Most people if they haven't gone on to another blog will be asking what's TMJ. Fair question. Here's why I didn't write it out. It stands for temporomandibular joint. You can now understand why it's cut down to TMJ. This is a joint in the jaw.
Many people have an unpleasant cracking sound in the jaw when they chew. It's irritating but not harmful. The problem is when the jaw goes out of alignment. Then there's a fair bit of discomfort. It hurts when you chew.
So this is a long way of telling you that the Micro Manager has TMJ. It has bothered her for about 6 months. She's been doing research at top speed. There are many treatments and most of them debatable. There are many different kinds of people who will treat TMJ. Who to go to is the big question. You can get surgery or mouth appliance for treatment. You have to make a decision because everybody says their treatment is the best.
Then there is absolutely no kind of coverage for any treatment for TMJ. My employee benefit plan does not include coverage. Our Alberta health care plan does not cover you for one cent. No senior plan gives you one dime. So you find a practitioner and make your choices and what ever you come up with is paid for out of your own pocket. It costs about $2500.00
So an appliance was made up for the Micro Manager and it was "installed Monday. It's a device to move the jaw over so that it is back in alignment. It takes nine months and you wear the appliance 24/7.
So far it has gone well . We need two different meals as she has to have her food pureed. This is going to be a fun time.
My husband has TMJ but he is lucky that it does not bother him too often. However, anytime he is chewing his jaws click - click - click. The Micro Manager has to eat pureed food for nine months? That's a long time. Good luck to her. I'm not sure I could do that for that length of time.
ReplyDeleteNot pureed food for nine months. she will gradually be able to eat a somewhat regular diet.
DeleteNine months of pureed food is going to be miserable. I hope the treatment works
ReplyDeleteSorry but she will not be eating pureed food for the full nine months. She should be able to eat a lot of regular things.
DeleteThat will be a long time of eating pureed food but I hope the appliance helps. I think I have a bit of TMJ. I'm not really sure if one can have a bit of TMJ but my jaws make a cracking sound when I move them. When I eat I don't have any clacking. I can live with it because I don't really have pain, just a lot of tightness in the jaws.
ReplyDeleteI gave the wrong impression about the food. She will be able to eat many regular things as she gets used to the appliance.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear this, the device does not sound comfortable to wear 24/7 for nine months. Sending prayers for your wife! Take care, have a great day!
Apparently you get used to it but it is awkward.
DeleteSome things get missed in our generally good healthcare system. I was once advised that I could try getting a foot brace for $1000 or more although they weren't sure that it would work. I had forgotten about that until I read this post.
ReplyDeleteFor another thing there should be full coverage of physiotherapy.
DeleteRed, This business of getting older has so many unexpected issues. It seems to me to reinforce the old saying, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” I’m sorry to hear the Micro Manager has TMJ. I have heard about TMJ. I guess my biggest surprise is that the Canadian healthcare system doesn’t cover related expenses. I hope the appliance does it’s work as quickly as possible and the Micro Manager has a full recovery. Best wishes to both of you and God bless. John
ReplyDeleteSo far it's gone much better than I thought it would. Our health care covers everybody but not quite everything.
DeleteOh, gosh. Good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteWe'll need it. thanks.
DeletePoor Jean! I feel sorry for her having to tolerate that device for nine months. I hope it does not interfere with her sleeping too much. Maybe she will get used to it in a week or two. At least she has her own personal slave to puree her food. Do you think the problem might have been caused by too much talking?
ReplyDeleteShe will get used to the appliance. There may have been lots of talking but I didn't hear it!
DeleteI've not heard of that before.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of TMJ but didn't realize it's such an expensive disorder to suffer from. I hope she will be right as rain again soon. I have that crackling sound often.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how things are in a few months.
DeleteI wouldn't be able to hack eating pureed food for nine months. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteOh you'd get used to it. The worst part is having the jaw movement restricted.
