#Can You Have Tmj On One Side

[togament]

" 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. windbreaker boys edition. "

pt. 1. (sakura, ume, suo.)

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 : kinda suggestive (i mean it's me. ofc its gotta be suggestive somehow), some swearing, kinda ooc for suo. can you blame me though? we know so little about the man and we're already 140+ chapters deep.

𝐒𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀.

- canonically doesn't own a pillow so he only sleeps on his side, curled up to conserve heat. like a cat. but after having you around? he's clinging onto you, man. he may deny it vehemently when you tease him about it in the morning, throwing pillows at you as he's blushing profusely, but he doesn't know you've taken a picture of him with his arm over your chest, tugging you close to him. - clenches and grinds his teeth when he sleeps. you buy him a mouth guard so his jaw isn't as tense when he wakes up. (TMJ sufferers rise up) - sleeps in his boxers when you're around but if not, he's going commando, baby. just... text him when you're planning on surprising him in the morning. give him prep time unless you're looking to eat sausage for breakfast. - gets bed hair but doesn't care. he'd have a huge cowlick on his head but he doesn't mind. best he could do is kind of wet his hair? anything more than that is too much effort. - very light sleeper. if he hears the smallest bump in the night, he's immediately up. - has only one duvet and it's kind of falling apart. you gifted him a new one and he almost cried in front of you (not without freaking out about it first.) - talks in his sleep sometimes. you record him whenever you catch him doing it just to play it back for him in the morning. he's always so confused as to how and why he does it.

𝐔𝐌𝐄.

- won't sleep unless you give him his goodnight kisses. you have to. how dare you deny him of the pleasure of kissing you before you sleep? - always lets you sleep before he does because he reads before he sleeps. - needs reading glasses and falls asleep with them on. CONSTANTLY. you have to remind him about them before you snooze or you peel them off when you wake up before he does. has broken one (close to a dozen) reading glasses before you came along because he kept sleeping on them. - has to read before he sleeps. it's a necessity. he reads stuff ranging from philosophy to manga. never fails to fall asleep with a book in his hand too. - checks on a spreadsheet he's got for his plants so he has a game plan ready in the morning. checks the weather and temperature and everything before he does his reading routine. worries endlessly if a heavy typhoon drops or god forbid hailstorms. - HUGE SLEEP HUGGER AND YOU CANNOT TELL ME OTHERWISE. his body just naturally gravitates towards you in his sleep. it's cute. it's endearing. until it's a hot summer night and you're damn near naked because just wearing a shirt's making you sweat. ume's just a happy sleeping puppy of a man, sweaty body clinging to your side. - a very light snorer. you rarely ever get to hear him snore. he only does after a particularly tiring day or after you've had rounds and rounds of se-- - gets a boner most nights. - wet dreams often. you have to help him out in the mornings. - that being said, he's very, very touchy in the mornings.

𝐒𝐔𝐎.

- sleeps like the dead. you may or may not have held your finger to his nose to check if he's still breathing. - never has bed hair. when he wakes up, he looks absolutely impeccable. it's crazy. - has a candle warmer set to a timer. likes sleeping when his surroundings smell good. also has a scent diffuser. - has like... a 30 minute long ritual before bed. candle warmer, check. proper pyjamas, check. pillows plumped, check. skincare routine, done. you always end up waiting for him on the bed while he's apologizing with that sweet voice of his while crawling into bed with you. - only ever sleeps facing up. if you want to cuddle, he could. but he can't engulf you in his frame or anything. just an arm around you or maybe with you pressed up against his side. - he runs cold so he's got thick duvets over thick duvets. they're really soft too. hotel quality. always gets them washed. - somehow you've never caught him in the process of waking up. he's always up before you, brewing tea or cooking breakfast. hell, he already has a set ready for you by the time you wake up. - who am I kidding suo never sleeps.

a/n: just a quick little thing before i hop into bed. doing part two soon bc i wanna clown on kaji so fucking BAAAAAD omg (affectionately) ok goodnight babycakes.

[jomiddlemarch]

let me lay down beside you

“Mmm, darlin’, you feel so good…”

Shit.

You’d thought the one silver lining of living through a zombie apocalypse might be that you’d never have to have another awkward, it’s-totally-me-it’s-not-you conversation with a man about why there was basically no chance he could make you come, including the I-really-don’t-want-you-to-get-carpal-tunnel-or-strain-your-TMJ-trying for those guys savvy enough not to have tried the You-just-haven’t-had-my-magic-dick argument. 

All the crunchy, New Age guys who were going to whip up an Ayurvedic smoothie with exact the right combo of herbs and ripe mango and enough turmeric to dye the sea gold had gone out in the first wave. Nearly all the herbs and certainly the mango and turmeric weren’t available in the continental US.

You were supposed to get something from the universe in exchange for surviving into this new world, a compensation that would make you not regret the choice to dump out all the Ambien your roommate had just gotten filled before she never came home instead of downing it in a nice cup of cocoa and then giving yourself a soft, slow dreaming death. 

No such luck.

“Joel, hang on,” you said, gritting the words out as he did something rather lovely to the side of your neck, one big hand cradling the back of your head. You drew in a breath, prepared to have to repeat yourself, because even if you weren’t getting there, he certainly seemed well on his way.

He stopped and pulled back. His hair, greying and not just at the temples, was mussed and there was a little bit of hazy desire left in his dark eyes, but he’d made it by paying very close attention and that included you.

“Too fast? I can slow down, slow as you like, darlin’,” he said.

“That’s not it,” you said, hating this part. Hating all of it, what was happening and what would happen, leading up to when he walked out the door. Joel was a nice man. He probably would take any cheap shots or do much beyond shrugging those broad shoulders of his. “It’s not too fast—”

“Too slow? Or is that somethin’ you don’t like?”

His lips on your throat, the roughness of his beard against the delicate skin over your carotid, yeah, you liked it. If only liking that and his hands on you was enough…

You were quiet, thinking about how you were going to tell him. Maybe there was a way where you really could stay friends. Where there’d still be nights he took out his guitar and sang Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline and you sang along, the firelight around you both, gold and shadow.

“Someone hurt you?” he asked, being careful. You both knew what he meant and understood how he was letting you be the one to decide how to say it. You both remembered what it was like early on and no one in Jackson was ever required to tell what had happened before they got there. You chose what you brought with you into the community, what parts of your past you’d leave behind.

“No, nothing like that,” you said. You could see the relief in his eyes, the way his mouth turned gentle.

“You wanna boss me around? I don’t have a problem taking instruction,” he said.

“Wouldn’t make any difference,” you remarked before you could think twice about it. He narrowed his eyes and you almost reached out to touch his jaw or his wrist, your right hand fluttering before you made a fist.

“No?”

