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My question is about using botox for treatment of TMJ sydrome & also getting benefits of cosmetic appearance.
I'm a 49 year old white male that has suffered from TMJ syndrome since the early 1980s. I had Bilateral TMJ arthroplasties done, which were unsuccessful. I'm on a number of medications for severe firbroymaliga, Lumbar dicsogenic syndrome & lumbar facet syndrome. I do go to a pain clinic.
I'm currently on 6 different pain medications. I would really like to try Botox since i heard so much about it being used for myscofacial pain syndrome. Does it work?
Professional answers to: Can Botox be used to treat TMJ?
3 of 3 people found the following answer helpful:
Botox for TMJ
| Sachit Shah |  |
Yes, we use Botox for TMJ pain. It is not effective in all the cases but it does seem to cause a reduction in pain in most patients we treat. It is important to remember that once Botox is injected it can take as long as 3 weeks to cause a reduction in pain. it does not seem to work as quickly as for the cosmetic use.
I find it lasts anywhere from 4-6 months in terms of relief and then it has to be repeated. I tend to find that once the same person has been treated 3-4 times they seem to last longer with treatment.
First answer2 of 3 people found the following answer helpful:
Botox might give some temporary relief for TMJ pain
| Michael Sinclair, MD |  |
Using Botox for TMJ pain would be considered an off label use. Botox might help TMJ pain in 2 ways:
- If the Botox were injected into the TMJ, it might cause the TMJ to get numb.
- Botox could also be injected into the "chewing" muscles which cause the pressure to be exerted on the TMJ. The problem is that the Botox could make it hard or impossible to chew or move your lower jaw. Botox might also cause facial paralysis that is NOT desirable.
I do know that Botox has been injected into some joints (like the knee) with good results for pain relief. I do NOT know anybody who is using Botox for TMJ pain.
If you decided to try to use Botox to help you with TMJ pain, make CERTAIN you go to somebody who has a lot of exerience with managing TMJ pain.
Reader comments to: Can Botox be used to treat TMJ?
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botox is not FDA approved, but is becoming very well known for TMJ relief - search youtube .com for Dr. Rivkin's ABC news segment and google his website. Also, since botox alone is not enough you have to stop the TMD that causes the pain - see Dr. Davidson at UC San Diego, especially at the end of his sample patient consultation, his 'Additional Comments' http:/health.ucsd.edu/specialties/surgery/ davidson/consults/tmj.htm