#TMJ Disorder

[itwasntaphase]

Strange Sensations I crave:

1: taking my spine out and wringing it real good so it cracks every area and helps the pain (fuck scoliosis)

2: taking my eyes out and putting them into a glass of cold water (refreshing for dry eye)

3: Take my skin off and give it a very good scrubbing and moisturizing (no more itchy eczema)

4: taking my brain out and deep cleaning it then soaking it in an ice bath (I'm convinced this would cure my migraines)

5: Scratching behind my eyes (they are often itchy)

7: eating my many pica cravings without it causing issues (i.e. sand, foaming soap, decorative bar soap)

8: taking my muscles apart and soaking each one in a warm bath and then giving it a deep massage (bye bye achy body)

9: Pulling my sinuses out and rinsing them thoroughly (I think it would help my allergies)

10: removing my bottom jaw to give me a break from my TMJ for a while (self-explanatory)

Please reblog this and add yours so I know I'm not crazy in wanting these things. My therapist says these are symptoms from my OCD so that's fun.

[turtletaubwrites]

Almost cried at Olive Garden yesterday

(cw eating issues/TMJ)

I rarely go out to eat, but my client wanted to go. I almost didn't order anything since pasta and soup are a pain to eat with a mask, and everything else was too chewy/large/crunchy, etc. (Even salad was out since the greens are too thin for me to chew right now 😩)

I asked the server if I could get the spinach dip and substitute the flatbread crisps for something softer. She didn't get it so I said I have TMJ, and she suggested I use the bread sticks. I was a bit deflated since that bread is really chewy, but planned on just taking it home and eating it with a spoon or wrapping a slice of bread in a moist paper towel and microwaving it (sad TMJ hack, lol).

But the server came out with a big smile, saying that she'd worked there for 14 years, and had never seen the cook like this. She'd told him what I said, and he cut up the flatbread into small pieces and focused on cooking it just enough to be as soft as possible so I wouldn't have to open my mouth too wide or chew too much.

It seems so fucking silly, but that little bit of kindness almost had me tearing up in front of my client.

I was a bartender for 6 years, and I know how annoying/inconvenient it can be when customers ask for unusual things.

But I am so grateful to all the servers, cooks, etc. that take a couple minutes to make existing in this world just a little less shitty 🖤🙏

[spacejax]

wow i just love suffering from an incurable unexplained illness. I especially love experiencing daily excruciating pain that is completely resistant to tylenol

[transpsyche]

somehow I don’t think sleeping is supposed to make you so in pain that it makes you feel nauseous, yet here we are

[narcpocalypse]

Tmj culture is snap crackle pop with a side of OIUHVHHHBH OUGHHHH FUCKKK SHITTT UGHHHH OAUGH

[decodedlvr]

meanie sadist!eddie forcing his spit in your mouth but you have tmj ☹️☹️

*grabs my jaw*

‘Open your fuckin mouth’

..I can’t sir

What the fuck did I just say huh??

I have tmj sir..

*he remembers* sighs*

‘Open as wide as you can’

*opens mouth an 1 1/2 inches*

*he cups your mouth as if he’s gonna do cpr and spits deep inside where it hits your uvula*

‘It’s ok, it’s not your fault you’re fucked up’ *tilts his head to the side and pouts*

*..🥲*

reblogs appreciated:>

[becauseanders]

i hate you ehlers-danlos syndrome i hate you pots i hate you chronic migraines i hate you brainstem auras i hate you central nervous system complications i hate you degenerative disc disease i hate you hypotension i hate you osteoarthritis i hate you fibromyalgia i hate you tmj disorder i hate you carpal tunnel i hate you mcas

[victusinveritas]

[austinpetrini]

having a body is literally the worst bullshit because you have dysphoria then dysmorphia and then the PAIN and all the things that come with pain

and you know what????????

its always in the fucking joints!! if reincarnation exists let me be born jointless in the next life!!!!!!

[skellysedsbattle]

Welcome to my Blog!

Hi! I'm so happy to have all of you here. On this blog, I will document my experiences, troubles, treatments, interventions, and life with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Secondary to my EDS I have gastroparesis, dysautonomia, ASD, hip dysplasia, OSA, Iron Deficiency Anemia, POTS/OH, and more. I display my life with these disorders in order to raise awareness for EDS in the public eye AND in the medical feild!

[thechronicpaingame]

Has anyone had Botox for their tmj pain? I'm not getting a splint made for another 6/7 months and I simply think I will ✨perish✨ before that comes around with this pain. I worry about the affects as I don't have a very square jaw, and I don't really want to change my face shape but at this point I don't know what else to try! Already have one of those head wrap things with the gels you cool and heat and it's not helping. This has been like 2 years of this now but the last 4/5 months have been constant and today is the worst it's ever been.

