One of the questions we are asked quite often is if we know of any products that help TMJ disorder patients. So, we decided to create the patient panel, a panel of TMJ disorder patients who review these products. Here are our first product reviews! And by the way, if you have a suggestion for a product you would like reviewed, please contact us!
FaceCaddy
“My TMJ Disorder has led me to rig up some pretty bizarre contraptions over the years just to find a little pain relief. One of which was using a dish rag to tie an ice pack to my
head. Now that I’ve found the Face Caddy, I can lay that one to rest!
I first put it on after a particularly hard day of constant pain at the joint. It felt awkward at first and kept slipping off so I had to play with wearing it at different angles. I finally settled on placing the bottom at the edge of my chin and the velcro part at the top back of my head. This positioning made it feel like it wasn’t budging. It also made it feel like I couldn’t move my jaw at all. I could talk but it was an effort to do so. But when you’re wearing this, you’ll probably just want to relax in peace and quiet anyway!
I tried it sitting up, walking around and lying down. I was able to do all of that without it slipping at all.
The one thing I’d change is get better ice packs. They are rectangle but the pouches they go in are a lot narrower so they didn’t really lay flat (Editor’s note: this problem has been taken care of by FaceCaddy).
Overall, it’s a good product and I will use it often!
To learn more about FaceCaddy, visit their website (use the coupon code “TMJ” for $5 off for TMJ Hope readers).
Backnobber ll
The instructions provided were clear and easy to understand. It actually helped the first few times I tried to use it although I found it very awkward to hold in one place and put pressure on. (This might be, in part, because I have scoliosis so my back is already going in four different directions :S ) It did work though on a couple really tight kinks because it hurt and it tends to hurt to get those things out before it feels better. Overall, though I was initially thrilled the first time I saw this product on-line because of it’s ability to reach places I couldn’t.
The biggest advantage of this product was it helping with my neck. I haven’t been able to use it more than a few times although my doctor approved it as safe for me although I still feel some comfort having it around because I had initially gotten some very impressive results. I usually have a 10+ on back pain so I hope to try using it again, maybe in combination with a shiatsu product. On a scale of 1-5, I’d rate this product a 3. As a very petite person, it was just a little too big to co-ordinate myself to use comfortably. Hoping this helps and many thanks!
To learn more about the Backnobber, and to purchase the product, visit PressurePositive.com.
This product is unique, and despite the large amount of TMJ searching and online shopping I do, I have never come across it. It comes with a pamphlet that introduces the product, an instructional DVD, and a Myofree massage tool in a zippered storage pouch. Upon first glance I had no idea what this was! Luckily the pamphlet and the DVD explained everything very well.The basis for this product is myofascial trigger point release. You use the tool to reach tender trigger points in the muscles surrounding your jaw, then use the Myofree tool to massage out the tender or knotted areas.
This technique has been used for many areas of the body, and this tool allows for it to be easily done in hard-to-reach areas around the jaw.
This concept is great, as it is a conservative treatment option that helps target potential underlying causes of pain and discomfort.
As I grind my teeth a lot at night, this is a great treatment option to have around as my facial muscles are frequently very tense and sore.
After watching the DVD, I started to do some of the exercises.
It is very important to watch the DVD- even if you don’t feel like watching the parts on the background info,
you should watch the instructional parts on how to target specific muscles and how to use the tool.
The exercises target the muscles inside the cheek/around the jaw, the roof of the mouth, and under the tongue.
Then, you use the tool to massage them.
They warn you that you may feel discomfort, and they are right! I could not believe how tender some of these areas were and
how much discomfort I felt when massaging the areas that felt the most knotted up.
Who knew the muscles under my tongue could be so tense?? By the end of my first session, my muscles felt very sore and
generally agitated afterwards, but surprisingly, I felt much better the next morning.
As per their recommendations online, I tried to do 2 sessions per week, so later that week I tried my next session, and it hurt a little less
during the exercises and felt better afterwards again. This trend continued, and while I still feel a little bit of discomfort with each session,
it is much less than at the start, and continues to feel better and better afterwards.
I’ve used this around 7 times total now, and it has been a help for my muscle tension. As I also have internal derangement of the jaw,
this will never completely “fix” all of my jaw issues, but it does offer a nice therapeutic option I can do at home.
The website also says that some patients find they can decrease the frequency of use and use it only in response to symptoms.
For me, as I develop a lot of muscle tension surprisingly fast, I am going to continue to use it on a regular basis for now.
I recommend giving this product a try.
For patients with TMJ symptoms that are heavily muscular or tension related, this may offer quite a bit of relief. And for patients like myself
who may have more progressed symptoms, it still offers some relief and that’s worth a lot in itself! Most importantly, it offers a conservative
self-care treatment that you can use on your own will without taking medicine or calling a doctor.
It’s amazing what having a little bit of control can do!