DeleteNine months is a long time on puréed food. Good luck to both of you.
ReplyDeleteOkay I didn't express that well. She will be able to eat most things after about 2 weeks.
DeleteHello, the title caught my eye as they say I have TMJ because of severe arthritis in the jaw. My doctor is both a dentist and a medical doctor and classifies TMJ as a medical condition not a dental condition and so medicare does pay for it. They have paid for all my appliances....I have two...one for day and one for night. And all the office visits and meds.
ReplyDeleteYour dentist/physician has it right. It's a medical condition. Appliances are a nuisance but you can get used to them.
DeleteSpeedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteThanks. thanks for the visit.
DeleteI am so sorry that your wife is having to go through this. It is a bummer. I dislocated my jaw when I was 15 years old. It took quite a while to get it back in alignment. I hope all goes well with your wife and things improve quickly for her.
ReplyDeleteSo far things are going better than I expected. It's not as bad as I thought it would be.
DeleteI have heard of TMJ and I am sorry your wife has it! Sounds like a painful ordeal to go through. Hope the treatment works!
ReplyDeleteI would want to eat pudding, ice cream, lots of mushy treats but it will get tiresome for 9 months. Give her my best!
She will gradually get onto regular food.
DeleteThe Micro Manager has my sympathy. I just have a sore jaw joint on one side and that's not too bad so long as I don't yawn. As I eat masses of salad I'm not sure I'd easily cope with pureed meals. I hope it all goes well....and quickly too.
ReplyDeletePureed is not all bad. I was on it for six weeks one time.
DeleteI have heard of TMJ. My son got his jaw broken in college and he has TMJ. Sometimes his jaw dislocates. He pushes it back with his thumb. Your wife's case sounds much more extreme. Good luck to her. I echo the sentiments of many commenters: Pureed food for 9 months????? UGH...
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be much variation in this condition.
DeleteWell, since I have arthritis just about everywhere else, I guess I can be thankful I don't have it in my jaw.....at least not yet.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to your wife. This cannot be fun and yet you even have to pay for the misery.
Well, most of this is age like your arthritis. It isn't fun sometimes.
DeleteI've never heard of that. I hope it works for her and she has a quick recovery.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the more common treatments so I hope it works.
DeleteSigh. Something else that can go wrong. Seems there are a lot of them these days. I wish her (and you) the best. Just think of it this way -- 9 months? That's not even as long as Covid!
ReplyDeleteThanks. We'll get there. The cure is better than the disease.
DeleteI am so sorry for the MM. I've known of the problem, but never knew anyone had a solution. I hope you bring her lots of ice cream sundaes to help the puree go down.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing but she's not a fan of ice cream and puddings.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of this before. You really do learn something new every day! Wishing your wife well!
ReplyDeleteLots of smoothies, add greens. Lots of variations. Fingers crossed — 9 months is a long time so hope it works!
ReplyDeleteI knew what TMJ was, but I never knew what the letter stood for. That treatment sounds horrible, mostly because of the pureed food. When you say she went to a "practitioner," was it an MD or a DDS (dentist)?
ReplyDeleteI hope the appliance works for her! I have heard it is miserable...so the best of luck to her! Thanks for the cold weather you sent:) You can close the door anytime!
ReplyDeleteOh no... I'm so sorry. Doug of ApacheDug's Teepee has a severe case of TMJ. He wrote about it quite a bit earlier. This is one post. https://apachedugs.blogspot.com/search?q=TMJ
ReplyDeleteI hope your micro manager is able to overcome it. I have a milder case and it is annoying as heck.
i am hearing about this kind of issue for the first time
ReplyDeleteit was peace to learn through your comment response that She has started to eat regular food gradually ,i am happy for her and heartfelt best wishes for her and you dear Red!
Oh my goodness, I hope this works for Micro Manager and she doesn't get too sick of soft mush, can't even imagine!
ReplyDelete