TMJ flare-ups

[geos]

For me, Robax Platinum (methocarbamol and ibuprofen caplets) seems to be the solution and I follow the instructions on the bottle. If I take it at the start of a flare-up, it usually takes maximum 12 hours to stop the flare-up.

 

[geos]

I was forgetting, when I had a bad flare-up I also got a prescription for a topical cream that I needed to apply twice a day and started working after about 2 weeks of use. It helped a lot to calm the pain down.

 

[Susanne]

For those of you with TMJ disorder, what do you find works best and fastest at relieving the symptoms? I have been having a pretty bad flare-up the past couple of days and am absolutely miserable. I have been working a lot on the computer (likely with bad posture) and I think I slept in an awkward position and that is what led to this flare-up.

The left side of my jaw, particularly in front of my ear, feels quite tender and bunched up, as well as the muscles underneath my chin. Teeth on that side feel sore, too, when it gets really cramped up. It feels as though the "hinged" part of my jaw on that side has popped out of place and anything that requires even a tiny amount of chewing just makes the cramping/muscle knotting worsen. I've tried both cold and warm compresses, holding a pencil between my teeth (I read that can relax jaw muscles) and taking Tylenol (acetaminophen). Only the Tylenol seems to give any relief, though not nearly enough for my liking.

Would something like ibuprofen work better? Have any of you ever been prescribed a muscle relaxer or a very small dose/short course of an anti-anxiety medication to control TMJ symptoms? I need some relief and I don't know what to try now. The dentist has only recommended a very expensive nightguard, but I need something that will work now and not require me to go in and sit there with my mouth wide open, which will only aggravate and prolong the TMJ symptoms.

 

[MountainMama]

For those of you with TMJ disorder, what do you find works best and fastest at relieving the symptoms? I have been having a pretty bad flare-up the past couple of days and am absolutely miserable. I have been working a lot on the computer (likely with bad posture) and I think I slept in an awkward position and that is what led to this flare-up.

The left side of my jaw, particularly in front of my ear, feels quite tender and bunched up, as well as the muscles underneath my chin. Teeth on that side feel sore, too, when it gets really cramped up. It feels as though the "hinged" part of my jaw on that side has popped out of place and anything that requires even a tiny amount of chewing just makes the cramping/muscle knotting worsen. I've tried both cold and warm compresses, holding a pencil between my teeth (I read that can relax jaw muscles) and taking Tylenol (acetaminophen). Only the Tylenol seems to give any relief, though not nearly enough for my liking.

Would something like ibuprofen work better? Have any of you ever been prescribed a muscle relaxer or a very small dose/short course of an anti-anxiety medication to control TMJ symptoms? I need some relief and I don't know what to try now. The dentist has only recommended a very expensive nightguard, but I need something that will work now and not require me to go in and sit there with my mouth wide open, which will only aggravate and prolong the TMJ symptoms.

Ibuprofen is what my oral surgeon recommended, to help with inflammation. I am having a flare up as well, and can’t take ibuprofen due to a history of stomach ulcers. My current surgeon said there really isn’t much to do besides hot and cold packs and ibuprofen. Mine is so bad right now that my teeth on the right side of my mouth don’t even touch!

 

[geos]

For those of you with TMJ disorder, what do you find works best and fastest at relieving the symptoms? I have been having a pretty bad flare-up the past couple of days and am absolutely miserable. I have been working a lot on the computer (likely with bad posture) and I think I slept in an awkward position and that is what led to this flare-up.

The left side of my jaw, particularly in front of my ear, feels quite tender and bunched up, as well as the muscles underneath my chin. Teeth on that side feel sore, too, when it gets really cramped up. It feels as though the "hinged" part of my jaw on that side has popped out of place and anything that requires even a tiny amount of chewing just makes the cramping/muscle knotting worsen. I've tried both cold and warm compresses, holding a pencil between my teeth (I read that can relax jaw muscles) and taking Tylenol (acetaminophen). Only the Tylenol seems to give any relief, though not nearly enough for my liking.

Would something like ibuprofen work better? Have any of you ever been prescribed a muscle relaxer or a very small dose/short course of an anti-anxiety medication to control TMJ symptoms? I need some relief and I don't know what to try now. The dentist has only recommended a very expensive nightguard, but I need something that will work now and not require me to go in and sit there with my mouth wide open, which will only aggravate and prolong the TMJ symptoms.

For me, it's muscle relaxant with ibuprofene (2 in 1 pill). If Tylenol works better, I believe there's a pill that combines acetaminophen with a muscle relaxant too. It's a kind that's available without a prescription and a dentist had recommended it. Similar to MountainMama, the other thing recommended is hot and cold packs.