Hi. I'm new to this forum. I'm a 13 year old male that really needs help. Last year in the summer of August 2010 I've developed TMD (temperomandibular dysfunction) The TMJ joint is located in front of the ear and is used for talking and chewing. It is the most frequently used joint in the body. Anyway, as I said I got this in August, I also forgot to mention I woke up with it. I probably grind my teeth, but I'm not sure. The pain was so bad that I had to take an MRI for it. The MRI report said that there is extensive degenerative change in the articular disc on my left TMJ joint and some on the right as well. I mean, since I woke up with it, can grinding cause degeneration? That sounds weird. Anyway now 11 months have passed ever since and the pain has worsened. I could've gotten a night guard before all those months passed but my stupid idiotic dentist says she "wasn't comfortable doing it". I was really upset and I walked out of her dental office in disappointment. Now I am getting a night guard from this dentist office around the area where I live. The dentist that lives around my house graduated from NYU and has studied with other oral surgeons. I know I am too young for surgery, but this pain is unbearable. So basically, I am going to get the night guard at the end of July from my local dentist now, but I am extremely upset about this medical mess because my previous dentist made it worse because she didn't make it in the first place. I took anti-flammatory medications, like Motrin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Aspirin, etc. As of right now I am taking a muscle relaxant to prevent spasms. The muscle relaxant is called Flexeril (sorry if I spelled it wrong) Some doctors think it is a lack of Vitamin C that can cause degeneration because there isn't enough calcium. However, they are going to check my vitamin levels in my blood work that they did and see if I have any joint problem. I am not sure if they can check for any disease in the blood for a joint problem, but I am hoping they can.

The main problem that I am afraid of is when I get the night guard from my local dentist and I sleep with it, my jaw will hurt even more. It's because even though its preventing the clenching and grinding, I'm still biting on that and hurting my jaw. Am I wrong?

I found this website helpful as well, but I don't have a dislocated disc, its something else thats causing the pain and Idk what it is. I never had an injury directory to the joint.

I have TMJ, even though I don't grind my teeth. Sometimes the pain is very bad and it radiates into my ear. I have found two things that help. Ozonated olive oil put in my ear with a q tip reduces pain as ozone has analgesic properties. https://www.ozonatedoilonline.com/home.html Im the only one I know of that uses ozonated olive oil for this purpose and it does help me,, not sure about others.

I have also found that massage and pressure on the muscles around the joint and ear can alleviate it. You migh seek out an experienced massage therapist to help you with this... but you can polk around yourself applying a good pressure in the areas. I also press right over the joint and stretch the facil tissue up and back towards the ear and that alleviates it.

Meanwhile find a good glucosame and condrointion product to supplement with. This may help rebuild cartilage. Serrapeptase will help reduce inflammation
www.serrapeptase.info

I purchase my serrapeptase from www.iherb.com in DRs Best Serrapeptase and you can get the other there too. Use coupon code BAR967 for $5 off your first purchase

Maintain a good diet with high protien and lots of fresh veggies. You must think about rebuilding that joint. At your age I would think that you can do it because you still have lots of HGH hormones circulating. 2,000mg of vitamin c will help along with the other stuff.

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Some of the symptoms of TMJ can indicate a magnesium deficiency. It would be nice if it were so simple. However, TMJ seems to be quite complex. Still, it would not hurt to increase your magnesium. Also, I've heard that acupuncture can have a lasting effect.

Here is an interesting site for information. https://www.tmj.org/site/content/tmjd-basics

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- Jim

�Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.� Sir Winston Churchill

BTW, AgeofAquarius2012, I am very impressed with your self perception, communication and writing skills!

lol thank you

Ok to keep you updated I went to NYU hospital on the 8th floor. My primary doctor faxed the blood work to the NYU specialists, but they said it was normal. They didn't get like the vitamin type blood work, but just like a regular blood check up. This is stupid...anyway I am seeing a rheumatologist on Thursday which is tomorrow and they are going to see my vitamin levels, however, NYU didn't get the vitamin levels rather than a regular check up.

Seriously, avoid the rhumatiodolgist and find yourself a Class A Natuopathic medical doctor or a Medical Doctor that practices alternative medicine... there should be quite a few of them in NYC, as medical doctors are allowed to practice alternative medicine in New York State.

A rhumatoidologist will send you on a course directly to hell.

Meanwhile go to my blog and read all the artilces regarding arthritis.... all of them.. so you start to gain a well rounded perspective on what you are dealing with.

Dr Donsbach a DC and Naturopath is renound for curing the most severe cases of RH. He certainly helped me... and took me from severe pain and limping everywhere to fully active.

to to www.HealthSalon.org and type in Arthritis in the search tool.

