I've been dealing with jaw pain, clicking, and headaches for years now, and my dentist finally sent me to a specialist who said surgery could be an option. But honestly, I'm kinda hesitant about going under the knife, you know? I've heard some folks say surgery was life-changing and totally worth it, while others say they regret it or had complications. On the other hand, conservative treatments like splints, physical therapy, and exercises seem less risky but maybe not as effective long-term?
I'm curious if anyone here has tried both approaches or at least seriously considered both. Like, did you find surgery was worth the recovery time and risks? Or did conservative methods actually do the trick for you long-term? I'm trying to weigh my options carefully before making a decision, cuz honestly this jaw thing is driving me nuts...
I get why you're hesitant—I had similar doubts myself. My ortho initially mentioned surgery too, and honestly, I freaked out a bit. Ended up trying the conservative route first—splints, exercises, PT—the whole deal. Surprisingly, after a few months, things improved noticeably. Not perfect, but way less clicking and headaches overall.
"I'm trying to weigh my options carefully before making a decision, cuz honestly this jaw thing is driving me nuts..."
Totally relatable...it's frustrating. Whatever you choose, trust your gut—it's your jaw after all.
Totally get where you're coming from—this jaw stuff can seriously mess with your head (literally, lol). I was in the same boat, surgery sounded intense and pricey, so I gave PT and splints a shot first. Honestly, it helped more than I expected. Like someone else said:
"Not perfect, but way less clicking and headaches overall."
Exactly my experience. Might be worth trying conservative treatments first, especially if you're budget-conscious like me... surgery's always there later if needed, right?
