.

Kaylene

I live in Thunder Bay, which is in the Northern part of Ontario, Canada. Access

to doctors, specialists etc usually means a trip to southern Ontario.

Thanks Staci, part of the problem too with the jaw problems is the fact that I

am beyond terrified of dentists. The first oral surgeon that the insurance

company sent me to see in December 2003 was awful.

By the time I got out of the appointment I was in tears and shaking from head to

toe, I had nightmares for months afterwards. He actually said to me that if I

thought I was going to get thousands of dollars from the insurance company, he

was just going to have to disappoint me.

He then went on to say that the car accident had nothing to do with triggering

the problems, that I would have eventually got TMJ because I have missing teeth

(would not even listen when I said I

have had the same dentition since I was 20 and now I am 51 so when would

eventually occur).

He then said that I should let him pull all my teeth upper and lower, put in

dentures and do cortisone shots in the joint and I

would be just fine. He did not say he wanted to do an MRI, did not want to do a

bite splint, nada.

Well as you said talking and eating have become more than difficult and my jaw

keeps locking in the open position and the pain is indescribable.

It got so bad that I finally agreed to go see another oral surgeon in town,

hubby had to practically drag me through the door.

Well I have to admit that this fellow was wonderful even though I am

still terrified and have to take anti anxiety pills to go there. Hubby and I

told him what the other fellow had said and he called him a few colourful

metaphors :-)

He ordered the MRI and did a bite splint that I wear at night

or any other time I notice I am clenching my jaw. He has also referred me to a

doctor in Mississauga, have an appointment with him on September 18th.

Looked him up on the internet he seems to be very knowledgeable regarding TMJ.

He also told us that he will not even consider

dentures until the joint is fixed as that is putting the cart before the horse,

he also said that he would only consider doing uppers that in his opinion I need

to keep my lower teeth for as long as I can.

I like others have good, bad & ugly days. I just keep telling myself to keep

trying, don’t know what else to do.

Noreen