Is there hope for my tmj syndrom?

PLEASE HELP ME IF THERE IS ANY WAY POSSIBLE! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 BOYS AND I AM ONLY 5 WEEKS AWAY FROM HAVING MY LAST SON. I ONLY HAVE MY CHILDREN AND A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS AND ONE SONS GRANDPARENTS TO RELY ON AT TIMES FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. MY PARENTS PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS IN MY TWENTIES AND THINGS HAVE FELT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES WITHOUT THEM. I AM A CERTIFIED NURSES ASSISTANT BY TRADE AND LOVE WHAT I DO EVEN THOUGH IT NEVER PAYS VERY WELL. I HAVE DREAMS OF GOING BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL AND EVEN BEING A SINGLE MOTHER MAKES IT HARD BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE ONLY THING IN MY LIFE THAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO OVER COME IS MY TMJS THAT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITH NOW SINCE AROUND 1999. THROUGH THE YEARS IT HAS BECOME WORSE AND NOW I AM ON VACODIN WHILE I AM PREGNANT BECAUSE THE PAIN IS CONSTANT AND ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE TROUBLE EATING AND LOOSE WEIGHT TERRIBLY FAST WHEN I'M NOT PREGNANT. I CRY OFTEN FROM THE PAIN AND THE DEPRESSION THAT COMES FROM IT. I TAKE PROZAC BUT WHEN I HAVE TO MISS SCHOOL EVENTS FOR MY BOYS OR EVEN A SIMPLE BOARD GAME BECAUSE I AM SICK EVEN THE PROZAC DOESN'T REALLY HELP MUCH. MY OLDEST SON IS 15 NOW AND HAS HELPED TAKE CARE OF ME AT TIMES WHEN HE COULD HAVE SPENT THE NIGHT WITH A FRIEND AND JUST BEEN A TYPICAL KID. INSTEAD HE MAKES SURE I'M NOT ALWAYS ALONE WHEN I HURT AND HELPS WITH HIS BROTHERS AND HE NEVER COMPLAINS. I FEEL PROUD AND GUILTY AT THE SAME TIME. MY BOYS AND I NEED A NORMAL LIFE AWAY FROM THIS ILLNESS BUT I AM AFRAID IF II DON'T FIND HELP SOON I WILL BE FORCED TO SEND THEM TO FAMILY MEMBERS TO CARE FOR THEM AND I JUST CAN NOT IMAGINE BREAKING UP OUR HOME AND HAVING TO SPLIT THEM UP EVEN IF IT'S FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I AM A GOOD MOTHER AND A GOOD PERSON. I DON'T PARTY, DO DRUGS AND I AM ALWAYS THERE FOR ANYONE ELSE IN NEED BUT NOW I AM JUST IN FAR TO MUCH PAIN TO EVEN FUNCTION HALF THE TIME. MY BOYS ARE 15 AND 9 YEARS OLD AND MY BABY BOY IS 18 MONTHS. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I DO GET CHILD SUPPORT FOR THEM AND WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET ENOUGH TO SURVIVE WITH THE HELP OF FOOD STAMPS AND LIVING IN A SECTION 8 APARTMENT IN NOT A SO GREAT PART OF TOWN. I TRY TO STAY POSITIVE AND BELIEVE THAT THERE IS HELP OUT THERE TO CURE MY PAIN SO THAT I CAN WORK STEADY AS I ONCE DID BEFORE AND WE CAN MOVE BACK OUT OF THE PROJECTS AND AWAY FROM THE VIOLENCE AND DRUG SCENE BEFORE MY CHILDREN EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO FALL PREY TO IT. I KEEP THEM INDOORS AT ALL TIMES AND THEY NEVER GET TO GO OUT SIDE UNLESS WE GO TO A FRIENDS HOUSE OR THEY ARE AT SCHOOL. I FEEL IT IS A SAD WAY TO LIVE JUST BECAUSE I AM SO SICK AND IN SO MUCH PAIN AND I CAN NOT HOLD DOWN A STEADY JOB RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE PAIN WILL COME OR GO. IN 2004 I BEGAN HAVING SEVERE TROUBLE WITH MY BACK TEETH TO THE POINT WHERE I KEPT ABSCESSES AND STAYED VIOLENTLY ILL 24/7 FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS. I COULD TASTE THE INFECTION FROM MY BROKEN DOWN TEETH AND THREW UP OFTEN. MY JAW WOULD SWELL BECAUSE OF THE INFECTION THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN INTO MY JAW BONE. MY TMJS WAS UNBEARABLE AND EVEN THOUGH I AM ASHAMED TO ADMIT IT I OFTEN HAD BAD THOUGHTS OF JUST ENDING MY LIFE BUT OF COURSE COULD NOT BECAUSE OF MY LOVE AND HOPE FOR MY BOYS. I SPENT MY ELECTRIC BILL MONEY ONE MONTH WHEN MY JAW HAD SWELLED TO THE POINT THAT I COULD NOT OPEN MY MOUTH JUST TO GO TO A DENTIST IN MY HOME TOWN FOR HIM TO TELL ME I HAD A INFECTION AND THAT 6 OF MY BACK TEETH WOULD HAVE TO BE SURGICALLY REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SEVERELY BROKEN DOWN FROM THE YEARS OF GRINDING AND CLINCHING IN MY SLEEP. HE PRESCRIBED ME ANTIBODICS AND TOLD ME TO SEE AN ORAL SURGEON A.S.A.P. IN 2005 I FOUND AN ORAL SURGEON AND TOLD HIM ABOUT MY PROBLEMS. IT COST ME OVER $400. FOR HIM TO ACTUALLY DIAGNOSE ME WITH TMJ SYNDROME SINCE THE ONLY REAL DIAGNOSIS I ACTUALLY HAD AT THE TIME WAS FROM EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD A DENTIST. AT LEAST EMERGENCY ROOMS HAVE TO SEE YOU AND CAN'T TURN YOU DOWN BUT EVERY BILL HAS WENT ON MY CREDIT. WHAT IS WORSE THAN THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT LIKE A JUNKIE OFF THE STREET JUST WANTING PAIN KILLERS AND KNOWING I AM JUST THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE OF NURSES THAT JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE AGONY AND THE FEELING OF AN ICE PICK GOING THROUGH MY EAR! I HAD WENT TO THE ER SEVERAL X IN THE PAST FOR TERRIBLE EAR ACHES AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTIL I FINALLY GOT AN ER DR. THAT ASKED ME IF I HAD EVER HEARD OF TMJ AND EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT IT WAS AND GAVE ME A PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN AT LEAST FOR A MONTH.

