Anyone here with TMJ issues?

[alisa1970]

Hey there,

I have a fairly bad case of TMJ disorder and it seems like vaping has awakened a sleeping giant. I had to have a year of therapy to correct a very badly "unhinged" jaw after it stayed locked for 4 weeks. (specialist would not recommend surgery except in all but the very worst cases and I was close).

After therapy was done about a year and a half ago, everything has been good and I haven't had to use my night guard or daytime guard except maybe twice in that time.

I've been vaping now for almost 3 weeks and I can feel my jaws and facial muscles are getting tight and sore, and I am having to use my guards (both day and night) daily to relieve the stress. I believe that the slow, long draws are causing the problem.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE vaping and I have no plans to go back to analogs; I 'm just concerned that I may be flirting with another round of very expensive treatment and I want to avoid it if I can.

If anyone has been dealing with a similar issue and/or has found a way to minimize the stress on the jaw muscles, can I ask what you are doing (or did) that helped?

Thanks in advance!

 

[klynnn]

I had the same problem years ago when my jaw locked up. Took a month of therapy with ultrasound treatments to get it working again. Went to a specialist at the U of Fla who gave me isometric exercises to do. You put your palm to the chin and push up as you are trying to open your mouth. Every so often it bothers me but I do those exercises and it helps. Vaping hasn't really seemed to cause any problems for me. Hope yours gets better cause I know how painful it can be.

 

[Statistic]

I have no experience with TMJ, very sorry to hear you are in such discomfort from vaping.

I am curious what type of equipment you are using. I can tell you that there are options out there that have looser draws than others.
I started with an eGo battery and clearomizers. I have since switched to a rebuildable AGA-T+ (which I am in love with). It already had a smoother and easier draw than the clearomizers I was used to but I drilled out the air hole a bit to 1/16th of an inch and it takes even less effort to pull a draw off it.

Rebuildables have a steeper learning curve than clearomizers but if you are willing to learn how to set them up correctly they are an outstanding vaping experience, and a very easy draw.

 

[alisa1970]

I had the same problem years ago when my jaw locked up. Took a month of therapy with ultrasound treatments to get it working again. Went to a specialist at the U of Fla who gave me isometric exercises to do. You put your palm to the chin and push up as you are trying to open your mouth. Every so often it bothers me but I do those exercises and it helps. Vaping hasn't really seemed to cause any problems for me. Hope yours gets better cause I know how painful it can be.

Thanks--yeah, one of my discs in my jaw had completely slipped out of the socket and down into the inside of my jaw. Try 4 months 3x a week 45 minute TENS sessions, ultrasound, and massage, and another 8 months with regular facio-cranial adjustments. Had to have an MRI and custom appliances made, and all not covered by insurance. I don't want to have to do that again.

The one exercise that I was taught was to put my front teeth together, and slowly open and close my mouth, touching my teeth, 6 times. It supposedly resets the disc into the correct position and stretches the muscles around the jaw.

 

[alisa1970]

I have no experience with TMJ, very sorry to hear you are in such discomfort from vaping.

I am curious what type of equipment you are using. I can tell you that there are options out there that have looser draws than others.
I started with an eGo battery and clearomizers. I have since switched to a rebuildable AGA-T+ (which I am in love with). It already had a smoother and easier draw than the clearomizers I was used to but I drilled out the air hole a bit to 1/16th of an inch and it takes even less effort to pull a draw off it.

Rebuildables have a steeper learning curve than clearomizers but if you are willing to learn how to set them up correctly they are an outstanding vaping experience, and a very easy draw.

Thanks statistic for the well wishes.

Right now, I am using an eRoll--it may be that the smaller size is causing me to have to draw harder to hit it, I dunno.

When I was "shopping" before I bought it, I did try another unit that was similar I think to a ViVi or Twist, but it didn't seem to have any different feel to the draw. Maybe long term it does, and maybe because I had no experience vaping I wasn't doing it right anyway.

I was originally thinking I would get a bigger unit for at-home vaping, which is when I basically chain-vape. Maybe that will help? I have to wait a bit to get anything new, as I really don't have the money to spend on anything at least for a month. I've already spent probably around $200 this month getting my juices and additional carts and atty's, etc.

Maybe with this info you can point me in the right direction?

 

[klynnn]

Mine was locked shut for a month but the ultrasound worked eventually. Back in those days they really didn't know what do do about it. The specialist was a pioneer in that field but that was 30 years ago. Thank heavens the exercises, when I have to do them, keep mine under control.

 

[alisa1970]

Mine was locked shut for a month but the ultrasound worked eventually. Back in those days they really didn't know what do do about it. The specialist was a pioneer in that field but that was 30 years ago. Thank heavens the exercises, when I have to do them, keep mine under control.

Yep, it worked for me too before I started vaping. Hopefully I'll find a better fix so I can stay smoke free!

 

[klynnn]

I have been using the spinner and bigger batteries plus the vivi nova. I don't feel the draw is too hard at all on that. Am not familiar with the eroll. You probably need to try several juice delivery devices to see how it affects you.

 

[klynnn]

One thing you might check on are drip tips some are easier on the facial muscles than others. I have found that some are just the wrong size or shape so try a few different ones. Most people wouldn't notice it but I do.

 

[alisa1970]

Thanks Klynn, I appreciate the suggestions.

I sure wish there was a real vape shop near me so I could try stuff out. The place I bought my eRoll is a Kiosk that sells their own branded stuff (just so happens to also sell the authentic joyetech eRoll) and I don't want to buy any knockoffs.

I'll have to do some more research, I guess.

 

[klynnn]

Whenever you decide to buy post it on the forum and get some suggestions on the purchase. Lots of people here can save you money by suggesting a better company with a better price or better equip..

 

[Dana A]

And I thought I was the only one lol.

One thing you might check on are drip tips some are easier on the facial muscles than others. I have found that some are just the wrong size or shape so try a few different ones. Most people wouldn't notice it but I do.