TMJ 'dysfunction' - Health implications

This is an excerpt from the heart-rending story of Barbara D Webster titled "All of a Piece: A Life With Multiple Sclerosis"

"I saw a doctor, who spoke of overwork and resulting exhaustion, and treated some of my symptoms. Essentially, however, he seemed to think that because there was no apparent reason for my complex of symptoms, there was nothing wrong with me. The only problem with that diagnosis from my point of view was that I did not get well; I became increasingly weak, and my symptoms became more and more pronounced. It was very difficult for me to function on a day-to-day basis.

Eventually, and I think partly to protect himself--even in the late 1960s doctors were concerned about malpractice suits--my doctor said that one possible explanation for all these symptoms was a brain tumour and recommended a neurological workup to rule out that possibility. Because my family knew a well-regarded neurologist at a medical centre near their home, it was decided that I would go there for these tests. I say "it was decided" purposely. By this time, I was not functioning well at all and merely acquiesced in the decisions others made for me.

In the hospital I had what felt like every medical test known to man, from brain scans--the old-fashioned kind--to electro-encephalograms to elaborate vision tests. I was visited by heart specialists and virologists. The most frightening test and, after the fact, the most interesting, was a brain angiogram. Dye is injected through an artery in the neck, and pictures are taken as the dye flows through the brain. Because this was a teaching hospital and angiograms were rarely done on one so young, there was a large crowd squeezed into a small room, all, it seemed, looming over me as I lay there. There was difficulty inserting the needle into my neck, and I went into shock. That increased the uneasiness I had begun to feel when I had been required to sign a special release form for the procedure.

What was fascinating, and frightening, was the feeling as the dye flowed through my brain--one never feels one's brain, but suddenly, it was a palpable reality. Because dye was injected only into the left side of my brain, I could feel that and, at the same time, not feel the right side. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. I also felt as though I must squeeze my eyes shut to keep this hot, surging liquid from escaping from my head. It was altogether a remarkable experience.

At the end of all these tests I was told that there was a faint but unlikely possibility that I had had a virus which had since disappeared. The doctors' best judgment was that there was nothing organically wrong with me, and that I had some kind of unspecified nervous disorder. I was told to rest for a couple of months, and that because there was no medical reason for what had been happening to me, there must be an emotional reason. It was "all in my head."

It was also pointed out to me that one good reason for my illness could be found in the circumstances of my life. At that time I was seriously involved with Nick, the man I was later to marry, and I was told that this relationship was making me sick, and that unless I ended it I would get sick again. At that time, Nick was still married to his first wife, and I was violating all sorts of social canons by my involvement with him. This was, after all, 1969. I had no intention of ending this relationship and I felt that, given the undercurrents of disapproval emanating from my family, my illness was being used as a way to exert pressure on me.

There was some reason for this feeling: the messages I was receiving were very confused--nervous disorder, emotional reasons (I was simply neurotic), my relationship with Nick.

On the day that I was discharged from the hospital there was a blizzard, and, because my family could not pick me up, old friends took me to their house to spend the night. They were very kind and acting, I am sure, from good intentions, talked incessantly about how wrong Nick was for me. Nick was also stranded because of the blizzard, but I was not allowed to see him. It may sound strange that I, at twenty-three, allowed myself to be not allowed to do something. But I remember the feeling of extreme powerlessness I had at that time, and I was very unwell and had no strength. What strength I had, I used to insist that I would not end this relationship.

The next day, my father arrived to drive me home and discussed the changes I needed to make in my life. In the car, he commented that my jaw was set and that I was being very stubborn. A set jaw describes perfectly how I felt: I felt very alone, very misjudged, and determined to hold to my own sense of who I was and what was right for me. I knew that there was something definitely wrong with my body, but there was no one at that stage, except Nick, who agreed with me.

I felt as though I was alone in front of a wall of figures endowed with expertise and authority who were all saying that I was wrong. From my perspective, the central fact, the central reality in all of this, was that no one trusted me; my family and friends tended to trust others--the voices of medical authority and knowledge.

At this time, it was strongly suggested that psychiatric help was in order. After all, I was sick and if there was nothing wrong with my body, there must be something wrong with my mind. My doctors very explicitly said: "We can find nothing wrong with you; therefore there is nothing wrong with you. If you do not get well, that means there is a psychological cause for your illness." I was also gravely warned that unless I "worked through my problems," I would get sick again.

I was very resistant to the idea of psychiatric help, but eventually agreed to see someone. I went back to New York, where I lived, and started trying to find a psychiatrist. After being interviewed by a couple of psychiatrists who seemed unsympathetic and unhelpful, I simply refused to see one. Beyond the fact that I saw no reason to engage in that exercise, it seemed obvious to me that the explanation for walking into walls was not to be found in the far reaches of my childhood."

Comment: Please note that this patient had every test under the sun and was eventually being groomed into psychiatric care. This is the usual modus operandi of medical practice, when no cause is found, the patients' ill health, such as tiredness and general aches, to more severe problems like paralysis or seizures are routinely consigned to a mental disorder. They will send the patients to the loony bin instead of referring the patient to someone who can view the physical aspects of the patients' condition and ACTUALLY arrive at an answer.

Extreme helplessness, because of the presence of symptoms which no one can remediate, causes depression and mental ill health. This disappears as soon as the patient receives the correct physical intervention. Our body heals extremely fast as soon as the correct treatment is instituted without any mental intervention.

Cranio dental and Skeletal Symmetry evaluation is essential before you undergo such extensive tests, and before you get branded as a lunatic in need of psychiatric care. The normal age of onset of such symptoms is 22. This is when the lower jaw has fully grown. If you have had dental interventions, the onset of illness as described above could be earlier.

It is also ironic that the patient's father mentions the jaw (although in a different context) which I highlighted in the excerpt!

Please read the full story:
http://www.lifewithms.com/
© 2024 M. Amir All rights reserved
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ABOUT: Dr Amir’s dedication to promoting an alternative approach to dental and medical care, focusing on prevention over intervention, has not come without significant personal cost. Taking a stance against mainstream practices which contribute to ill health has put him at odds with powerful vested interests in the medical and dental fields. Dr Amir's work has led to groundbreaking achievements, with 48 identified illnesses which can potentially be treated through dental interventions. Despite facing funding challenges, Dr Amir's resolve remains undeterred. This site aims to highlight those issues and promote an alternative approach, to change current dental and medical practice paradigms. To help Dr Amir continue his work and maintain his practice, he invites contributions, no matter how small. Please donate through a window that comes up after a few seconds at dramir.com.

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