ANYWAYS, DR.HARRELL TOOK PANORAMIC X-RAYS THAT SHOWED ALL MY PROBLEMS.

I HAVE DECAY ALL OVER MY TEETH AND MY JAW BONE ON EACH SIDE IS FLAT BONE TO BONE AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE TO PROTECT IT WHEN I MOVE MY MOUTH. HE SAID I WAS ONE OF HIS WORSE CASES TO EVER DIAGNOSE AND TO BE SO YOUNG.

HE THEN SAID I NEEDED TREATMENTS THAT WOULD RUN ABOUT $4,5OO. TO 5 THOUSAND JUST DEPENDING. I ALSO NEEDED TO BE FITTED FOR A MOUTH GUARD FOR WHEN I SLEEP BUT THAT WOULD RUN ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO $500. OF COURSE HE NEEDED ALL MONEY UP FRONT AND I HAD NOTHING TO EVEN START WITH. I BEGGED HIM FOR A PAYMENT PLAN OF ANY KIND EVEN IF I HAD TO MOVE IN WITH FRIENDS INSTEAD OF LIVING ON MY OWN AND RENTING BUT HE JUST SAID SORRY, COME BACK WHEN I CAN AFFORD THE TREATMENTS.

I THEN FOUND OUT ABOUT UTMB HOSPITAL IN GALVESTON HAVING A PROGRAM TO EXTRACT TEETH ON A FINICAL SLIDING SCALE PROGRAM. MY FIRST VISIT WAS $68. OO FOR EXAM AND X-RAYS AND MORE ANTIBODICS. I QUALIFIED AND CAME BACK FOR MY ORAL SURGERY. I STILL HAD TO PAY $250. TO JUST BE PUT UNDER BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO DEEP INTO MY BACK GUMS TO GET SMALL PIECES THAT WERE SPLIT AND I COULD NOT JUST HAVE A LOCAL. IN ALL I PAID $530. FOR THE EXTRACTIONS AND GOING UNDER FOR THE SURGERY. ALSO WAS BILLED $35. LATER FOR THE DENTIST FEE THAT I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT BUT I DID NOT CARE! THE PAINFUL TEETH WERE OUT! THE STITCHED HURT VERY BAD BUT DID NOT EVEN COMPARE TO THE HORRIBLE TOOTH ACHE PAIN. THIS ACTUALLY HELPED RELIEVE SOME OF MY TMJ PAIN AS WELL FOR A WHILE BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER I STARTED TO NOTICE IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AGAIN. BUT AT LEAST FOR A FEW MONTHS I THOUGHT I ACTUALLY HAD A NORMAL LIFE. I STARTED A NEW CNA JOB AND STARTED DOING THINGS AGAIN WITH MY KIDS AND FRIENDS. I WENT ON AND STRUGGLED THROUGH WITH GOOD DAYS AND SOME BAD UP UNTIL NOW DURING THESE LAST FEW MONTHS THE PAIN IS CONSTANT AND CHRONIC. I STAY AT HOME UNLESS I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE BECAUSE OF RESPONSIBILITY'S FOR MY FAMILY BUT AT TIMES I ALSO HAVE TO RESCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO EVEN DRIVE FROM NOT SLEEPING FOR 2 DAYS AT A TIME OR THE DEBILITATING PAIN. I MANAGE TO CARE FOR MY BOYS AND EVEN THE BABY BUT I HAVE HAD TO CALL HIS GOD MOTHER MANY TIMES TO COME GET HIM FOR A DAY OR NIGHT. I WONDER AT TIMES WHAT I AM TO DO FOR WHEN THIS BABY COMES IN A FEW WEEKS AND EVEN FEAR ABOUT HIS HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE STRESS AND PAIN LEVEL THAT I HAVE TO ENDURE AND NOW FOR THE LAST MONTH TAKING VACODIN IN WHICH MY O.B SAYS HE RATHER ME NOT HAVE TO TAKE BUT IF I DON'T I START HAVING CONTRACTIONS BECAUSE OF THE PAIN AND EVERYTHING JUST GOES DOWN HILL FROM THERE UNLESS I HAVE SOME FORM OF PAIN RELIEF. I AM DAMNED IF I DO AND DAMNED IF I DON'T. LIFE FEELS IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS POINT. I PREY OFTEN, CRY