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Hello. I’m a 56 year old woman who has lived with TMJ problems as long as I can remember. About the ago of 18, my jaw got so bad I could barely open my mouth. It was like tasting a sour item and puckering up with no relief. A new dentist came to town, who specialized in treating TMJ. He also told me I had DMP (Dysfunctional Maxiofacial Pain/Paralysis). The treatment consisted of cold, ice packs and some external massage of my facial “cheeks”.\r
Nothing really helped. Most of my dental appointments were scheduled for short breaks to “relax my jaw”. No one seemed to understand telling me to relax just does not make it happen. My dentist did order a mouth guard to wear at night to help. It did seem to help more than anything else, but I managed to bite two of them in half. I was working with my third one.\r
About three years ago I was sent to an Oral Surgeon. My dentist thought that I might need surgery to correct my TMJ. Basically, I was told that my TMJ was bad and I needed to take a sleeping pill consistently for two weeks and learn meditation exercises. If it got bad again, I was to take a sleeping pill for three nights only and everything should be ok.\r
Due to my bite/TMJ I have had loose teeth for a longtime. The practice has been to “re-cement” my loose teeth whenever I have my teeth cleaned. In December 2009, I was amazed to find that my bridge had failed. This required basically to have my upper teeth pulled. Two days later the Oral Surgeon pulled half my teeth, mostly the molars. My dentist admitted that mine was the worse case of TMJ he’d seen in his 25 years of Dentistry. They gave my more sleeping pills to help my TMJ relax. I guess you could say it kind of worked. The pills knocked me out until I tried to turn on a side and then again the pain in my jaws woke me up. Didn’t get much continual sleep.\r
Two months later, I had the rest of my upper teeth removed and two bone spurs taken out form the first surgery. The lack of sleep and pain just got worse. Now, I was barely able to open my mouth one to two finger widths. Eating, sleeping, everything was compromised. When I went back to my oral surgeon, he referred me to Dr. Shirley. I was really leery about a chiropractor being able to help, but by now I was more than willing to try anything. Boy what a miracle! He said I was like someone that went through the front windshield in a car accident. That initial consult Dr. Shirley actually did treat me. My headaches were gone till I got about half way home. That was the first time I’d realize how bad it was.\r
I‘ve had cold laser, massage, manipulations, etc. I‘ll admit not all of them are fun, but the end results has been great. Dr. Shirley is also making sure all the “other” contributing areas are in alignment, so “this won’t be a short term treatment”. After each appointment I’ve improved. He’s also shared exercises I can do at home to help with my recovery. It’s been an amazing process. To be able to open my mouth, eat more solid food, and to sleep without waking from jaw pain is just unbelievable. Best of all is having no headaches! Take my word-TRY IT, YOU’LL LIKE IT. I finally feel like I’ll be able to work at keeping my TMJ controlled in the future for the first time in my life.\r
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Ruth V
Pros: Great experience
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