Thank you for visiting my fundraising page and helping me raise awareness about TMJD!
My jaw may hurt when I talk, but I still have a lot to say!
For those that have never heard of Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders (TMJD), it is a complex and misunderstood set of conditions that can cause pain the area of the jaw joint and associated muscles and/or problems using the jaw. It can affect a person's ability to speak, eat, chew, swallow, make facial expressions, and even breathe. There are no known causes for TMJD. According to the research reported at international meetings organized by the TMJ Association, TMJ problems can relate to a broad range of multidisciplinary medical specialties, such as chronic pain, neuromuscular disorders, bone and joint disease, chronic immune and inflammatory disease and digestive disorders. Since the majority of TMJ patients are women in their childbearing years, study of the part reproductive hormones play in TMJ is essential. As research in this area progresses, the medical community will see their role in solving this problem and treating the TMJ patient.
Please visit the TMJ Association's website at http://www.tmj.org to learn more about them and TMJD. Thank you!
Personal Story:
When I was a teenager, my jaw would make a loud audible clicking noise when I eat or move my mouth. It was rather annoying, but I paid no attention to it at the time. As time progressed, the clicking in my jaw was slowly replaced by a dull aching pain. In my mid-twenties the pain got so bad that I could not physically open my mouth more than an inch without having horrible pain. It was at that time that I knew I had to go to the doctor.
I went to my doctor, who only referred me to an oral surgeon/orthodontist/dentist. Fortunately, the next guy was able to help me find some relief. I had to wear a mouth splint at night for a while, which brought tremendous amount of relief. Then I had to wear braces to realign my bite, which was suppose to help relieve the pain even more, but it was not 100% guaranteed. Unfortunately, my family and I ended up moving out of the state and I had to find a new dentist to continue the treatment. The only ones I could find wanted to charge me thousands of dollars extra on top of what I already paid at the previous dentist office, and they wanted 50% of it up front. Since there are no insurance companies (medical and dental) that will cover TMJ treatment, I would have to and do pay out of pocket. By the time it was all said and done, it would cost over $7,000 out of pocket for something that was not guaranteed to cure my TMJ.
I stopped the treatment, because I could not afford it. A couple of years later I am back to being able to open my mouth more than an inch without extreme pain. Now I also have a constant dull ache not only in my jaw joint when I am not even moving my mouth, but on a good portion of the left side of my face. So far the only thing I can do is use a heating pad and have a diet of Motrin and soft foods. Some day I hope to be able to yawn without it being painful!
There are many TMJ treatments. They may yield no change, improvement, or may worsen the condition. Unfortunately for me and many others who suffer from TMJD, there are insufficient data to support any form of treatment. Without evidence based research it is a buyer beware market! This is why I am trying to raise money for the TMJ Assocation's scientific meetings and push for quality science and research that this disorder desperately needs.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
Help me and many others that suffer from this horrible disorder to push for quality research and a cure!
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!