TMJ Blogger Loses Job Trying to Help TMJD Sufferers

Well, no good deed goes unpunished, so they say, and here's a case in point.

For a year now I've been writing for suite101.com, a fun site to write for as one has a carte blanche when it comes to topics. One of the requests of suite101, however, is that writers not use any articles they post on suite101 for at least a year.

Guess what? That means EVEN BLOGS. Even though I've never been paid one cent for the TMJ Blogs that wellspere.com shares with its readers, I was kind of "invited" to leave the site, despite the fact that I had well over 100 articles that had never been reproduced elsewhere.

So, why did I use the TMJ blogs on their site? For starters, I should have read their contract more closely. I "assumed" (and you all know what "assuming" means) that it was okay since I wasn't being compensated for the articles in any way. I also felt, and still feel - despite my job loss- very strongly that the more ways I can get information out about TMJD the better for so many people. My goal in this entire enterprise has been to HELP people. For that reason, I donate a portion of the sales of my book to PETA and other organizations. This is NOT a money-making venture for me. Rather, it's my contribution to help people who have this excruciatingly painful disease, however I can. In fact, shortly I'll be donating an entire box of books to a dental school! That's 50 books. At 17.95 retail that's over a $897.50 donation. But I got fired anyway.

Since I'm in the confessing mood, I admit I got so frustrated at my book reviews there never being read, that I posted them on True West and amazon. Again, I received no compensation for them...That was bad. I'm guilty. But no one read the things anyway. But, the fact remains, I'm guilty there. I confess. It was only a few book reviews too. I bet the authors appreciate me at least!

Well, I'm really sad about all this to be quite honest. I could understand their anger if I'd been collecting money for my postings, but that would be unethical. What I did was not unethical...what I did was for the benefit of the 50,000,000+ people who suffer from TMJ Disorder.

As I said, no good deed goes unpunished.

Health Care Danger for TMJD Sufferers

I'm not saying this will happen here, but I feel the need to pass this information on. Think the health care debacle won't affect you with your TMJD condition? Think again.

Several months ago, an irate blog reader blasted me with (deserved) criticism about one of my TMJ blogs. Her anger was directed at what she thought was my opinion that clenching and grinding causes ALL cases of TMJD. Anybody who's read my blogs for long, knows that I have clearly stated that NOT ALL cases of TMJD are caused by clenching and grinding, but a good many cases are.

In the process of corresponding with this person, I learned a great deal about her situation. She is suffering horribly, absolutely horribly. Her condition is so debilitating it interferes with her ability to do her work and affects every moment of her life, sleeping and awake..

After consulting doctors and doing the whole run around rigamarole, she was told that she'd probably have to have jaw joint replacement surgery. The wait was TWO YEARS. This, for someone who lives in Canada and must use the Canadian health care no-service program.

I can't imagine being in such pain and so debilitated and having to wait for two years for surgery. Could that happen here? Yes, I think it could. Do I know that for a fact? No. It just seems logical that it will transpire since it seems to be the norm in countries that do have socialized medicine. While it's true that most people don't need to undergo such severe treatment, who would want to have to wait for two years if they did need it?

Many younger people, often the very ones who suffer the most from TMJD, tend not to be involved politically. This is a huge mistake. People must get involved, one way or the other, or suffer the consequences of other peoples' decisions.

Meanwhile, several more dentists have purchased You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes, to keep in their office for patients to read and get ideas from. You can get your own copy at amazon.com, or from www.moonlightmesaassociates.com where you can download an order blank. Dentists agree that easy-to-chew meals contribute greatly to helping with TMJD discomfort.

A Check List for TMJ Disorder Sufferers

For those in the throes of TMJ Disorder, here are some ideas to consider when looking for alternative treatments in lieu of surgery:

1. Consider removing amalgams. I know of at least one person who claims that her nocturnal clenching and grinding greatly diminished after having all amalgams removed. Even though the AMA says amalgams are not harmful. A growing number of dentists disagree with this pronouncement.I'd give this idea some research and thought.

2. Consider a mouth guard. These do not work for all people, and in some cases the mouth guards actually make the condition worse. Even a study from Wayne State University claimed that mouth guards only worked at preventing clenching and grinding for about three weeks, after which time the patient grew used to the device and simply began clenching and grinding on the mouth guard, sometimes worsening their condition.

3. Practice meditation or other stress release techniques.

4. Avoid sugary foods prior to bed.

5. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants, particularly in the hours before bed.

6. Adopt a soft diet and avoid hard, chewy, crunchy foods. There are several cookbooks out there to choose from.

7. Are you too warm at night? Room temperature and sleeping too warm might be a contributing factor to clenching and grinding.

8. Could your TMJD be caused by an allergy? There's mounting evidence that this may be possible. An allergy test might well be in order.

9. Have you recently had extensive dental work done where your mouth was hyper-extended for several hours? Your TMJD will probably resolve in a few months. Be patient and careful.

10. Is your condition a direct result of arthritis? There's growing evidence that arthritis may be the body's response to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and not an inevitable result of old age. Check it out.

11. Have you ever had whiplash? Again, this may likely be the cause of your TMJD problem. Sometimes just knowing the cause helps.

12. A new thought: are you being over exposed to electromagnetic waves? We all are in many respects, but this is an area that needs to be explored.

13. Have you tried a magnesium supplement? While there is no evidence of this treatment being helpful, magnesium supplements are incredibly helpful at stopping charley horses and other muscle cramps. Most Americans are very magnesium deficient, and tests for this condition are next to worthless. Magnesium is cheap too.

There are many reasons for this condition to develop; there are few cures. Be cautious before you commit to any procedure than is irreversible. Absolutely get second opinions, and also consult with a Homeopath and/or a naturopath. Irreversible procedures cannot be reversed, and sometimes patients are left worse off than they were before the procedure!