“You can’t make me come,” you blurted out. “I don’t want you to waste your time—”

“Seems to me I decide what my time’s worth,” he said.

“I meant, you don’t have to do a whole song and dance,” you said.

“Wasn’t plannin’ on it,” he said. “Not a huge fan of musicals.”

“You know what I mean,” you said.

“Frankly, darlin’, I don’t think I do. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? I’m not going anywhere unless you kick me out,” he said.

“You’ll go,” you said. Lying was essential to living After, but not lying to yourself. That was a death sentence.

“When you tell me to. Not before,” he said, settling back against the couch. 

“I can’t—I don’t come, fucking,” you said.

“That part I got,” he said. In some miracle, he didn’t start the usual litany, asking questions about position or skill, beginning every iteration What about…“How d’you do, y’know, flying solo?”

“Once in a blue moon,” you said. Though probably less often than that. You shrugged. “It’s whatever.”

“Before, probably could’ve tried a vibrator. One of those rabbits maybe. Still find them scavenging, but the batteries are all dead and kind of hard to ask Maria for some juice to get off,” Joel said, so practically and so without the least iota of irritation you were startled into a laugh. He took your hand in his, held it lightly.

“I don’t want to go but I don’t want you to feel bad,” he said. “Want you to feel good, that’s the whole goal.”

“You say that, but everyone wants to come. They want to get the other person off. I don’t want to fake it, to make you happy,” you said.

“I’ve had over forty years to fuck, darlin’,” he said. “I want to be close to you, that’s all. However you want it, long as it’s real. You want me to try shit that didn’t work before, I’ll try it. You have some idea you want to give a whirl, fine by me. I’ll go down on you or use my hands or pretend I’m fucking Captain Kangaroo and you’re Lady Aberlin if that’s something you’re interested in. And if you want to lie in bed or on the couch in sweats and that’s all, that all I want,” he said.

“Lady Aberlin was on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” you said. This was not a conversation you could have imagined happening in any universe, with or without zombies, but Joel didn’t seem to mind. 

“Okay,” he said.

“You’ll get frustrated,” you said. You thought it would come out like a warning, but it sounded like you were floating an idea, waiting for him to tell you that you were wrong.

“There some rule I can’t jack off on my own? Or in your general vicinity?” he asked.

“No, it’s not like that,” you said. You couldn’t recall a man ever asking that or proposing anything similar. It was erotic, that was undeniable, that desire coupled with a total lack of demand—he hadn’t said anything about coming on your breasts or your belly and he would have, if that’s what he imagined. Parallel play, the old child development phrase from that college psych class you’d taken sophomore year, a thousand years ago when no one, even you, had ever thought to call you frigid bitch, the guys at college too self-absorbed to notice whether or not you climaxed.

“Doesn’t gross you out?”

“No. It’s hot. It’s not that I’m not interested in sex, making you come. Just hard for me to get all the way,” you said.

“That’s not all the way, you coming, screamin’ my name, headboard thumpin’ on the wall, wakin’ up the neighbors,” he said, bringing your hand to his lips, kissing your knuckles open-mouthed. “All the way’s feelin’ safe, feelin’ like you can ask for whatever you want, say no to whatever you want. Being there in the morning, your head on my chest, hand on my heart.”

“You’re not going to try and convince me you’ve got some special move that’s going to blow my mind?” you said.

“If I had one, probably throw my back out tryin’ it now,” he chuckled. “I like the way you taste. I like the way you sing under your breath when I play ‘Annie’s Song.’ I like the way you argue and how your ass feels against my cock when you’re the little spoon and and how it looks when you drag me out dance over at Tina’s. If we figure something out one of these days, yeah, that’ll be fine. And if this is what we have, it’s plenty for me. I wanna give you anything you want, that’s all.”

“Anything I want?” you said. 

“Everything, darlin’,” he answered. “What d’you want right now?”

“I liked what you were doing before,” you said.

“What we were doing,” he corrected, but without any scolding. It was an invitation, one you had no intention of refusing.

“Let’s do that,” you said. “But with less clothes.”

“Yeah?” he said.

“Yeah,” you answered. “Maybe I do want to boss you around. Take your shirt off.”

“Yes’m,” he said and the shiver that went through you was that hint of ma’am and the revelation of his bare chest and the gleam in his dark eyes. 

Maybe it was a blue moon. 

And if it wasn’t, he’d still be here, holding you in his arms.

@goodwithcheese I took you up on your suggestion to write something for one of your anons who was hoping for a fic with an anorgasmic f!reader and a soft Pedro character...

[blubushie]

DEAR ARTISTS

(Cheers to @kreidxpriz for asking this in the replies of my other post!)

Many people don't actually know what a bullet is.

These are not bullets. These are cartridges.

THESE are bullets.

Bullets go into the casing to make a cartridge. Inside the cartridge are what the bullet needs to operate: gunpowder and the primer. The primer pushes inward, strikes one side, and that ignites the gunpowder which explodes and propels the bullet out of the barrel of the firearm.

This is what they look like separate. (Those coloured tips on the bullets are polymer points that assist in cutting through the air which lessens the amount of tumbling and also with penetrating the target. The colour isn't important and is often different depending on who manufactures the bullets.)

That piece on the bottom is calling the casing or shell. That's what ejects from the bolt of a firearm when you cycle it. Some firearms cycle automatically (the automatic family of weapons which includes automatic and semi-automatic, where pulling the trigger will fire a bullet, eject the spent casing, and automatically chamber another round), and some have to be cycled manually (bolt-action rifles, where pulling the trigger ONLY fires the bullet and you have to pull back the bolt to eject the spent casing and allow another round to move into the receiver, then pushing the bolt forward chambers that round).

Why am I explaining this to you? There's different between a bullet and a cartridge. So, dear artists: YOU NEVER PUT A BULLET IN YOUR MOUTH. Many bullets do NOT have metal jackets, meaning the bullet is not fully encased in metal, most commonly copper. The casing is usually brass. Why encase the bullet to start with? Inside the bullet is usually lead. Lead is soft and doesn't penetrate very well, so full metal jackets (FMJs) and total metal jackets (TMJs) are used for better penetration. Because the lead is encased and doesn't "fold," they also have much better trajectory and strike more accurately. Point is, don't put a grey bullet in your mouth unless you want lead poisoning.

Additionally, holding a bullet in your mouth will bugger up something we call ballistics, which is how the bullet travels through the air on its path to its target. Any scratching on the surface or minute dents from your teeth that you can't even see will effect the aerodynamics of the bullet, causing the round to tumble. This throws off accuracy and affects how the bullet strikes.

On that similar note: PEOPLE DO NOT CARVE ANYTHING INTO BULLETS UNLESS IT'S ON THE BASE OF THE BULLET. That's this flat part. (Note that this is a TMJ. An FMJ leaves an exposed bit of lead at the bottom of the bullet.)

