Does anyone with TMJ really miss lovely food?

catrocks1982
catrocks1982 Member Posts: 56
edited 12. May 2012, 17:20 in Living with Arthritis archive
Im new to here but i just wondered, anyone with TMJ miss having lovely food?

Do you have mad cravings for food that you aint allowd to eat?

How do you overcome those cravings/feelings?

Im finding it so hard not being able to eat lovely food, miss going out to restaurants and being able to eat anything on the menu.

Catx

Comments

  • freesia
    freesia Member Posts: 409
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    O dear... I really feel for you....

    I don't have arthritis in my Jaw.... But suffered severe TMJ problems after hitting my face/jaw in a car accident several years ago....

    It's very hard getting used to adjusting your foods....

    I tended to eat pasta or rice risotto dishes which are soft and easy to eat, or jacket potatoes (not the skins) with baked beans and cheese which melts...

    Soups and casseroles are also good and also some fish can be easily eaten....

    It all seems very difficult to start with, but you do learn to adjust...

    And of course - puddings are fairly easy (if not too easy) ice-cream, rice puddings, yoghurts....ect.... stewed fruits or smoothies are excellent too...

    Thinking of you.... good luck....
    hugs freesia xxx
  • Folara
    Folara Member Posts: 568
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I adore toffees so I suck them lol. I've never been a big meat eater so having less of that hasn't bothered me.

    I don't really think there's a lot I miss as I find cutting things up small I can eat really what I want.

    I would dread to think of my TMJ getting really bad tho.

    Fols x
  • catrocks1982
    catrocks1982 Member Posts: 56
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree its very hard to get used to not being able to eat what you want, i really miss it. I miss a lovely bacon roll lol.

    I am pretty much on liquids on a good day a can open my mouth just an inch if im lucky which only gets a tea spoon in, i cant chew at all so has to be mostly liquids, yoghurt, smoothies, small pasta, mince and tatties. I feel im getting fed up with the same things all the time.

    I notice now that we take it for granted that we can eat, but when it got so bad that i couldnt chew, you realise what your missing lol

    :) Catx
  • freesia
    freesia Member Posts: 409
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I can appreciate our TMJ conditions are different....

    But the only thing that helped with "my" jaw & facial pain was (ibruprofen gel - applied directly around the jaw/hairline area...

    Any pills I took - didn't seem to help the TMJ pain, and seemed to help the other car accident pains, ie: whiplash & backpains....

    It wasn't until I saw a different maxilliofacial surgeon - who suggested this gel and for "me" & it certainly helped - not a cure, but eased the pain....

    Might be worth considering... obviously not on broken skin ect.... maybe consult your GP for advise...

    all the best....
    hugs freesia xxx
  • catrocks1982
    catrocks1982 Member Posts: 56
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have that gel but my pains deep inside and the only thing thats really eased it is tramadol, however tramadol makes yi very drowsy the pro's outweighed the cons so have to take them to ease it.

    My main problem is that i have no cartlidge left in my joint so its bone to bone an it must be touching nerve as i just about hit the roof when i move it to much.

    Must have been a bad car accident. My jaw injury was caused by domestic violence thats probably why i get very frustrated :(

    Hugs back
    Catx
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

    posted this earlier - on the wrong TMJ thread :roll: :roll: :roll:
    will try again ......... I blame ... the weather, evil arthur, fibro fog and the amitriptyline I've just taken :lol::lol::lol:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Hi Cat,
    I have sent you a PM with some links to a firm who, as part of their food business, sell frozen ready meals which are either pureed or designated as 'soft' foods. They are a company that OT's and social services round here recommend to those of us who struggle at times to cook decent meals.

    If anyone else wants the links just send me a PM and I'll send them to you - alternatively do a search for 'frozen ready meals delivered' and you'll almost certainly come up with them on the first page :wink:

    wonky xxx

    PS - forgot to say I have intermittent TMJ problems which the dentist thinks is partially due to Fibro and partly due to teeth grinding at night - so I have a very fetching mouth guard to wear at night :roll: :roll: not exactly the most elegant piece of kit but it does seem to be helping.
  • catrocks1982
    catrocks1982 Member Posts: 56
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Dont worry about that i got it and have ordered a brochure.

    Will keep you posted :)

    Catx