Helping a friend

I have a friend that has been undergoing THOUSANDS of dollars worth of treatment for TMJ and jaw issues and is still having symptoms (like 25k+ worth of out of pocket treatment for ONE dentist). She's getting into the space where random rare syndromes are being thrown at her (Eagles syndrome) which I understand to be because of a structural abnormality - though I'm not a doctor, I know these abnormalities don't have to cause pain (open to more info from someone that's heard of this disorder - don't google it, i made that mistake lol. I tend to get the symptoms I google about). I want her to feel the freedom that this work and community has to offer. If anyone has ideas about how to gently suggest or bring a friend into information about this work, I'd love ideas. Thank you so much! It's heartbreaking to watch someone struggle from doctor to doctor.

 

Heartbreaking, indeed! And I am too familiar with the desire to not "force" my beliefs on others, especially if it's someone who knows what I believe and what I've experienced, but continues to go to doctors seeking a diagnosis for their own issues.

It's really difficult when you've got a person who is convinced that their problem is unique, and even harder if their symptom is not clearly addressed in an easy-to-access resource such as one of Dr. Sarno's books.

Do you think that anxiety is at the core of her jaw issues? I believe that this is typical - I certainly used to clench my teeth, and I have the multiple crowns to prove it, but I got rid of my nightguard in 2012, because I taught myself not to do that anymore. If she has acknowledged anxiety, that's one place to start. Too many people don't take anxiety seriously - I only did so when it was threatening to make me housebound back in 2011.

For anxiety, I recommend the little 1969 book by Claire Weekes, Hope & Help For Your Nerves. Dr. Weekes didn't know Dr. Sarno, as far as I know, but she hits the nail on the head, AND she addresses the physical symptoms that manifest as a result of anxiety.

 

Actually, here is our own wiki with a page devoted to TMJ:
https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Temporomandibular_Joint_Syndrome_(TMJ) (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ))

Also, just googling around, I found this TMJ doc who met Dr. Sarno. He believes that TMS which manifests in jaw pain can cause physical damage if it goes on too long, and I totally agree with that when it comes to your teeth and jaws. So he says that even if TMS was the cause, that damage repair still needs to take place - but he seems to agree fully that TMS can be the cause. https://tanenbaumtmj.com/2017/08/04/dr-sarno-and-my-approach-to-tmd/ (Dr. Sarno and My Approach to TMD - Donald R. Tanenbaum, DDS MPH)

 

Thank you so much for looking into this! That dentist is such a great resource!