The flat part is the ONLY part on a bullet that isn't influenced by aerodynamics, so it's the only "safe" place to carve. That said, it's a small bloody space, so good luck carving anything into that. TMJs are VERY difficult to carve and can only be effectively "scratched." FMJs are easier to carve thanks to their exposed lead, which is a much softer material. VERY rarely you'll see people carving an "X" into the very tip of the bullet so that it fragments better, but this takes time and buggers up the accuracy so it's very uncommon (and when it is seen, it's usually only in handgun-calibre rounds where you're not firing over long distances).

What people DO sometimes do (if they have a real grudge) is scratch into the CASING of the round. Some places even imprint them for mementos. This has no real effect on the round or how it fires, so it's safe to do.

Point here is that people don't hold bullets between their teeth. If they're holding anything, it's the cartridge. When I need to reload quickly, I hold the cartridge between my LIPS with the primer against the flat of my canine tooth or incisors so it doesn't get tapped by accident.

That's all and happy drawing!

As always, if you have any questions feel free to send me an ask!

[slayingfiction]

Writing Body Pain: Headaches

There are two types of headaches: primary and secondary. 

Primary headaches have no underlying cause. You may be able to figure out what is making it happen or get worse, but there’s no definitive answer as to why it’s happening, or why now. Meaning, it is the main medical issue. While there are hundreds of different types of headaches, here are the most common:

Tension headache: usually felt as a band around your head. Or can follow typical muscles trigger point patterns (as discussed in previous post). Often felt as a dull aching pain and is often accompanied by muscle soreness or stiffness.

Cluster headache: This type can also be a sole condition itself. Pain typically felt on or around the eye, usually only one side at a time and can be characterized not only by pain pattern, but also their occurence pattern. Additional symptoms can include tears, leaking nose/ congestion, face swelling, or redness and heat. Part of the most painful conditions known in medicine.

Hypnic headache: a full or throbbing pain during the night when sleeping. It often happens at the same time and can cause sensitivity to light and sounds or nausea.

TMJ: pain felt in jaw and/ or temples as dull and aching. These are sometimes caused by teeth grinding.

Hypertension: caused by a sudden rise in blood pressure and is typically felt at the back of your head. You should usually seek medical attention if you are experiencing one of these.

Sinus: caused by infection or congestion. Makes an X or ‘butterfly pattern’ around the bridge of your nose.

Migraine headache: Migraines are neurological conditions and are typically felt only on one side of the face and head. Can feel like a throbbing or pulsing sensation, and may be accompanied by headaches, irritation, extra sensitivity to sound or light, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. Some migraines can be felt without head pain at all. Part of the most painful conditions known in medicine.

Some migraines present with auras. It’s not often, but not uncommon either. Auras are light based disturbances like seeing flashing lights or wavy lines. These can cause problems speaking, numbness and tingling or motor problem like weakness in arms and legs.

Possible causes: hormones, dehydration, muscle tension, infections, alcohol, some foods high in nitrates, nicotine, lack or poor sleep, poor posture, skipped meals, constant coughing, sneezing, or blowing nose, or crying and laughing, etc.

Secondary headaches are a symptom of an illness or condition.

Aneurism / Brain tumour / Meningitis / Injury 

These are all possible causes for secondary headaches. Often the symptoms include the following:

Pain came on without warning

Pain pattern is different than you’ve ever experienced

Worse headache pain you’ve ever felt in you life

Headache causes fainting or seizures

You feel very weak on one side of your body or have trouble walking

If you become dizzy, confused, feel numbness, or have trouble speaking or seeing

Any of these symptoms are medical emergencies and the person should be brought to a ER or call an ambulance. Use discretion when it comes to thinking if they should go to the hospital or not, but if it really is severe or worrisome, it’s best to be safe.

This is just an intro to headaches as body pain for writing purposes. If there is additional information you would like me to add, or see that someone is not true, please let me know and I will edit right away.

Follow so you don’t miss my next post on questions to ask your alpha/beta readers!

Happy Writing!

[metalheadsforblacklivesmatter]

I DIDN'T KNOW BUT HAPPY NATIONAL MIGRAINE AWARENESS MONTH.

Things that I learned since having migraines.

They can change. You can go years without migraines, but then suddenly get them again.

Symptoms and triggers can change. You may think you don't got it that bad because you don't have the worst of the symptoms but then one day you suddenly got vertigo and vomiting.

Migraines impact the trigeminal nerve which is the same nerve impacted my TMJ pain, sinus headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, and cluster headaches. It's the biggest nerve in the face so it's pretty common to have multiple of these conditions at once.

Migraines can be triggered my barometric pressure shifts, flashing lights, sounds, and smells.

You can have migraines without aura or visual disturbances. These are harder to treat because most migraine medications require you to take them during the aura phase.

You can have what's called an "abdominal migraine" which is characterized my extreme stomach pain. This usually impacts adolescents.

You can have what's called a "silent migraine" which is characterized as migraines without the headache. In fact headache isn't even the most common migraine symptom based on a poll I've done.

Migraines can be highly tied into your allergies. Not just in the fact that sinus headaches and migraines trip the same nerve, but in the fact that your allergies can be a migraine trigger.

Migraines can make you more susceptible to alcohol especially when you're dealing with migraines triggers frequently.

Fluorescent lights are actually very bad for people with migraines because it's essentially flashing so fast you can't see it with the human eye (but trust me your migraines will know it's there).

It's actually very common for people with migraines to have heightened senses of smell, higher sensitivity to lights/sounds, etc. Some people have even noted that people with certain medical conditions have different smells.

Chronic migrains are obviously a disability but episodic migraines can be considered a dynamic disability (a disability where your needs fluctuate)

Migraine preventatives are different from migraine abortives. Doctors will usually only prescribe preventatives if you have chronic migraines or have a certain number of migraines a month.

15 migraine days a month is the number you're looking for to be considered chronic.

It's actually pretty common to be craving salt or carbs after a migraine. And listening to those cravings can actually reduce postdrome symptoms

Migraines come in 4 phases. Prodrome (irritability, fatigue, etc before the migraine), aura (visual disturbances), migraine, and postdrome (fatigue, dizziness, etc after the migraine).

The most common migraine meds are called triptans and shouldn't be taken with antidepressants because it can cause serotonin overdose syndrome.

Migraine aura isn't limited to visual disturbances. It can include phantom taste and smell (smelling or tasting things that aren't there)

People that have migraines are more likely to deal with heat intolerance

A lot of the "it's a migraine if you experience pain on this side of the head" is complete garbage. Migraines are characterized by a complex set of neurological symptoms of which doesn't always include headaches.

