Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation also may help. Stress management, sometimes along with electromyographic biofeedback, often brings dramatic improvement. A dentist also may prescribe medication. For instance, a muscle-relaxing drug may be prescribed to ease tightness and pain, particularly while a patient waits for a splint to be made. However, medications aren't a cure, generally aren't recommended for older people, and are prescribed for only a short time, usually for a month or less.
Dentists avoid prescribing narcotics because they can be habit forming.
Sleeping pills may be used occasionally to help people who have trouble sleeping because of the pain. In internal derangement, the disk inside the joint lies in front of its normal position. In internal derangement without reduction, the disk never slips back into its normal position, and jaw movement is limited. In internal derangement with reduction, which is more common, the disk lies in front of its normal position only when the mouth is closed. As the mouth opens and the jaw slides forward, the disk slips back into its normal position, making a clicking or popping sound as it does.