Subject: Re: [Harp-L] dislocated jaw

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Venky...I realize you're a medical professional, but unless  you deal 
directly with dislocated jaws...or Temporomandibular jaw  dysfunctions, you cannot 
advise people suffering from this to ignore their  dentist's instructions.  
 
This is a terrifically painful disorder...I should know.  I've  suffered from 
a TMJ dysfunction for years, after sustaining some rather serious  
facial/head injuries.  When the jaw dislocates it does cause brutal  headaches as well 
as severe jaw pain, and for someone already suffering from  migraines, it's an 
even worse burden...but having a chiropractor attempting to  "reset" the 
jawbone as you put it, is the very last thing one should have done,  in my 
considerable experience.  
 
The jaw is a completely unique joint..exerting the most force comparatively  
speaking in the human body, and isn't a dislocated shoulder that can be  
relatively easily reset.  Permanent TMJ damage can be caused by the  wrong move.  
I'm one of those unlucky enough to have developed the  condition before there 
was sufficient knowledge available, and it is still an  extremely tricky 
condition to treat.  It's medical, but can only be treated  by dental 
professionals...so say the insurance companies. :(  In my case it  went round and round 
several times before they finally agreed on just who was to  treat me (at the 
time).  Quite frustrating, as you can imagine.
 
What IS needed at minimum is rest and relaxation of the jaw...usually by  
alternating ice and heat, medicines to ease the pain and help to relax the  
tension of the jaw...until the joint slowly realigns itself, with the help of a  
bite plate/ nite retainer, under the care of a good and knowledgeable  
dentist/orthodontist/maxillofacial specialist.  Exactly what Brad's dentist  talked 
about.  He seems to have a good handle on the problem.  Smart  dentist.  "First 
...do no harm."
 
Brad did specify that the pain meds were for the headaches he was suffering  
in the meantime (not specifically to reset the jaw)...and the Ibuprofen he's  
taking (while I can't use those types of meds), should help relax the  muscles 
of his jaw as well, enabling them to heal  themselves.   
 
I don't disagree with "warming up" before playing harmonica..that's good  
advice for vocalists too, but that has very little to do with a jaw joint  
misalignment if it's caused by bruxism or a facial injury (the most  common 
reasons).  Even yawning too widely can cause a dislocation.   I'm sincerely hoping his 
is purely temporary.  I actually think saxophone  players might be more prone 
to the problem (as you mentioned) just by virtue of  the mouthpiece they use 
and how they have to shape their mouths to  play...(compared to a 
harmonica)...though my TMJ problem is most definitely the  reason I don't attempt to play 
tongue-block.   I've tried, but given  up.
 
Also in Brad's case...I doubt it's anything at all to do with his  getting 
"older", as he thinks (though this kind of pain makes one feel "old"  rather 
quickly).  Mine came about when I was quite  young. 
 
Regards,
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 7
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:29:58 -0400
From: "Venky  Ramakrishna" <VRamakrishna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE:  [Harp-L] dislocated jaw
To: <BradKava@xxxxxxx>,  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
<C2FBF2806B28BF4993EEC8B3A45DDDBB4E918A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

Not  sure how many harp players recognize this- it is important to warm
up before  you play. Ask Jon Gindick (www.gindick.com)- he has some very
useful tips.  Jaw misalignment is not that uncommon as previously
thought- happens to a lot  of Sax and harp players.

And, don't take medications- they won't reset  the jaw bone. Go see a
chiropractor."

-----Original  Message-----
"From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx  [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of BradKava@xxxxxxx
Sent:  Wednesday, October 10, 2007 3:01 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject:  [Harp-L] dislocated jaw

Anyone had anything like this happen?  

Three weeks ago I woke up and my mouth felt really strange...All of  a
sudden, 
my back teeth no longer lined up, but my front teeth  did.   I was in 
incredible pain if I tried to bite down and make  my back teeth touch.

Turns out that either in my sleep, or with a yawn, I  dislocated my jaw.
The 
dentist says it should fix itself within a month  and made me a retainer
to try 
and force the jaw back in line.    I have to take tons of Ibuprofin to
stop the 
headaches it's  causing.

Weird, huh? Can play, but it feels strange too. Not really  getting the 
position I need.

The older I get, the stranger the things  that happen.

brad  kava"


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