[friendraichu]

might be just me being paranoid or a series of coincidences but it seems like the entire left side of my body is fucked up.

occipital neuralgia? almost exclusively runs up the left side of my head

left eye more nearsighted than right

TMJ seems like it might be worse on the left side (difficult to tell)

i have overarching neck and back pain, but left shoulder blade is more frequently in pain than right

left hip some sort of fucked up, probably related to my left L5 vertebrae being fused to my pelvis

all this to say, maybe i just tend to put more pressure on the left side of my body?? idk if one of these things instigated the rest or if it's all just happenstance, but it's fuckin weird and also im so tired of being in pain.

[turtletaubwrites]

Parted Lips

This SFW oneshot was inspired by This Post by @hufflefluffy about how Sanji would be with someone who struggles with eating such as with sensory issues, eating disorders, etc.

That post made me so happy, so I wrote this fic about Sanji helping his crewmate who has severe chronic TMJ pain.

Pairings: Sanji x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1734

Ao3 Link

Summary: Sanji has made another meal just for you, but it's still too painful to eat. You open up to Sanji about your jaw pain, and he offers to help you work through it

Rating/Warnings: SFW, Fluff, Angst, they aren't together yet but there's tension, and it is mildly suggestive, Mostly just sweet Sanji being a lovely human, Chronic Pain, TMJ Disorder, Difficulties with eating such as chewing and appetite, Grief

A/N: I've been struggling with this, and this past year has been awful. Sometimes I couldn't even eat soft cheese. I'm so lucky that my partner is very much like Sanji, and has learned to cook things for me that I can enjoy, and held my hand through this. I hope we can all find that kind of support for our pain. 💜💜

“Mm, this smells amazing, Sanji.”

The bowl of stew he’d placed before you had your mouth watering the scent of the meat and spices making pleasant chills run over your skin. 

Sanji smiled as he sat across from you, and the sight of his own matching bowl made you frown. 

“Why are you having mine?”

“Oh, ma chérie, are you hungry enough for more tonight, I can make something else.”

With a heavy sigh, you leaned away, your small appetite growing smaller at your sour mood. 

“You know what I mean, Sanji. You don’t have to eat what I eat.”

His soft eyes made you tense up, reaching up to massage your cheeks.

“There’s nothing wrong with what you have to eat, Y/N. At least I hope not. Will you calm this poor chef’s nerves, and let me know how it tastes? 

Swallowing your self pity, you reached for the spoon.

Probably the only utensil I’ll ever be able to use now.

Your hand spasmed around the metal slightly, and you felt Sanji’s eyes on your every move.

“Sanji, can you please not stare at me while I eat?”

“Oh, um. Of course, sweetheart, sorry.”

He turned his face down to his own bowl, and you steeled yourself.

It smells so good.

You filled your spoon, not taking too much, but making sure to have a piece of meat and carrot.

Very small pieces.

The meat was so tender, the flavors overwhelming you. 

It had been so difficult to enjoy food, but Sanji’s cooking was bringing your love back.

But that almost made it worse sometimes.

Even with how small the bites of meat and vegetables were, how wonderfully tender, it was still enough chewing to make you sore. You knew if you ate the whole bowl, you would be hurting. It had been a bad week.

“It’s delicious, Sanji. Thank you so much.”

You couldn’t keep your voice from cracking, and his brows tensed as he set down his spoon. 

“Is it too much, darling?”

You sat back, heat building in your throat as you started massaging your jaw. 

“I don’t want to eat puréed food for the rest of my life.

It was such a dumb sentence. It sounded pathetic. But the weight of it fell down on you, crushing your joy.

Sanji reached out, your skin tingling as his hand touched yours, pulling it away from your face to hold it. He squeezed it gently, and his soft skin was soothing, even through your frustration.

“I know what it is to be hungry, Y/N. I won’t let you suffer like this. No matter what it takes, I will find food that nourishes and satisfies you. Please let me help you.”

Hot tears welled in your eyes, and you swallowed, trying to push them down. 

“What else can I do?”

Looking away from his pleading eyes, you stared into your bowl of stew, the small pieces taunting you. 

Your hands reached up to rub at the sore muscles again. 

“Does massaging your jaw help with the pain? I could… Would you feel comfortable letting me touch your face?”

Breath catching, you felt tingles go over your skin.

