Background

1. TMJ

Background Story on Jaw Issues

Let's go back to October-ish 2013. This is when I first started having issues with clenching my teeth at night causing me to have jaw pain in the morning. This is when I got my first nighttime bite guard. At this point, I thought everything was fine and dandy because most people I knew in their mid-20s to late 60s have a nighttime bite guard for clenching or grinding. No problemo.

WRONG

Fast forward to December 2014. I had just moved to Scottsdale, AZ and was about to begin a new job at Arizona State University and thats when everything started getting awful with my jaw. Over the course of 5-6 months I had seen 4-5 different TMJ specialists, surgeons, dentists, and more that talked to me about sleep apnea, displaced discs, orthodontia, clenching, cavities, etc. Long story short, it took a while to find a TMJ specialist that was able to help. During that time, I had an MRI taken, which is when I found out that my discs were displaced on both sides of my jaw. 

Quick Anatomy Lesson (Exhibit A): The photo below shows you exactly where the anterior disk is inside your jaw. Well, for most lucky folks, where it should be. For me, my discs on both sides of my jaw are what is known as an anterior disk displacement, where the disc is stuck forward of where it should be. (Exhibit B).

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

The TMJ Specialist that I finally was guided to was Dr. LeeAnn Brady. She was such a blessing for me at the time. The first 6 months of meeting with Dr. Brady were crazy (not because of her, but for my lifestyle). We had to make sure I wouldn't clench my teeth at night, which is what put me in a front bite splint for when I sleep. Soon after that came the bite guard to wear during the day that I have had for four years. This bite guard, although not aesthetically pleasing, has allowed my joints to become stable.

 Now, the in between of that year was what I mentioned was crazy. It was back and forth between liquid diets, menthyl-predinzone packs, muscle relaxers, the works, to try and get rid of the pain I was having. It was truly an awful time pain-wise in my life.  The pain was on my lower jaw on both sides of my cheeks, as well as up where the discs were displaced. I now have a specific pillow that allows me to sleep comfortably with my former jaw pain that I take with me EVERYWHERE. (I emphasized the everywhere because I bet my pillow has seen more countries than most people reading this). The beneficial part about this time in my life is that I was surrounded by supportive friends who made me soft food to eat and who listened to be wallow and whimper about my TMJ issues.

That brings everyone up to about July 2016 where I have had the bite guard for 6 months at that time and was then moving back to Georgia for law school. Luckily, Dr. Brady connected me with Dr. Rodney Baier, who has helped keep me stable with my bite splint.

Now, let's pause for three years while the hell of the journey of law school takes place and bring you Fall 2019/ January 2020......