See what our patients are saying about us:
Darlene Simpson
Original symptoms: (Quite a list)
TMJ (since age 17 and my jaws locked up for the 1st time)
Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome (16 years)
Sciatica (8 years)
Chronic Fatigue (16 years)
Muscular/Migraine Headaches (all my life beginning as a teen)
Knee pain (8 years)
Poor Posture (progressive over years)
Carpal Tunnel (1 year – had the surgery but still had the tingling/numbness)
Depression
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears – 18 years)
Insomnia (28 years)
Restless Leg Syndrome - RLS (6-8 years)
Hypertension (4 years)
Loss of strength in my hands
So, you can imagine that basically the last 15–20 years of my life have been a struggle. Unfortunately for me the medical hospital at Wright-Patterson misdiagnosed my TMJ MRI and told me all my suffering was in my head. They even had the audacity to ask how my home life was like. For the record, I have one of the most selfless husbands of all time.
Then, at Langley AFB, I ran across two excellent dentists that reviewed my MRI and said there was no doubt in their mind I had TMJ. In fact, the discs had slipped so far forward that even after they performed arthroscopy on both sides of my jaws, they could not place the discs in the correct position. However, they were able to break down adhesions that had built up over the years but the TMJ didn’t go away.
About 2 years after I was diagnosed with TMJ, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Myofascial pain (I was prescribed Elavil) – then later my knees hurt as well as sciatica (lower back). Then, later on I was diagnosed with RLS.
Please note that after the first time my jaws locked up, I didn’t have the money to go to the doctor so I began adjusting the way I talked to not aggravate the situation. I was only 17 at the time.
I have gone to so many doctors including but not limited to:
Neurologists’
- o Received Fiornal
- o Had Botox Injections
- o Ambien
Osteopaths’ and Anesthesiologists’
- o Cranial manipulations
- o Acustem (electronic device similar to acupuncture)
- o Trigger point injections
- o SI and Knee injections using cortisone
Other dentists who told me nothing was wrong with me and I must be having problems at home that are causing the headaches!
Psychologist (no help)
- o Biofeedback
- o Relaxation techniques
Orthopedics who performed Carpal Tunnel Release
- o numbness existed for a long time after
- o C/5 and C/6 herniated discs
- § Injections and pain meds to treat
- § Physical Therapy to include traction, TENS, and massage
Pain Management Specialist
- o Acupuncture
- o Physical Therapy (massage and TENS)
- o Fluoroscopy for injections
- o Drugs Management (last resort)
- § Klonopin to sleep and for anxiety
- § Celexa for depression
- § Vicodin, Lortab, or Norco
- § Novasc and Diovan for HBP
- § Elavil for Fibromyalgia
Needless to say I have taken so many different drugs like Topamax, Celebrex, Premarin (hysterectomy in 1980), OTC drugs, Valium and Librium (in the early days), and Wellbutrin that I can’t even remember them all. One thing I know for sure is Motrin or any anti-inflammatory never worked for me even though each drug I was prescribed was done so as the “solution” to my pain.
THEN, Dr. Woodlief came into my life as my doctor. After so many years of suffering I was skeptical that he could really help me. But, he knew exactly what was wrong with me; TMJ and Hyoid Bone Syndrome. Of course I was familiar with the first – TMJ but had never heard of Hyoid Bone Syndrome. I also had calcium buildup on my stylus bone/tendon that attributed to my ringing in my ears.
Dr. Woodlief began helping me at once. First, he made me a day orthotic and then, a night orthotic. I starting feeling many changes but it wasn’t long until I could sleep at night without taking Klonopin. I had no idea my body wasn’t getting the oxygen it needed and I had a form of sleep apnea. Then the day came when the orthotic started changing the way my headaches felt – what a relief. For 18 years solid I never went one minute without a headache. And, as an added benefit I finally started getting a good night’s sleep. Now my fatigue is gone when I wake up and I have noticed my skin is improving too. Every day I notice something more just by getting the oxygen my body had been deprived of for no telling how long. Strength in my hands improves on a daily basis.
My headaches are almost gone too but Dr. Woodlief took my treatment one step forward and gave me “prolo” (proliferation of tissue) injections. He gave me these to break down the calcium buildup that had tremendously decreased my ringing in my ears. BUT, the best thing that Dr. Woodlief started me on besides the orthotics were the prolo injections into the tendons of the hyoid bone – the liticaine/prolo injection immediately dissipated the pain in my right temporal area. What a relief… The first time in so many years I had no headache and it was so unbelievable. So many doctors over look this and because it is not cost effective for them, they don’t even consider it. There was some other pain relief too.
Dr. Woodlief is truly the best TMJ specialist out there. He has proven it to me. With the oxygen at night, I have been able to get off one of my BP meds (Norvasc) and my BP has come down to almost normal. I sleep at night without the Klonopin and recently I have gotten off of the Norco – though it was tough, I am doing well. I still take my Diovan and occasionally, Celexa, Elavil, and Fiornal occasionally for my HAs but what a relief to know that one day I may be normal again. With the alignment of my jaw, my posture is improving; my sciatica and knee pain is dissipating. Once your alignment is fixed through the orthotic, you notice that the rest of your spine naturally falls into place. The TMJ is realigning my body and the structural pain is going away. No one had ever told me I had a structural problem under Dr. Woodlief.
Since and including Langley, I have had many splints made for me but none worked until Dr. Woodlief perfected ones for me; with his vast knowledge and expertise, he chased the problem not the symptom. And, thanks to him I am looking at better days ahead and have a glimpse of what normal might feel like.
Dr. Woodlief is one of the most compassionate and caring doctors I have met and listens closely to what you say. In return, he educates you in a way that is so logical you can understand it easily.
I recommend any one who suffers from headaches to seek out Dr. Woodlief. I have experienced so many healings and side benefits from his treatment that I am now looking forward to the day I have no more pain.
With all my heart, thank you Dr. Woodlief – you are the best and brightest in your field. My quality of life is coming back and I will never be able to thank you enough!
