I had to be treated for TMJ some 20 years ago, and was given a night guard, as well. My dentist/ortho gave me electric shock treatments to relax the, muscles; that was a bit painful, too. But, I eventually stopped grinding my jaws together. Stress management was the biggest help (and a glass of wine before bed). But, my jaws are affected by bone degeneration in my joints; not much help there, sorry.

hi there! I have been diagnosed with a condition similar to TMJ--I get pain on my right side of my face and am seeing a specialist. Basically, I clench my teeth so much I've essentially sprained my jaw and I also wear a nightguard which has helped somewhat. What my specialist wants me to do next is biofeedback, which he said will help me learn when I'm clenching my teeth during the day (when I don't even realize I'm doing it), and he is also exploring the connection between sleep apnea, which I have (a mild case), and the symptoms. He said that many people with sleep apnea have TMJ or TMJ-like symptoms because in order to keep an airway open during the night we clench our teeth. I recently wore a monitor during the night to measure my oxygen and other levels and I'll find out the results during my next appointment. If my sleep apnea is now significant enough, I will get a new oral appliance to help treat it. So these are 2 things you might want to look into with your doctor. Hope this helps!

I wanted to "second" the above recommendations, as everything I've read about TMJ pain encourages the use of a biteplate or other dental treatment, as well as combining this with psychological treatment, such as biofeedback or stress management. The book: Mind Body Medicine (edited by Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. and Joel Gurin) has an excellent chapter on TMJ and chronic pain. One paragraph states, "Between 10 and 30 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain... Although psychological factors by themselves rarely cause persistent pain, they can trigger or worsen attacks of pain and contribute to distress and disability." "...people who suffer from chronic pain...can take an active role in managing their condition effectively. Research demonstrates that a number of self-management approaches--including biofeedback, exercise, imagery and cognitive strategies--can help people develop a sense of mastery over the pain. An interdisciplinary pain clinic may be helpful for you."