-fae

[hungerpunch]

okay actually. i am maybe going to cry lol. here is a non-exhaustive list of the medical professionals i have seen since i was in seventh grade:

too many internists (as primary care/general practice) to actually count. well over a dozen.

two neurologists

one spine specialist

seven physical therapists

two chiropractors

four massage therapists

three dentists

one oral surgeon

i have had many MRIs and x-rays. i have had a lot of blood taken. i have taken rounds of steroids and muscle relaxers for pain/symptom management. there have been times i could not turn my head to one side for months at a time. i have scoliosis, which wasn't figured out until the fifth or so physical therapist, even though previous chiropractors had taken x-rays of my spine.

here is a non-exhaustive list of reasons why i sought such intensive care:

debilitating migraines

severe back pain

severe neck pain

bad pain flares in my back teeth during times of stress

ear aches

here is a non-exhaustive list of things i have been told about myself by these professionals:

the enamel on my teeth was worn off and had to be artificially reapplied "because" i "brushed my teeth too aggressively."

that the reason my ears hurt was "because" i "cleaned them too aggressively" and there was no protective ear wax left.

that the lowest three discs in my spine were degenerating.

that i was grinding my teeth in my sleep.

that i was hyper-tensing in my sleep and that i should "take xanax daily & nightly to make it stop."

that i had scoliosis. (this one is 100% confirmed)

that i needed therapy to become less stressed so my muscles would relax.

that i needed massage therapy and other various treatments to address how tight all my fascia was in certain parts of my body.

that i should try mouth guards because the teeth grinding had started to do real damage.

that i should enter a sleep study for how intense and chronic my insomnia was.

that the pain in my hands/tingling in my fingers was because my wrists were too weak.

that there was "something evil stored" in my neck

and then. an anon yesterday asked if i had tmj. and i said probably not. and then @chronodyne slid me a message that said "re: tmj, mine is myofascial and i also don’t have the clicking/trouble opening my mouth."

so i did some reading.

starting with myofascial tmj got me here (cedars-sinai.org)

i paused to look up bruxism, which turns out to be the medical term for grinding/clenching your fucking teeth:

highlights are things i have experienced and sought or had medical attention for (dull headaches are not highlighted because i have only ever sought medical attention for migraines, though i certainly have dull headaches all the time).

okay. so i know i clench my jaw/grind my teeth in the daytime. and a dentist has told me before that it's evident i do it in my sleep, too. just the other day i woke up with a ravaged inside right cheek from chewing it in my sleep. so i can safely self-diagnose bruxism.

back to tmd.

highlights are symptoms i have experienced. i did not highlight teeth sensitivity because i would classify it as pain instead. but you don't understand the howl i let out internally when i read the ringing in the ears and numbness/tingling feeling in your fingers bullet points. i have been operating under the assumption that i have tinnitus and probably a very scary autoimmune disorder that i just am better off ignoring (this is not medical advice, it's avoidance). i'm not saying i don't have those things, but i also never knew there were other possibilities.

over the course of my life i have had many injuries to my neck and actually i have also had a pretty severe concussion before, which i would classify as a head injury. i have many of the symptoms listed for tmd. i have even undergone, incongruously, many of the treatments for it. so many doctors have noted and attempted to address issues with my fascia, with my muscles, with my tension.

it raising its ugly head when i'm stressed makes sense i literally said in my post yesterday DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ANYONE WHEN THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE RAISES LOL SOB

i cannot conclusively diagnose myself with tmd or, for that matter, with mps (myofasical pain syndrome, which i had also never heard of!). but i am so, so frustrated because i have never even heard these words. i have never been screened for these things. no medical professional has ever discussed these possibilities with me, even when they're treating me for several of the symptoms!

i'm crying for all the tests i've undergone that led to nothing. always, infuriatingly, labeled a medical mystery. for the rounds of steroids and muscle relaxers i've been prescribed. for the painful manual manipulations i've been subjected to. for every single person who ever touched my body commenting on how tight/tense my neck is. for the addiction that stemmed from that first xanax prescription when i was 15 that caused so much fucking grief in my life. for the chronic pain that has swallowed whole decades of my life and sapped my energy since i was a child.

none of these symptoms were ever NOT disclosed to a medical professional. at each one, i did the immense labor of dragging out my entire, perplexing medical history, including injuries and past issues and treatments. but nobody ever thought to consider this? nobody, with all those degrees, with those long careers, with all those patients, ever thought to consider this? while i was in all those paper gowns, on all those cold tables, getting poked and prodded, crying, paying for tests i could not afford, so sleep deprived i thought i'd die at 25, nobody considered this?

anyway @chronodyne suggested seeing an oral surgeon to discuss this so. i guess that's what i'm looking up next.

[brightlotusmoon]

My FB post right now is being so useful:

Me: Okay, someone with TMJ, trigeminal nerve pain, and sinus pain help walk me through the differences so I can figure out what's happening in my face.

My microbiologist friend: "OMG SOMEONE FINALLY NEEDS ME!!!!

TMJ is an achy, muscular pain. If you press on the hinge of your jaw and/or the back of your skull where it meets your neck, you will feel intense pain followed by release. Causes headaches on one side, usually in the back. Opening your mouth wide while touching your jaw will produce a “pop” on one side and a feeling of sliding sideways on the other. Helped by: NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, heat. Hurt by: crunchy food, chewy food, jaw clenching.

Trigeminal neuralgia feels like random electrical shocks at the base of your teeth, radiating up into your cheek. One side. No headache. Pain can also be sharp or burning (when mine was at its worst it felt like someone put a flaming fireplace poker between my teeth and slammed my jaw shut), but the hallmark is that “shocky” pain. Helped by: medication that is specifically for nerve pain (like gabapentin). Absolutely nothing else helps. Hurt by: ??? (Mine is kind of related to the cold but…???)

Sinus pain is usually heavy pressure and an ache or occasional sharp pain in the jaw. Headaches bilateral and in the front of the head, in a “mask” around the eyes. Trigger points are at the inside corner of the eyebrow and the outer corner of the nostrils, applying firm pressure there will cause SEVERE pain that will lessen over time. Cheeks and forehead may also be sensitive to touch. Also might present as a sore throat. Helped by: sudafed, antihistamines, NSAIDS, cold. Hurt by: that depends on the person. If it’s unrelenting and doesn’t respond well to meds you should see a doctor to check for infection.

Oh my goodness I feel so useful 🖤"

My reply: "I love you. I also feel like all of that happened at the same time. But I'm going to call it TMJ, because the thoracic pain and upper shoulder stiffness is specific to the palsy spasticity, which means it'll hit the jaw muscles on both sides in slightly different ways."

Other friends also weighed in!

