I have tmj with severe pain. on a scale pf 1-10, its a10. i've had botox and arthocentesis and i still have a locked jaw for 3 months. i am now experiencing numbness andtingling all over my face and in my tongue which i find very strange. what should i do

Need a team approach: Since there are multiple symptoms of longstanding duration that previous treatments have not relieved so far, consider visiting the TMJ pain management clinic of a major hospital center, preferably affiliated with a dental school. It requires a team approach to diagnose and treat. Imaging of the joint area is needed and a neurologist should be consulted in addition to a head and neck specialist.

Very difficult to tr: I don't know where you live but it is very very important to find a dentist who doesn't treat this as something as a part of his dental practice but it is his dental practice. He treats chronic pain of the head and neck dealing of course the TMJ . Could give you named of too people in the field many people in your situation travel very far to find the right person to treat.

Second opinion???: Obviously, without a thorough history, it is difficult to assess your entire predicament. I assume you have been back to the doctor who has treated you. If you are unsatisfied, i would consider obtaining another opinion. Maybe you can get different types of treatment that will settle things down. I don't envy you!

Try a different Rx: Your joints became dysfunctional because... Find out the cause and then you will know better how to treat. Treating the joint problem (effect) without treating why the joints are compromised is not a very sound approach to long-term stability. Treating the cause will require that you find the reasons for the compromises and then address these as conservatively as possible.

Botox: might be helpful. Seek advice from a TMJ specialist that uses botox for this condition.

TMJ expert: If you've had arthrocentesis, I'm assuming you are being managed by an oral surgeon. Your oral surgeon may or may not be an expert TMJ surgeon. Has he offered other alternatives? Are you also being managed by a NON_SURGICAL TMJ expert? You should be. You may need another opinion from a non-surgical TMJ expert and a surgical TMJ expert. Good luck.