Is he just trying to touch me? Does he really care, or is this just him…

The thought felt sour as you looked at his earnest face. Sanji was always flirting with you, but he flirts with all the girls, with every woman he meets. You didn’t think he was serious about being interested in you, so you had tried not to think about him that way. You weren’t always successful.

But he was also one of the kindest people you’d ever met. You set your hesitation aside, and took the cook’s offer.

Sanji came around the table now, facing you as he sat in the chair beside you. Your breath was still too light, and you started pinching your fingers in your lap, fidgeting as he moved close to you.

A small gasp escaped you as his warm fingers touched your cheeks. His skin was so amazingly soft, and your eyes fluttered shut as he started to lightly press in circles along your jaw. 

“Does this feel alright?”

You nodded with a small sigh, then guided his fingers with yours, showing him what you needed.

It felt so much better with his touch than your own, and you let yourself relax into it for a few minutes. 

Sanji kept going as he cleared his throat softly, bringing your attention to his face. 

“What are other things we can do to help you, love?”

You had to breathe, bringing yourself back to the moment. 

“Uh, sometimes icing it can help on bad days. There are exercises too, but it’s hard to remember until it gets bad. Then I can’t do them because it hurts too much.”

“Is there an exercise that isn’t as painful,” Sanji asked, his voice just as soothing as his fingers.

It took you another minute to respond as you melted under his touch.

“Yeah, um. I just always forget. It’s not really an exercise. I need to focus on my posture.”

“You have lovely posture.”

“Thank you,” you said with a laugh, not surprised that he would have noticed that about you. “I know I do. I’ve worked hard on it to help reduce the pain. Seems like it’s really paid off.”

Sanji gave a small frown at the light tone you tried to use with your sarcasm.

“What else, gorgeous?”

His soft hands cupping your face while he used that word made you feel dizzy. How can he make me feel like that with just his voice?

You didn’t want him to stop massaging you, but you moved his hands away. 

“Just this.”

Sanji’s gaze was drawn to your lips as they parted, and he stared for a moment before meeting your eyes again. 

“I’m sorry, dear. What is the next exercise?”

“Not an exercise. More posture. I’m supposed to stay like this as often as I can remember.” 

He stared at your lips again as you gestured to them. 

“My tongue is meant to touch the top of my mouth, and my lips should be slightly parted, as often as I can remember,” you explained, your voice trembling more with each word. 

“I hate it, how am I supposed to remember to do it? And if I do, I just have to live with my mouth open all the time? And what if it doesn’t help? Nothing ever helps-”

Sanji cupped your face again, making you gulp as stinging tears finally started falling. 

He brushed them away with his thumbs, and you felt your lips quivering as his face got closer. His eyes were pouring over your features, and it made you shiver.

“San-”

“You don’t have to carry this alone anymore, Y/N. I’ll help you, whatever you need.”

Your eyes clenched shut, sending a wave of tears down as you tried not to sob. All the pain, all the frustration was wearing you down. 

It seemed so trivial. But not being able to eat Sanji’s amazing food, losing your appetite when you thought of what you could eat, watching the crew laugh together over their meals, it made it all harder. 

You had stopped eating with the crew for a while now, with Sanji joining you after meals. But you felt sick with guilt when you couldn’t finish the food he’d worked so hard on for you. 

“May I hug you, ma belle?” 

Nodding, you let him pull you into his arms. You wanted to stop, to push this aside. It’s not that big of a deal, get over it. 

The biting thoughts that plagued you were finally ignored as you breathed in Sanji’s comforting scent. As you let yourself weep, you sobbed onto his shoulder while he drew comforting shapes along your back. 

He let you cry, and you realized that you were grieving. All the pain you’d bottled up was grief. Grief for all the things you couldn’t do, couldn’t enjoy because your body wouldn’t let you. The pain you ignored everyday until it became so sharp that you couldn’t ignore it. 

The days when you had to stop yourself from laughing with your crew because it hurt too much to open your mouth. 

Feeling it all washing over you, you clung to him, gripping his dress shirt in your fingers. 

Your sobs were loud and painful, but you couldn’t stop them if you tried. You had never let yourself feel all of this, all at once. It was like a dam had been breached, and Sanji was holding you, anchoring you so you wouldn’t be swept away. 

“I’m so sorry you have to carry this, darling. You shouldn't have to.”

He stroked your hair as his soft words started coming through your sobs. Your breathing began to slow, and you felt strange, not quite here. Still hurting, but relieved. 

Sitting back, his hands seemed reluctant to let you slip away. 

You were grateful that he wasn’t smiling. His brows were tensed slightly, and he tilted his head in soft concern. 

