Hi Mom, hi Carrie,

Mom, I think it is quite interesting that you have the TMJ on the same side as your RSD because I do too. My rsd is in my left foot. I've never had the TMJ quite as bad as you have described it but I was told that I have arthritis in the jaw after my tomogram. I have lots of crepitus noise and it is hard for me to hear people talking at the dinner table when I'm chewing. I have trouble opening my jaw wide, I have to cut my food into small pieces and avoid anything too chewy. I was told long ago that surgery would never be an option so I've just lived with it as best as I can. I where the custom mouth guard and find that warm moist heat works best to relieve the pain when it gets severe. Carrie, what side of your body is your RSD and TMJ on? I never thought about having steroid injections for TMJ, I think I'll try to get one if my TMJ flares up badly.

Right after I had the surgery (bunion) on my left foot I developed rsd. My foot went ice cold, burning cold and the pain was relentless, a big purple shinny burning foot. Also at the same time I developed a large boil type cyst on my face right where my ear and jaw are located, at the base of the earlobe. At the time I was quite disturbed by it as it really hurt and ultimately needed to be drained. Thinking back on it now perhaps my body was fighting an infection following the surgery? Because my TMJ was pre-existing to the RSD no doctors seem to pay it much attention either.

My physio therapist will often work on my neck and shoulders for me which is a big help. She taught me to keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth, just behind my teeth, this seems to keep my jaw in a relaxed unclenched position. It does help.

Some days I feel like my whole left side of my body is flared with RSD as the pain ping pongs from joint to joint including my jaw up and down my body. I do not have any of this on my right side. My doctor doesn't say much about this other than I should keep warm and keep moving. It's frustrating isn't it?

Wishing you all much peace and joy today.

MsL