Wow.......she DID send me on a course straight to hell. She said "is this gonna be quick?" and they only found a vitamin D defiency...all of them were negative besides Vitamin D which was postivie.....and all she did was prescribe vitamin D pills to take once week for 8 weeks....wtf???

And not to mention my articular discs are degenerated in my TMJ for some reason, so it hurts even when I don't do anything, even when my mouth is closed. I'm in so much pain....where is Class A Natuopathic medical doctor in NYC? if you know the address plz tell me. i dont wanna suffer like this anymore......

So July 12th should be very helpful. In my first post I mentioned that I am getting a night guard from my local dentist instead of NYU. My local dentist is gonna have a oral surgeon which he worked with for years and is very familiar with my cases of TMJ and have a look at my MRI film and CD that came with the package. I think he will help. However, Class A Natuopathic medical doctor sounds interesting.

I will see what I can find in NYC but it may take me a few days...

Meanwhile can someone reccomed to to our friend a superior glucosamine/condroition supplement so he can start rebuilding cartilage??

You want to take Biotich D3. Take 50,000 IU dail for one week, then 10,000 a day for one week, then 5,000 a day forever. get it at www.vitalady.com purchase a bottle of 50,000 IU and one of 5,000. The 50 is good to have on hand if you forget to take it for a while and what an instant boost, also if you are starting to get sick you can take 3 a day for 3 days.. then resume normal dosage. What was your D3 level? Try to find out. A call to the Docs office should do it.

I hope that mouth guard relieves some pain for you.

My opinion is that RA is not caused by a vitamin Deficiency, but in many cases may be related to a microbial overload that the immune system does not know how to deal with, nor do the doctors know how to diagnose

This video link is for your education... its a little long but it will teach you much. I hope you can hang in there with it... it goes for many chronic diseases, not just cancer, but including various types of arthritis.
https://www.grayfieldoptical.com/symb...arasitism.html

wait what happened to my cartilage? I thought it was fine but only the articular discs were degenerated? and is that medicine safe for me at my age? what will that medicine do?

Discs are made of out tissues that glucosamine and condrointoin will nourish.
These are nutritional supplements. They are perfectly safe. It will just be a directed nutritional boost for you to hopefully help in regeneration.
read about them here:

https://www.purematters.com/herbs-sup...FQETbAod0UtZYw


https://arthritis.about.com/od/chondr...hondroitin.htm

Ok ty. Can you give me one that you recommend the most? I have to ask my doctor so he can give a prescription, or my mom can just buy it from the pharmacy. Also will glucosamine or condrointoin affect my sugar levels? cuz I'm kinda on a diet and I don't wanna have high blood sugar. And did you find a Class A Natuopathic medical doctor in NYC? Are there any side affects to this medication whatsoever and have you taken it before and seen any results?

Im looking around...so far I've found this

https://www.jaredhanson.com/index.php...-arthritis-nyc

his speciality is for RA but I suspect he might be able to help with regeneration of this joint, being a licensed acupuncturist he will be able to stimulate that part of your body and provide herbal and nutrient counseling to promote regeneration. Acupuncture is also great for pain alleviation. I had a friend have major bone surgery with only acupuncture for pain relief... no drugs at all.

But I am so uncertain as to why they sent you to a rheumatoid arthritis doctor. How did those tests come out? Do you know yet? A good diagnosis will help me to find the right type of doctor. You will not need an RA specialist unless you tested positive for RA. I have sent a letter to an alternative thinking doctor I know in NYC for a recommendation. He cannot help you because his specialty is psychiatry but he may know of someone who can.

It seems that Naturopathic Doctors are not licensed in New York State so their ability to help will be somewhat limited as they cannot do all things that naturopathic docotors can do if they are licensed but still there is much they can do. But That means I have to find a medical doctor who does alternative medicine... a harder task... still looking... I know they are out there but they generally do not promote themselves as such, at least on the internet.

OH, and I found this on glucosamine from the mayo clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/glucosamine/AN01723

if you are not diabetic I would not be concerned.

Thank you so much for your research. I am not a diabetic, but I am overweight, (have lost weight still going to the gym, excercise diet, etc.) which is why I asked. Anyway the quote you mentioned "his speciality is for RA but I suspect he might be able to help with regeneration of this joint, being a licensed acupuncturist he will be able to stimulate that part of your body and provide herbal and nutrient counseling to promote regeneration. Acupuncture is also great for pain alleviation." really interests me. They haven't even tested me for RA, which is why it stuns me why they would send me to it in the first place. What do you mean he will be able to stimulate part of my body and provide herbal and nutrient counseling for regeneration? cuz it seems that my discs are degenerated (which is why my mouth hurts even when its not opened) and that would probably help me.

I didn't know that doctors that are licensed can do much more than those are who are not. Hmm, well since they can do much, it would be good seeing one.