A. said "TMJ feels like you have the bottom jaw and the jaw joint hit with a hammer. Sinus pain in face feels like you could stick something into your eye or up your nose and it would pop the balloon that growing in your skull. Trigeminal nerve is one of the worst pains you have ever experienced and you would be at the hospital. It usually only affects one side of the face and it feels as thought someone is slicing your face open. (I don’t have it but a friend does but I experienced mild symptoms after a surgery that temporarily inflamed that nerve and even minor pain it was horrid and gave me a much much less accurate idea of how much pain my dear friend deals with cause mine was like 20% compared to her 100%)"

-

K. said: "TN can be bilateral and can be triggered or exacerbated by the same range of meds prescribed to relieve it.

Sinus pain may respond to pseudoephedrine, but phenylephrine ain't shit, so check your Sudafed formulation before you decide that decongestant doesn't work.

TMJ, you might notice that you're clenching or grinding at night... or other people might notice more than you do.

Also consider for differential diagnosis, these things that can cause REALLY fucking bizarre referred-pain:

Ear infection (look for fever or pain spiking at weird times when you can't identify a trigger, also maybe nausea)

Dental/oral nerve impingement or infection, try swishing with an analgesic like a chloraseptic spray or lozenge, or oragel. See if pan resolves.

Try tapping on teeth and gums. See if any of them feel 'weird.'

Brush/floss/waterpik/whatever very thoroughly and then gargle and swish as aggressively as you can.

I had a poppy seed making me think I was getting shingles one time. Once it was out, I was fine. Weirdest fucking shit... anyway..."

[fatal-blow]

Self-massage and Myofascial Pain: From Head to Fingers

Aka I'm going to talk about a muscle that is neither in the head or the fingers. It's a neck muscle called the sternocleidomastoid.

(STER-no-KLY-do-MAST-oid, or SCM for people who don't take joy in pronouncing long, confusing words.)

I am not a professional massage therapist, just a professional don't-wanna-be-in-pain guy.

This one is for...everyone. Or just about. The SCM can contribute to a vast, VAST variety of pains. Here's a sampling:

A variety of headaches (in the eye, above the eye, top of the head)

Jaw problems (including Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction, stiffness, clicking)

Neck pain

Ear aches

Toothaches

And they also contribute to and are perpetuated by a foreward head posture--something that anyone who uses a phone or computer should be familiar with. Foreward head posture can further contribute to symptoms such as:

Shoulder pain

Upper back pain

Chest pain

And arm and hand pain, including symptoms similar to tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, grip weakness, and much more.

See why this one applies to everyone?

Now, full disclaimer, I'm hesitant to make this the second trigger point I talk about because neck muscles are extremely sensitive. However, I'm still reaping the benefits of having finally bitten the bullet and trying this myself, and it feels important to make this one of the first I talk about.

That said, this is your first of many warnings. Go easy on these muscles. Gentle massage is better than no massage.

Here's a quick few rules:

Don't massage the SCM more than 3 times a day. In fact, if you find they are very sensitive, I recommend once a day and right before bed or a nap.

As always, never massage a pulse.

If you feel dizzy or faint, release all pressure until you regain your bearings.

Do this massage with your eyes open and sitting up. It will help you maintain awareness.

Never use massage tools on your neck.

For those with anxiety: I know this sounds nerve-wracking. As long as you go slow and listen to your body, you won't hurt yourself. If you accidentally squeeze the wrong place, it's not the end of the world! Just release pressure, move your fingers, and try again. It's only deep and extended pressure that will get you into trouble, okay?

With all that said, let's get to the good stuff.

The SCM muscles are the ones that make that sexy little V on the neck, connecting from behind the ear down to the collarbone. For all the trouble they cause, they rarely hurt themselves, which is why they get overlooked.

You've got two on each side. One in front, and one deeper in the neck. I'll teach you how to get at both.

We'll start with the guy up front. Here's a snazzy little pictogram courtesy of The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook.

The shaded areas are (some of) the pain patterns caused by this muscle. The dots are meant to represent trigger points (TrPs), but the reality is that they can occur along the full length.

As a rule of thumb, TrPs further up cause more symptoms in the head. Further down contributes to everything below. This goes for both the shallow muscle and the deeper muscle.

Find somewhere to sit straight and relax your body.

Use your fingers to find your pulse on your chosen side, between the SCM and the windpipe. If your fingers aren't sensitive enough to feel your pulse, you should not do this massage yourself.

Move to the SCM side of your pulse, replace your fingers with your thumb.

Grasp the SCM lightly with your fingers and thumb, firstly just to find where you will be working. The SCM is not large, probably around the width of your finger, so don't reach too far back. If you're having trouble grasping it, look Away from the side you're working on, then tilt your head Towards it.

Now that you're familiar, make a C with your grasp fingers so that it's the tips holding the muscle. The intent is to exert more pressure with less effort. Make sure your fingernails are short for this.

Now slowly, keeping your grip light, you want to...well, the easiest way I can describe it is that your want to milk the SCM. Use short strokes, releasing the pressure at the end of each. You can massage all the way up to the ear, and all the way down to the collarbone.

Again, go easy. If you're like me, this will be painful at first. You might even feel a little brain fucked from doing this, but as long as you aren't feeling faint or dizzy, you're good to go. Don't push yourself--take a break when you've had enough.

Afterwards, lightly stretch this muscle by turning your head to the side three times.

And now for the deeper SCM.

This guy isn't any harder than the shallow one. In fact, I don't even need to give you an entire list of instructions. Follow the steps above, but when you grasp the muscle, you instead want to take a larger fingerful, closer to the width of two fingers.

To help you understand what I'm getting at, put your fingertips on the back side of your neck, a small ways down and behind your ear. Gently dig in and pull forward--everything you can grasp from this point to your windpipe comprises both SCM muscles. All you need to do is grasp this entire chunk of muscle and perform the massage as described above.

With continued massage, you should gradually feel less tension in your jaw, neck, and shoulders. Your head might feel a bit clearer, you might have fewer and less intense headaches. Keep doing this massage until you can't find any tender points in the SCM.

And as a preventative--try to find ways to keep yourself from slouching or holding your head forward. A simple exercise is to pull your head back, like you're giving yourself an extra chin.

