I received an email today that, once again, brought me back to planet Earth. I do not mean to sound insensitive or perhaps smug in my attitude about TMJ Disorder. It's unacceptable that from time to time I seem to need reminders that just because I recovered, doesn't mean that everyone can recover...or recover very easily... or recover without undergoing irreversible procedures.
Indeed, how can the medical profession possibly profess that this condition can be cured, when no one is exactly sure why the condition arises? Even in my own situation, I may be painfree, but I am cautious about what I eat! That's not really being cured.
As I was reminded tonight...NOT ALL TMJD sufferers clench and/or grind their teeth. I know that in earlier blogs I made this clear, but still, I need to repeat it more often. Many clenchers/grinders DO NOT DEVELOP TMJD. Many who NEVER clench or grind DO develop TMJD.
I was also caught short by the person's description of her intense pain and how it has permeated every single moment of her life. The sufferer is a nurse - she knows healthy habits and practices them. Again, I must stand truly chastised if I sound demeaning or if anyone believes that I am diminishing their pain. That is completely wrong on my part and something I never intended, but I will certainly be careful that I never sound this way again. So, I do want to apologize to those who feel that I have in any way diminished the seriousness of their condition or their pain. This was NEVER my intention.
TMJD is an extremely debilitating, depressing condition. The fact that it mostly affects women only is undoubtedly one reason why it's not researched and studied more carefully. If men suffered from this condition as much as women, perhaps there'd be a cure,or at the very least a good explanation for why it occurs. It seems that the causes of TMJD are as multifareous as the people who suffer from it.
I have talked with people who will never, ever chew again because of this condition and the irreversible procedures that well meaning dentists/doctors did to them. Others are thankful for a surgery that allowed them to live a "normal" life when it comes to eating.
For the lucky ones, this condition is temporary and/or transient. For many, however, it is a debilitating, excruciatingly painful fact of life. Anybody who has had TMJD has suffered in ways that ONLY a TMJD patient can begin to understand.
My deepest, sincerest apologies to all whom I may have offended. Because this is the second time that someone has taken serious offense at my presentations, I will no longer blog unless I have something "documentable" or "newsworthy" to discuss. My opinion should not be part of this blog.
If you've had success in treating or overcoming this condition, please contact me with this information so I may share it with others who may greatly benefit from your experience.
