Posted by julie on February 21, 2002 :
Location:
I have suffered with tmj for 15 years. I have gone through almost every type of treatment there is. Nothing has worked. It is now at the point where i feel nothing short of surgery will fix my problem. The pain is excrutiating and life altering. I am at the point where i can not open my jaw more than halfway and that I am having bone loss due to the joints grinding each other down. this is only on one side of my face, although it affects my whole being. I have suffered from depression from the pain and feeling of absolute helplessness. I can not find an insurer to cover this and am absolutely at a loss as to where to go now. I feel like if something surgically is not done soon, that i will be eating through a straw soon. Anyone out there have any ideas as to how i can get a tmj surgeon to help me? Or any other suggestions would be wonderful. Note to reader: I am 31, a struggling single mother with no child support or family to help, I live in Arizona. I have gone through many splints, physical therapy, braces,pain management, drainage surgey of joint, stress reduction therapy, drug therapy, ice, heat, had mri done several times, the latest one said right side is a grade 1? if that makes any sense. However, that was a few years ago now, and i am quite certain that it is much worse now. This is affecting all aspects of my life and i feel like if something is not done soon, I may give up the will to live, please please help.