If you're interested in more posts like this, check out these links:

Low Back Pain

Massage Tips and Techniques

[tcfkag]

TL;DR - chronic illness and dental anxiety

There is nothing like finally overcoming your inertia, partially due to ADHD and partially due to anxiety (with a healthy side dish of PTSD), to find a new dentist (one that offers sedation dentistry in particular) AND make an appointment AND show up to the appointment.... Only to find out that the x-rays show there are so many issues with your teeth, including a back molar that needs to be extracted (I knew it had cracked or broken at some point in the past, though I'm not sure when, I had at least hoped it was salvageable, and somewhere between 5-10 cavities, such that they didn't even bother doing the basic cleaning because I am going to have to come back to get these procedures done under sedation so they recommended just getting the normal maintenance stuff while I'm "under". Plus, depending on the price and whether insurance will cover some of the cost, the dentist recommended getting Botox injections to help relax my jaw since I have pretty bad TMJ which can trigger migraines. I hadn't known Botox could be effective for TMJ (though I had heard about its use for migraine patients) but if it works, they might get a new Botox customer out of the deal. So now I have to go back for in-erpson appointments at LEAST two more times: once to meet with the nurse/practice manager to go over the planned procedure, get written consent, and also review the estimated cost that won't be covered by my dental insurance, particularly the sedation. Only after THAT meeting can I schedule the appointment. Oh, and the dentist wants to get in touch with my PCP and GI beforehand to confirm there are no contradictions for sedation, so who knows how long that will take. Between a rough year health-wise (physically and mentally), having a two-year-old, moving to a new house, etc etc, I knew my dental hygiene hadn't been exactly A+ levels, but I have to get one molar pulled entirely (I knew it was broken but didn't realize how bad it was), get something like a half-dozen cavities filled, and get the normal cleaning, fluoride treatment, and hopefully treatment for my jaw so that all of the time. Hopefully, spending this much time in the chair doesn't trigger a migraine. Other fun observations from the new dentist: given my immunosuppression and tendency towards gum inflammation, he suggests I use medicated toothpaste from this point on but he also said he saw signs that one of my new medications (or maybe just age) was giving me dry mouth, which encourages the environment that causes things like cavities and gum disease, so I also need a new mouth wash for that too. None of this is ideal, but there is really something about having a bad dentist's appointment that really makes you feel like you're failing at adulthood.

[lamphous]

hello. kindly begging you to share how yoga helps your tmj i’ve been clenching my jaw since birth

lmao yes lifelong jaw issue gang ! so I've been mainly doing stuff for the shoulders, neck, and upper back, which I've found helps in that once those areas are less tense, I actually have room to work my jaw in addition to being able to focus on it more specifically. also all the muscles are all connected etc so lower the tension overall helps prevent me clenching my jaw even more against the pain and it's a whole feedback loop yk?

I've been mostly following this youtuber, yoga with adriene, and during all her routines she's also always reminding you to relax your face and shoulders etc, which helps build the habit which I am.... notoriously bad at lmao

bonus pro tip I got from a regular who also grinds her teeth in her sleep: put a cork or smth like that (I use the little plastic guy they put in kinder eggs lmao) between your teeth for a while before bed to stretch your muscles one last time before your unconscious self fucks up all your hard work of the day.

(and obv take it out before you actually go to sleep so you don't choke to death)

depending on how bad a day it's been, sometimes I can get it between my back teeth on the really bad side, sometimes just between my front teeth, but just having it there while you mindlessly scroll for an accidental hour before actually going to sleep helps

[thekristen999]

Here I go again. TMJ flare-up.

Most people need a night guard at night to keep from grinding etc. My issue is daytime jaw clenching. I actually wake up with my jaw feeling pretty good and by the time I go to bed it’s been hurting for hours. (When I’m in a flare-up)

I have a special ice pack I use at night that goes over my face, but I’m going to commit to doing the stretching exercises 5-10 times a day for  however long its needed during a flare-up. Then make it part of my morning, mid-afternoon, and evening stretching routine. Yes, I do stretches that often. Lol.. It’s been successful for my lower back pain.

I know my jaw muscles are used to being tense. They just are. At this point, it's their default position. So, I have to re-train them.

A specialist once told me that when I’m awake to set a timer for every 20 mins then do deep breathing exercises. He told me to do it for weeks until I was able to teach my jaw to be relaxed and not be tense all the time.

I’ve been battling anxiety and other mental health issues for years. I’m aware that this is where I store my stress. So, I’m going to try it. It sounded crazy, but I am sick of these flare-ups. And um, I was given this advice a year ago. Sigh.

The one thing I’ve learned when it comes to connection between  chronic pain and mental health is that there are ways to retrain your brain. It doesn't fix everything, but at least it is a tangible thing that I can have some control over. And see progress.

A timer, eh?

Here’s set of exercises that are useful. There’s more. But I need a goal that seems obtainable if I’m going to do them on a regular bases.

1> Stretching Exercises

When it comes to chewing and grinding, masticatory muscles play an important part. Stretching and massaging jaw muscles with fingertips for a few minutes at least ten times a day can offer relief.

Another simple jaw stretching exercise involves merely opening the mouth slowly and closing it. Open your mouth slowly and spread it as wide as possible, keep it in the open position for a few seconds, and close it slowly.

Moving the lower to the left and right sides slowly is another good way to stretch the TMJ.

2> Breathing Exercises

Also referred to as Equal Breathing, this simple form of breathing exercise requires the patient to inhale for four to five seconds, and then exhale slowly through the nose. It is considered the primary step toward reducing the amount of stress.

3> Forward Jaw Movement

The exercise involves placing a wooden stick or plastic spoon between the upper and lower front teeth and moving the lower jaw forward and backward. You can also move the jaw slowly to the left and right sides for a few minutes. Initially, you might experience some pain; however, the exercise would become more comfortable with time and help the jaw to recover.

4> Tongue Up

Tongue up involves placing the tip of the tongue on the mouth’s roof and gently applying pressure while slowly opening and closing the mouth at the same time. Doing it for a few minutes at least five to ten times a day can offer relief.

5> Partial Goldfish Exercise

It is almost similar to the goldfish exercise. Place the tip of the tongue on the mouth’s roof area. Then, the next step is placing your middle finger on the area below the chin and your thumb on the TMJ joint, in front of the ear. While your fingers are in position, let your lower jaw drop slowly and bring it up again to close the mouth. Repeat this exercise at least six times in one sitting

[josiebelladonna]

so, let me tell y’all what’s going on in my life right now, why it’s been a couple of days since i updated one of my main longfics (a while by my standards):

i think it was on friday, my mom woke up with this sharp pain in her mouth and we figure it’s her wisdom tooth given the pain is really intense and then it just stops all of a sudden (at first, i thought it was tmj but it’s more a dental thing than a muscular/disk thing). the kicker? she doesn’t have dental insurance until fucking november, and given the nature of afflictions with wisdom teeth, the pain could faze out by that point. it’s nothing life-threatening, but it’s no walk in the park, though, because she’s actually losing sleep over it, like her sleep patterns have been so spotty the past couple of nights so she’s having to sleep on and off over the day. thus, i’m having to be caretaker of the house for the most part. her birthday is on saturday, too, and i really, really want to do something for her.