“Please come to me with this, Y/N. You don’t need to suffer in silence anymore. I won’t allow it.”

You gave a choked laugh as the corner of his mouth twitched up, and you were surprised that you were ready for the smile so soon. 

“Thank you so much, Sanji.”

You gripped his hands, squeezing his fingers as your breathing kept slowing down. He took one hand away to touch your chin gently. 

“Anytime, my love. I’m going to whip you up something delicious, alright?”

Nodding, your skin was still tingling as his thumb traced along your jaw.

“I’m going to be your reminder from now on, is that okay?”

It took you a second to understand, but you remembered your exercises.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Perfect. Now while I cook, I want you to hold your tongue at the roof of your mouth, and let your lips be slightly parted.”

You smiled at him before you obeyed, and then you watched his eyes seem to burn as they watched your lips part. 

Your breath hitched as Sanji’s thumb traced over your lower lip, delicious heat running through your body at his gentle touch. 

“I’ll help you remember now, ma chérie. Your lips look too beautiful like this for me to forget.”

Thank You for Reading! 💜

TurtleTaub Fanfic Masterlist

Tag List: @astheni-a | @fanaticsnail

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope that you have someone like Sanji to support you through your pain 💜

Buy me a coffee ☕🙏🏼

[facingfibro]

Happy Friday 🦔🪵🤎

Friday’s are my days to romanticize every single moment of the day. Throughout the week I find it difficult to maintain a “whimsical, care free, soft-loving” attitude at all times due to career stressors, chores, errands, appointments and all of the crazy hustle and bustle of the world. As much as it’s something I hope to obtain one day, a genuine care-free approach to life, I try to remind myself that it’s baby steps that will help get me there.

This morning I swapped out my typical matcha tea with an iced pumpkin spice latte with a huge drizzle of caramel and a massive dollop of pumpkin spice whipped cream. Because I felt like it and I slept for a total of 2 hours and I don’t want to sleep my whole Friday away as I typically would have.

I mean, I’ll still definitely have a nap but a half wasted day is not a full one and we owe it to ourselves to be at least half productive to maintain our lives so they don’t totally crumble away.

I used to strive for perfection and once I got ill I realized I simply want to strive for rhythm, routine and ritual.

I don’t care anymore if I don’t have the pretty baskets with the labels from Hobby Lobby. I don’t care anymore if my space is in a bit of chaos. My home is lived in and loved in. And my body is healing.

I simply strive now to get food in my belly and everyday it’s not “homemade from scratch food” and other days it is. But everyday I get food in my belly and I prioritize my nutrition.

I challenge myself to drink 10 glasses of water a day.

I stand outside in the sun or the rain or the clouds or the snow even just for 5 minutes to feel the air on me.

I throw a load of laundry into the dryer even if it will live in there for the next 4 days. I run my dishwasher and I’ll probably just take clean dishes out to use as I need them.

I make my bed around the piles of clean clothes that need to be put away and folded.

I take my medications and my vitamins to make sure my body is getting what it needs.

I try one new yoga pose a day and I prioritize my stretching and curate a stretch routine that fits me that day. What feels good in my body today?

All of this because it’s progression not perfection.

And we will get to where we want to be and need to be when it’s simply our time to be there

[padawansuggest]

Two things have happened tonight that might change my medical history:

They gave me an anti inflammatory shot and it, for the most part, worked very well. My teeth still aren’t fully great but my light sensitivity and neck and cheek pain are gone for now. This means that I have a precedence to ask my GP for cortisone or something like it as soon as possible so I can possibly not have this issue for a few months. If I tell them I’m also taking probably 3 times recommended doses of ibuprofen already because I’m so sick all the time and my stomach always hurts on top of my newly fucked up face, yeah, they’ll probably finally give in. I need to get STABLE before I’m physically able to travel to another town to get doctors appointments!! Travel is expensive!

And also, my TN might actually be TMJ, which is primarily a jaw issue, and the nerve pain stems from jaw hinge issues causing swelling and frankly she might be right because my sister also has TMJ, I just didn’t know till now because she doesn’t get the nerve pain from it. I have most all the symptoms tho, sooooo…

Anyways. A very nice cop gave me a ride home (yes I know ACAB but sometimes that doesn’t apply to small town deputies who’s main job is curtesy rides from the ER at 5am lmao) and I’m gonna take a shower and then sleep for so long. So. Long.

I have no doubt the swelling might return, probably will in fact, but maybe that flare up I had a few hours ago was a fluke and I can ride the rest of this flare up in relative peace till I can pester my GP about anti inflammatory shots. Hopeful.