my tmj journey

My TMJ Journey

    Before TMJ Changed Everything
For most of my life, I never gave much thought to my temporomandibular joints (TMJs).
Like most people, I didn't even know what they were.
I was busy building a career, raising a family, and living life. The jaw joint was just another
part of the body I assumed would always work.

I had no idea how much my life was about to change.

    The Beginning
What started as jaw pain slowly became something much bigger.
The pain wasn't limited to my jaw. It spread into my ears, temples, face, neck, shoulders,
and head. Simple things like eating, talking, laughing, and yawning became painful.
At first, I kept waiting for it to get better.

Instead, it got worse.

As the months passed, my jaw became increasingly difficult to open. The pain intensified.
Everyday activities that most people never think about became daily challenges.

    Searching for Answers
Like many people living with TMJ disorders, finding answers was not simple.
I saw multiple providers, underwent imaging, tried treatments, physical therapy, oral
appliances, medications, and countless appointments.

Every appointment brought hope.
Every setback brought frustration.

I learned very quickly that TMJ disorders are often misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and
difficult to treat. Even among healthcare providers, there can be significant differences in
opinions and treatment approaches.

During this time, I discovered how isolating TMJ disorders can be.
People could see that I looked fine.
What they couldn't see was the constant pain, the sleepless nights, the difficulty eating, the headaches, the ear pain, and the emotional toll that comes with living with a condition that affects nearly every part of daily life.

    When My World Became Smaller
As my condition progressed, many parts of my life began to change.
Eating became one of the biggest challenges.
Food, something that should bring comfort and enjoyment, became associated with pain. I found myself avoiding meals, limiting what I could eat, and constantly weighing whether
eating was worth the discomfort that would follow.

Talking became difficult.
Social situations became exhausting.
Pain became a daily companion.There were days when simply making it through the day felt like an accomplishment.

    Mayo Clinic and Surgery
After months of searching for answers, I eventually found myself at Mayo Clinic.
In March 2026, I underwent TMJ arthroscopy in hopes of finding relief and learning more
about what was happening inside the joint.
During surgery, doctors discovered a perforated disc along with damage inside the joint.
The procedure provided important answers, but it did not mark the end of the journey.
Recovery brought both progress and new challenges. Some symptoms improved while
others remained. Like many TMJ patients, I learned that treatment is rarely a straight line.

    The Birth of The Forgotten Joint
Somewhere in the middle of the pain, appointments, surgeries, uncertainty, and frustration, an idea began to form.

I realized how little awareness exists for TMJ and TMD disorders.
Millions of people live with these conditions, yet many suffer in silence. Many struggle to
obtain diagnoses, treatment, insurance coverage, or simply understanding from the people around them.
I didd't want everything I was experiencing to be for nothing.

That's how The Forgotten Joint was born.

Our mission is simple:
To raise awareness, provide education, support people living with TMJ and TMD disorders,
and help patients access the care they need.
If sharing my story helps even one person feel less alone, then something good has come
from this journey.
The Journey Continues
My story is still being written.
While there may be challenges and recovery ahead, I do know what the next chapter looks like. My upcoming treatment involves removing the damaged disc and using fat grafting to help support and protect the joint.

What I do know is that I will continue sharing this journey honestly.
And as long as there are people living with TMJ and TMD disorders who feel unseen,
unheard, or forgotten, I will continue advocating for them.

Because no one should have to walk this road alone.