(side note: honestly, if we had just moved off of this fucking hill already, i guarantee none of this would have happened, because i’d be more than happy to be her eyes and ears and go places on foot or on bike and let her relax more because there’s only so much that i can do here. i just think back to when we went to monterey for my birthday this past spring, and i was out getting us breakfast and groceries and coffee and exploring the neighborhood while i was letting her rest (yeah, she was in a sour mood most of the time, but still). if i could get my mom a place to stay as my way of giving back to her, i’d do it in a heartbeat. so to that i say: our days in this house are officially numbered. in a strange way, i feel like this whole thing with her teeth is going to be the thing that gets us away from here, gets me away from here. i like the city, i like living in civilization. i cannot do the rural life: it’s given my muses life, sure, but i have too much “get up and go,” though, i can’t take living in a place where there’s nothing to do. writing and making art are literally the only things keeping me from going stir-crazy or ending up like my stepdad.)

but, just like how i worry about alex given he’s getting older and we live in such a chaotic time now and anything could happen to him, i’m finding it a little hard to concentrate on writing a full chapter of a story—and i’m usually motivated by hard times. the days are also getting shorter again so it’s a little disorienting to sit down and write and i look at the clock to find that it’s 12:30, and i’ve gotten into the habit of starting early, too.

and the other reason why is… i’ve been working on the kinktober fics! like i said, i’m motivated by difficulty. i’m already on day six and… man, alive. these things have been beasties, like the last couple of days alone have been doozies. that said, i’m thinking of today or tomorrow being a good day to update eerie inhabitants, it being rosh hashanah and whatnot 😉

i’m not going to be like my dumb father and get all fearful and negative and try to shove down my emotions because i know how to cope with the unknown without having to resort to booze. in fact, the last time i felt a dead weight on my shoulders like this was earlier this year, actually, when our plumbing backed up in february (i think it was?) and literally no septic service in a 50 mile radius wanted to help us, which i’m still trying to put my head around.  we could barely wash dishes or shower for something like three weeks, and the first “yes” we finally got, the guys chickened out because it had snowed and the hill down to the hatch was steep and so they offered to come back in the spring. but then like two days later, we got a hold of some guys who did in fact help us (oddly enough, one of them was named alex!). so… you never know. there could be a deus ex machina in the wings and i don’t have to worry nearly as much. i can actually be free from here.

[drgagansabharwal]

Choosing the Best Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in Dubai | Expert Care for Complex Conditions

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialized field that focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and soft and hard tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. Whether you require dental implants, jaw realignment, or facial trauma surgery, it’s essential to seek care from an experienced maxillofacial surgeon.

In Dubai, Dr. Gagan Sabharwal stands out as one of the leading experts in this field, offering top-quality care for complex conditions. Understanding the role of a maxillofacial surgeon and why choosing the right specialist is critical can help you make informed decisions about your treatment.

What Does an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Do?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is trained to perform a variety of complex surgical procedures, including:

Dental Implants: Surgical placement of implants to replace missing teeth.

Jaw Surgery: Corrective surgery for jaw misalignment (orthognathic surgery).

Facial Trauma Surgery: Reconstructive procedures to repair injuries to the face and jaw caused by accidents or other trauma.

TMJ Surgery: Treatment for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders that cause jaw pain and dysfunction.

Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: Repair of congenital deformities for improved function and appearance.

These highly specialized procedures require precise surgical skills, in-depth knowledge of anatomy, and years of experience. Choosing a qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Dubai is essential to ensure you receive the best possible outcome.

Why Choose a Maxillofacial Surgeon in Dubai?

Dubai is home to world-class healthcare, and its medical professionals are known for their high standards of care. When selecting a maxillofacial surgeon in Dubai, it’s important to consider factors like expertise, credentials, and patient care philosophy. Dr. Gagan Sabharwal, recognized as one of the best maxillofacial surgeons in Dubai, offers comprehensive care that combines advanced surgical techniques with compassionate patient care.

Some reasons to choose a qualified maxillofacial surgeon include:

Advanced Training: Maxillofacial surgeons undergo rigorous training in both dental and medical fields, making them uniquely equipped to handle complex cases involving the mouth, face, and jaw.

Comprehensive Treatment Plans: From diagnosis to post-surgical care, a maxillofacial surgeon provides a complete treatment plan tailored to your specific condition.

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Leading maxillofacial surgeons in Dubai use the latest technology and equipment, ensuring that procedures are performed safely and efficiently.

The Importance of Expertise and Experience

Choosing the best oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Dubai ensures that you receive specialized care for complex conditions. Whether you need corrective jaw surgery, dental implants, or treatment for facial trauma, the surgeon’s expertise and experience play a vital role in achieving optimal results.

Dr. Gagan Sabharwal, with years of experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery, is providing top-tier care to his patients. His focus on precision, patient education, and comfort ensures that you receive the most effective treatment with minimal discomfort.

Conclusion

When it comes to treating oral and facial conditions, the expertise of a maxillofacial surgeon is unmatched. If you’re in Dubai and require specialized care, choosing the best maxillofacial surgeon, such as Dr. Gagan Sabharwal, can make all the difference in your treatment experience and outcome. From routine procedures to complex surgeries, having a skilled oral surgeon by your side ensures you’re in the best hands.

To learn more about how Dr. Gagan Sabharwal can help with your oral and maxillofacial needs, book an appointment today and experience personalized, expert care in Dubai.

[wehealclinic]

Can Dental Implants Cause Headaches?

As mentioned above, dental implants themselves do not cause headaches. If you experience a headache after receiving dental implants, then one of the following is likely the cause of the issue:

Implant Loading

As the study suggests, the onset of pain during the dental implant procedure for some patients was after the implant loading (placement of the crown or bridge). This could indicate that the pressure or changes brought about by the loading process might irritate the surrounding tissues or nerves, leading to headaches.

Trigeminal Nerve Irritation

The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensations in the face and mouth. Any disturbance or irritation to this nerve, even post-surgery, could lead to various symptoms, including headaches.

Inflammatory Response

The body’s natural response to any foreign object, including dental implants, is inflammation. This inflammation, especially if prolonged, can potentially lead to headaches.

Secondary Infections

While rare, any secondary infections or complications arising after the dental implant surgery but not directly because of the surgical procedure could lead to headaches.

Implant Misalignment

Placing an implant is a delicate job that requires accuracy and precise measurements. If your dental implant is incorrectly placed and ends up being misaligned, you could experience headaches.

This is because having misaligned teeth or implants can lead to an uneven bite. Having an uneven bite places more strain on your face and jaw muscles, leading to increased head pain.

Muscle Strain or Temporomandibular Joint Issues

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems can arise if an uneven bite persists for too long. Your TMJ acts as a sliding mechanism between your jaw and your skull bone. An uneven bite means that the TMJ may end up sliding imperfectly, which could lead to severe headaches.

