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Need some help getting braces and jaw surgery

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I'm hoping to get a little help. The short version: I need braces and probably jaw surgery. I have no money for either (obviously or I wouldn't be here). 


Long version:

I've always had some strange issues on the right side of the body, but last year, around May, I had what I thought was a running injury. Pain, tightness, nerve pain over the knee, in the knee, in the hip, lower back (all on the right side only), Achilles tendon down to the heal, the heal, and the underside of the foot, up and over the toes to the top of the foot. It also went up my spine to the top of my head.

Gradually, over the weeks and months some of the knee and tendon issues went away, but I developed a strange, severe tightness in my back and pain in the spinal area. To make a long story short, it was to the point where I was icing or heating, popping ibuprofen a lot; I could get an hour and a half massage, and two hours later it was as if the massage had never happened.
Jump forward a few more months and the extreme tightness of the back muscles faded but I developed more pain in the right side of the body. Only the right side. Straight down the middle of the spine over to the tips of my right hand fingers.

I have had to stop running for at least 6 months (though I'm able to do a little here and there, and can't do 75% of the workouts at the gym that I used to.)

I would have random shooting nerve pain, tightness in all different muscles than before, and a lot of tingling and numbness, top to bottom. Right side of the face would be numb and tingling, and would be tight. Ended up at the ER several times because it would come on strong, and I'd get tightness in one half of the face along with throbbing temple pain.  

I have been checked by numerous specialists, sometimes twice, for Lyme's disease, lupus, fibromyalasia, other autoimmune diseases, brain tumors, bleeding on the brain, spinal tumors, nerve damage or muscle issues, and numerous other things I can't pronounce. I've had MRI's of the head and the entire back down to the torso, as well as a catscan of the brain (yes, there is one there), and a host of blood tests.

Anyway, we weren't finding anything. At the same time I've been working with a doctor and dentist for severe TMJ ( Temporo-Mandibular Joint - jaw issues), and teeth grinding. I grind my teeth and clench the jaw constantly, and have chipped teeth many times. 

The strange thing is, we (doctors, dentist, orthodontist) suspect that the nerve issues on the right side of the body could be coming from my mouth. My teeth are pushing together more and more, and they're making my front teeth loose. With a severe overbite and overjet, my jaw is constantly jutting forward in an unconscious attempt to line the teeth up as they are supposed to be. This is wreaking havoc on the nerves around the back of the jaw, ear and into the neck. That's where the braces come in; to correct my palette. 
In addition, the orthodontist said that my jaw is slightly asymmetrical. There has been more bone growth on the right side, and thus a slightly longer bone on the right, which moves the centerline of my jaw slightly over to the side. This, in combination to the above mentioned teeth issues, is what we believe is causing the right side nerve issues.


So, I just saw an orthodontist this week. I have an appointment in two weeks to get xrays and models of my mouth made. When those are developed, I have an appointment with the orthodontist to develop a treatment plan. At that time we'll look further into jaw surgery and what that would entail. I am told it is pretty major surgery. 


I am asking for help because I don't have dental insurance, and it's really a toss up as to whether the jaw surgery would be covered at all. asd123It remains to be seen. 

Braces aasde g10oing to be roughly $7,000. Jaw surgery, I have no idea at this point but it's expensive. Plus recovery.


I really hate that this sounds so pathetic, and I hate asking for help. But I work 68-70 hours a week and have trouble making ends meet as it is. 


Any help at all, even $3 dollars, would be greatly appreciated. I will be posting updates as they happen.


Thank you in advance for the small lifetime that it probably took you to read all that. And thank you if you're able to help.

 - Nick


P.S. I will be posting a photo as soon as I find one that's worth posting. I'm not quit100e Mr. Photogenic ; )

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Nick Danger
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