I have had lots of jaw problems in the last few years, which have made me unable to play flute for longer than about five minutes (from a peak of playing 4-6 hours a day 5 years ago!)

I've had a quick look online but can't find much advice on treatment for jaw problems and TMJ in particular. I just wondered if anyone here might know of any good information. I would like to get back onto my flute and I don't want to feel to disabled to do so.

I had arm tension problems about 15 yrs ago and went to physical therapy where I concentrated on relaxtion techniques, meditation, etc, and it did wonders for me, so there are sometimes solutions before opening a medicine bottle

TMJ I think involves malfunction or injuries of the craniofacial muscle and the surrounding joints. I do not know how aggravated is your jaw pain but treatment to conditions such as this varies from pain killers to implants, depending on the degree of disorder.

Mrs. Carb,

I would suggest a run to the dentist first. You might be grinding your teeth. I tend to get a lot of jaw pain from being a chronic tooth grinder. My dentist actually confirmed it for me, as I had NO idea I was grinding. A guard if you choose to have one will help out tremendously. I would go there first, and if there are no signs of wear, then go to a regular doctor to see if you do actually suffer from TMJ. I thought I had TMJ also because my jaw pops a lot and gets sore. It's actually a side effect of the grinding. Hope that helps a little.

8th

i do grind my teeth (I have flat incisors!) and I already have a mouth guard to wear at night. It's not making the jaw-clicking or the pain any better, and I've had it now for over a year. I have limited flexibility in my jaw and tightness whichis the main reason I can't play flute at all now.

I would take a trip to the doctor then and have him check you out! It might be TMJ, something better, or something worse :/, it's always better to be sure what you are dealing with before you get back in to it. I am so sorry to hear that you have pain that keeps you from enjoying a wonderful hobby, and I sincerely hope you are able to repair the issue ASAP!

Have you tried something like stretching your jaw and mouth out in repetitions of 4-5 a few times a day? Does it hurt too much to do that and possibly work on pain resistance or is it more severe than that? I hope to hear very soon that you are well and back to playing! :D

TMJ can get really nasty, it is a condition with no sure shot treatment. I would suggest that you see your healthcare provider. Sometimes, jaw pain can root from a lot of causes, such as ENT, mouth or fiber optic areas. The earlier you get diagnosed the better.

I understand about wanting to research this yourself, but since we are not trained medical professionals then I think it would be more wise to seek help in person from a doctor. I really hope that you can get it managed or fixed so that you can get back into playing the flute again. That must really suck.