This is predominantly a jaw issue that stems from your bite. An improper implant placement surgery could end up causing long-term TMJ issues.

How Do You Get Rid of a Dental Headache?

We have all experienced some sort of dental headache in the past, even if it stemmed from something small like tooth pain or a light gum infection. These kinds of headaches are the most painful out there! Here is how to gain some relief from a dental headache:

Avoid grinding your teeth whenever possible. Although most teeth grinding occurs while we sleep, it is helpful to be conscious during the day. Tooth grinding is one of the major causes of head pain around the world and only exacerbates dental headaches, especially after receiving an implant.

Get plenty of rest: People who have received dental implants suggest resting as much as possible post-surgery, especially if you suffer from headaches. According to this study, lack of proper sleep will also cause headaches to increase in severity.

Alternate between hot and cold sensations. Placing an ice pack on your temples and alternating that with a heating pad can help relax the muscles in that area. Try alternating between hot and cold while gently massaging your temples for maximum effectiveness.

When to Seek Medical Attention

The duration of any given implant headache is difficult to predict. Some people experience headaches for the first few hours after surgery, while others suffer for a few days.

If your dental headache persists for more than ten days after your dental implant procedure and the symptoms are severe, constant, or recurring, then please contact Belmont Dental Surgery to get to the root cause of the issue.

Is It Common to Experience Headaches After Dental Implant Surgery?

Less than a quarter of patients experience headaches after dental implant surgery, and most people experience no side effects at all. As with any other surgical procedure, getting dental implants comes with its own set of risks.

Headaches are more common when teeth in the upper jaw are replaced because the implant site may be quite close to, or even extend into, the sinus cavity. This can result in headaches and a range of sinus issues, including a shift in airflow as well as sinus infections.

[thejas-krishnan]

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint): This is the joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull. You have one on each side of your head, and they help with movements like talking, chewing, and yawning. It's essentially the hinge that allows your jaw to move.

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders): These are a group of conditions affecting the TMJ and the surrounding muscles and tissues. TMD can cause pain, discomfort, or dysfunction in the TMJ and the muscles controlling jaw movement. Symptoms of TMD can include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, and sometimes headaches or earaches.

Are you suffering from TMJ or TMD disorder, Consult tmj specialist in Dubai.

Visit: https://tmjsleepworld.com/tmj-specialist-dubai/

[medical-hell]

My Life as of 2024

Many people might not know what I'm going through right now.

To start TMJ disorder is leading the charge as my life has no lack of things to stress over This photo is one that I can actually feel looking at it.

 This past month has probably been one of the worst of my life, but I finally feel like it is looking up I have my MRI this evening and I am reflecting on the wild journey that took me here. This all started in November with what I thought was an ear infection. My ears felt plugged from time to Time over the course of a week it became always plugged But then the pressure to begin. It felt like somebody was pushing so hard on the outside of my head that it was going to cave in on itself It was so painful. I couldn't even touch my head for fear of the electric jolt of pain that I would get when I touched it It changed everything in my life but that was just the beginning Slowly the ringing started and day by day it got louder and louder until I couldn't hear anymore My ears went cut out and I would lose all sound Until one night in the middle of December when I was laying in bed and I could I have sworn I blew out my eardrum I have never been in so much pain. All I could do is scream and cry. I was too scared to go to the hospital because I live on top of a mountain and I know I'd have to go through a pressure change to get to the hospital The next morning I skipped work and went to the doctors The first doctor I saw was very rude. He told me I didn't have an ear infection. My ears were fine he gave me some ear drops anyway Those ear drops were torture. I will never forget how painful. It was to use them how my husband had to to lay on top of me and pin me to the bed to stop me from moving About a week after that I made it to my general practitioner

Enter

Dr. H he looked in my ears. He told me that they were very inflamed and it seemed that my body was having an inflammatory response to something. Most likely a virus. It would go away soon. I just had to wait a few weeks After 2 weeks the pain grew the noise at times. there were too many moments to count that I dropped to the ground thinking a car was crashing through the building just to look around and see everything fine..... Its all in my head

Enter

About halfway through January I went back to Dr. H, I explained to him that I am not getting better. Everything is getting worse At this point I couldn't take the train to work anymore and I had to take the bus for 2 and 1/2 hours to get to and from work When I opened my eyes my ears were ringing when I say ringing I mean sitting 3 cm from a fire alarm I could no longer sleep on my side or on my stomach. I could only sleep seated I could no longer cuddle my husband or rest my head on his chest So many of the things that made my life livable were taken from me But still there was more to come halfway through January. That's when the TV static started You would feel it from your feet and it would take over your whole body until you just couldn't move. My heart rate drops to 68 beats per minute and I could have been on the treadmill 10 seconds ago After explaining this to my doctor, I was finally put on the wait list for an ENT was long. My consultation was on April 12th With that in mind, Dr. gave me some medication difolonac and betahistine To help me with the pain and dizziness By the first week of February was the first time things were not getting worse But with this being my first time on the medication roller coaster I did not know I needed to get it refilled. I thought I could take it and I'd be better That was not the case Of course I had to wait 10 days for the doctor's appointment to get the prescription renewed. So for that 10 days I started a journal to monitor my symptoms. Reading that journal it's easy to tell that without the medication everything just gets worse again When I got back to Dr, he would not renew the prescription for the difolonac and instead switched me to a new medication ketratorilac

I cannot tell if the medication helped at all but I can tell you it tore my stomach to shreds 0 outta 10 do not recommend.

I saw the ENT. He stuck a tube up my nose and down my throat to check for cancer explained to me that I have TMJ syndrome 

He was quite helpful. My husband expressed his worries due to some memory issues I've been having in the ENT. Put me on the wait list for my MRI. However that wait list was 8 months long

He also offered me Botox to paralyze the muscles in my face and hopefully cause me some relief

The wait list is also 6 to 8 months

And so I waited still in pain. Still with pressure in my head. The medication made it easier. I could take the train and some days were better than others

But it still felt reckless working in a warehouse moving machinery and boxes around

So at the beginning of May I went to my doctor to ask for a week off of work to try to manage my symptoms and have some quality of life

He told me it would most likely take a couple months so on May 10th I had my last day of work and was put on my newest medication. Pregabalin honestly it is helping so much. I finally feel like I can be a person again I can finally sleep with my head on my husband's chest

I have my Botox consult booked for July

And my MRI is Tonight

I feel like I've waited so long for this, but I'm still terrified. I'm terrified that they might find signs of a brain tumor and in a weird way I'm worried that if they don't they will tell me I'm fine and send me away

everything in my surrounding life decided to fall to s*** as of may 11th anyway but well I guess that's another story…..