re: Question for dentists or doctors

Definitely sounds like TMJ

There are quite a few different ways to treat this. You’ll need to see a dentist whose specializes in the current treatment to get your jaw joint properly aligned.

I’ve been in treatment for a few years for TMJ.

Braces, Botox, muscle relaxers, accupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and PT have all been part of my treatment plan.

Jizz Jaw

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Not a doctor or dentist, but I did have a TMJ issue that lasted a year or so. Dentist said it was probably from grinding/clenching my teeth.

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Not a doctor or dentist either...but I have heard of a case where a worker on an assembly line developed TMJ from clenching her jaw so much as a reaction to cold air constantly blowing on her work station.

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Braces, Botox, muscle relaxers, accupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and PT have all been part of my treatment plan.

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Jeez, that is quite a list. I woke up about a month ago with bad pain and was pretty sure I must have clenched so hard that I damaged the joint or pulled something. Eating was the suck and jaw would pop and crackle. TMJ can resolve on its own, but my dentist neighbor is gonna 3D xray it this week just for kicks. Pain has resolved about 70%, but it still isn't great. I thought disk crap in the back sucked, but jaw pain 24/7 isn't fun.

What is the PT like? Is it recommended to get range of motion ie opening wide? Any recommendations?

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Jeez, that is quite a list

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It took years for me to be properly diagnosed.

I never once had jaw pain, but would wake up every day for years with splitting migraines.
I thought it was my caffeine addiction and that I was withdrawing during my sleep.

My dentist is who finally discovered it when I kept coming in with severe headaches.

By that time I’d developed such severe clenching and grinding in my sleep- which is what triggered the insufferable migraines- my c-spine was out of alignment.

I started with Chiro and PT- neck aligning exercises for about 6 months.

I also began ortho treatment at the same time. Had to wear an anterior growth guidance appliance that moved my maxilla forward so that my mandible would drop into place. That took a few months.
Then had braces applied. Wore metal braces for nearly 3 years and was so over them I had them removed early - stupid choice on my part- because I’m back in clear aligners (think- Invisalign) for probably another 3-6 months.

It’s been a helluva coarse of treatment but I almost never have headaches anymore so all in all it’s been worth it for me and I avoided surgery.

You should know anyone who worked hard enough to get those degrees will not pass out advice on a forum like this. They may say set up an appointment with your DDS or PCP and get it figured out.