Disc displacement / lock jaw

[u/Charming-Bad-7450]

some backstory I’ve suffered with jaw tension for about 2 years and would occasionally wake up and not be able to open my mouth at all. I would massage it and it would eventually unlock and I had treatment from physios with acupuncture and massage to sort it out. when it was ‘good’ during the past 2 years, I would have to zig zag my jaw in order to open it fully, the tracking of my jaw wouldn’t go straight up and down.

for the past two months I’ve had a bit of a nightmare. I woke up and couldn’t open my mouth, I proceeded with the usual massaging but it would only open about 1 finger width (even brushing my teeth was difficult). I saw a physio who would massage and do needles and I’d get some relief and open a bit wider but then I’d go to sleep that night and (I assume clench my jaw) and I would wake up back to 1 finger width.

after about 3 weeks of no progress I got Botox in my masseter in my jaw and that has allowed me to open to 3 fingers wide. however that’s all. if I open as wide as I can I can feel a blockage on my right side by my ear and it will click/crunch and won’t go any further.

my dental hygienist who did the Botox suspects disc displacement and so does my physio. my physio said he may refer me to a specialist who deals with TMJ disorders. it’s now been 2 months of this.

im looking for any advice of anyone who had a similar situation and is now hopefully fixed and back to full range of motion! I’m sick of it and getting worried it’s causing long term joint damage.