EVERYDAY AND SO FAR I HAVE STILL FOUND A LITTLE STRENGTH TO WRITE YOU AND OTHERS MY LIFE STORY IN HOPES THAT ONE DAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE I WILL FIND THE HELP I NEED FOR ALL MY DENTAL AND TMJ PROBLEMS SO THAT I CAN HELP MY BOYS TO GROW UP AND HAVE NORMAL SUCCESSFUL LIVES AS WELL. PLEASE!!! AT THE LEAST IF YOU CAN NOT HELP ME THEN PLEASE AT LEAST LET ME KNOW. I AM DESPERATELY WAITING TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE...ANYONE! THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS. I KNOW IT IS VERY LONG BUT I NEED SOMEONE TO HEAR MY CRY FOR HELP. IF YOU CAN NOT HELP PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY THIS AND MAIL IT TO SOMEONE YOU MAY KNOW THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME AND MY BOY'S. MY WORST FEAR IS LOOSING THEM AND WHAT I HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO HOLD ON TO BECAUSE OF MY PAIN AND SICKNESS. I AM ONLY 35 YEARS OLD AND I HOPE ONE DAY TO HAVE A LONG HEALTHY LIFE AHEAD OF ME.

SINCERELY, LAURA BREAUX

MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS....

mylalababy@yahoo.com

YOU NEED TO HAVE A DENTIST MAKE YOU AN N.T.I. BRUXISM APPLIANCE TO FINALLY BE DONE WITH ALL THE HEADACHES AND PAIN. SEE BELOW

you need to address the cause of the problem. there is something called "tensing" which are electrode pads that go on your cheeks, and on your upper back. they are like 'dr. ho' muscle stimulators, they help to heal your tense jaw muscles by making them contract, thereby fatiguing them so they can relax.. and also forces blood into the area so it can heal. our office has it, but we are located in vancouver, canada. we have had many patients see amazing results with it, people who could not sleep for months finally found relief after this therapy. if you can find a good dentist that knows a lot about occlusal disease, they can help you as much as a specialist can, with less $$

It was hard to read in all caps, but there is a cheaper thinner nightguard that can help. Many oral surgeons actually recommend this softer cheaper kind b/c they cushion an already damaged TMJ. Hard splints are expensive and do work for some people, but not always. The cheaper splints are much like professional made white trays you only need the bottom one. Most offices make these for under or around $100. You start by wearing it at night and work your way to during the day if needed. Call and ask if they make soft, clear, thin nightguards. You can also buy one at the store. You only need to wear the bottom one. Place it in warm water to soften, but not so hot it will burn you. Then, place it on teeth and first press the sides against the sides of your teeth and then press the top down slightly. Not so much that your teeth poke through, but enough to thin the thickness. Let harden and then removed. Next, trim the edges if poking into floor of mouth. Use a sharp knife and then smooth with a lighter. Just put the very tip of the flame near the rough edges you cut. This is a good home made one.