Dealing with a particularly stubborn TMJ flare-up right now and I’m honestly torn between icing my jaw or just popping some ibuprofen. I’ve tried both, but sometimes I can’t really tell if one’s actually helping more than the other or if it’s just wishful thinking. Ice gives that instant numbing relief, but I feel like it wears off pretty quick (and sometimes I end up with a weird cold ache). On the flip side, ibuprofen seems to work deeper, but it messes with my stomach if I take it for more than a couple days in a row.
Anyone else notice a difference in how long the results last, or if there’s a “right” time to use one over the other? Like, should I be icing right after eating when my jaw’s sore, or is it better to just stick with meds before bed? My dentist kind of just shrugged and said “do whatever feels best,” which… not super helpful, honestly.
Also, does anyone combine both? Or is that overkill? Just curious if there’s some magic combo out there I haven’t tried yet. Would love to hear what’s actually worked for real people, not just whatever Google says.
My kid’s been dealing with TMJ stuff for a while, and honestly, we kind of bounce between the two. Ice is great for those “it hurts right now” moments, but like you said, it fades fast. Ibuprofen helps more with the swelling, but her stomach can’t handle it for long either. Sometimes we’ll do ice after dinner if she’s extra sore, then a small dose of ibuprofen before bed if it’s really bad. Haven’t noticed any issues combining them, but I do wish there was a clear answer too… Feels like it’s all trial and error.
Ugh, TMJ stuff is such a headache—literally and figuratively. I totally get that sense of trial and error, especially with kids. My teen went through a rough patch with jaw pain last year, and it was always a toss-up between ice packs or meds. Ice definitely helped in the moment but didn’t last long for her either. We tried ibuprofen too, but her stomach would get upset after a few days. It’s honestly stressful trying to balance some relief with not making things worse, you know?
I always worried about combining them, but our dentist said it was okay in moderation. Still, I was super anxious about overdoing it or missing something obvious. I wish there was just one clear answer for everyone, but it seems like what works changes week to week.
You’re not alone in feeling like you’re just guessing half the time. It’s exhausting. Hang in there—sometimes just knowing others are doing the same juggling act helps a bit.
I get the anxiety about mixing treatments—honestly, that's been my biggest stress point since I started having jaw pain a few months ago. It’s like, every time I reach for an ice pack or take ibuprofen, I’m second-guessing if I’m making things worse or just not doing enough.
Here’s what happened with me: the first time my jaw started locking up, I panicked and went straight for ice because it seemed “safe.” It did help, but only while it was on there. As soon as it warmed up, the ache would creep back in. After a few days of that cycle, I caved and tried ibuprofen. It worked better for the pain, but after day three my stomach felt off—nothing major, just a weird queasy feeling that made me super paranoid.
The dentist told me alternating both was okay, but to keep doses low and not do it for more than a week at a time. But I still found myself obsessively tracking when I took what, and worrying about possible side effects. Sometimes I wonder if all that stress actually makes the pain worse...
I’ve also tried heat packs (dentist said it’s fine to switch between hot and cold), and honestly, sometimes heat feels better than ice for me—especially in the morning when my jaw is stiff. But then again, some days it seems like nothing helps much. That’s the most frustrating part: there’s no clear pattern, and what works one week does nothing the next.
It’s weirdly reassuring to hear someone else admit they’re just guessing too. I keep thinking there’s some magic answer out there that I just haven’t found yet, but maybe it really is just about trial and error. The uncertainty is exhausting though—I feel like I’m constantly on edge about making a “wrong” choice.
Anyway...if it helps at all, you’re definitely not alone with the worry or the guesswork. If you find anything that actually works consistently, let me know—because right now my “system” is basically just hoping for the best and overthinking every step.
Honestly, I feel like I’m on a weird game show where the prize is “less jaw pain” and the rules keep changing. I tried alternating ice and ibuprofen for a week—felt like I was prepping for some Olympic jaw event. Ice numbs it, but then my face feels like a frozen steak, and ibuprofen helps until my stomach starts plotting revenge. My “best” trick so far is doing ice in the afternoon (when it’s aching most) and saving meds for nights when the pain’s bad enough to keep me awake. No magic yet, but at least I’m not alone in the guessing game.
