I have severe TMJ. TMJ is where the jawbone meets the skull and the jawbone is really worn out. One reason can be due to grinding your teeth like I do.
Sometimes we grind at night while we're sleeping and don't even realize it.
My dentist is currently making me a custom mouth/teeth guard.
Another way to decrees the pain of TMJ is not to open your mouth as wide as you can. Like eating a really tall hamburgers for instance where you have to open real wide.
Don't chew on ice cubes because of the pressure you put on your jaw.
Things like that will really help decrease the pain from TMJ. It will also decrease the chance of getting TMJ in the first place.
Good luck.

Oooooh baby, yes! It's is one of my least favorite symptoms. I recently found out that my teeth extend up into my sinus cavities and even the least little bit of congestion sends me through the roof.

I am a disabled dentist due to fibromyalgia. My mouth feels like I bit on a snow cone. My face is nuts. I don't get it. Gabba as a prn helps !!!! Only for the mouth the rest of the body still figuring that out

Thanks for the heads up on the side effects of Tramadol. Fortunately I can't take it anyway because it can increase the risk of seizures and I don't need more.

I read recently that Tramadol has "jaw clinching" as a side effect of the drug.