Are splints really a good solution? Advice needed!

Hello! I've always had clicking in my jaw but in June 2025 I noticed it was difficult to open my mouth fully in the morning, and very quickly I realized I couldn't open my mouth completely at all.

Background: I wear Invisalign retainers at night and had started treatment 2.5 years prior, night-only retainers 8 months prior. I often wake up with my teeth clenched. I'm 30 and work a semi-stressful job.

I went to my dentist who sent me to a TMJ specialist, who I felt was sort of smug/not listening and quoted me 5k for splints before charging me $450 for the visit and ushering me out clutching a pamphlet on medical loans.

I went back to my dentist who made me a night guard for $750. I wore it once, clenched so hard on it all night I woke up in pain, and I couldn't even fully close my mouth around it so I never wore it again.

I went to physical therapy next, and spent $1600 on four visits over four months, during which I dutifully did my exercises and stretches. I got my mouth a few extra mm open but no real relief from pain and the PT said on my last visit that she had expected more improvement by now. I couldn't afford to keep going as I was laid off after that last visit.

Also, I've been recommended botox but I'm a little nervous, I don't have strong cheekbones and I'm afraid I'll get jowling. Plus it's super expensive and not permanent.

A friend recommended her TMJ and orofacial pain pain specialist, Dr Erickson at Regenerative TMJ in Redmond, WA. He did some scans and found:

• Right TMJ: No osseous pathosis. Please note that soft tissue degeneration may precede the osseous changes.
• Left TMJ: functional remodeling. Remodeling occurs in response to increased functional demands being placed upon the joints. It might remain stable or progress to degenerative changes.
• In closed position condylar heads are positioned posteriorly suggestive of anterior disc displacement, but this cannot be verified using CBCT imaging. Clinical correlation is recommended.

So he recommended splints to move my lower jaw up to meet my upper (rephrasing what he explained). He wants me to wear a night set of upper and lower splints every night forever and a day set for "4-8 months". He's also charging 5k and it covers the scans, the splints, and a year of monthly visits.

Since nothing has worked so far I'm afraid this is another waste of money and time and that I'll just be in pain forever. When I go out with friends, after an hour of talking and laughing I'm in pain. I can't eat burritos without pain. I can't open my mouth without pain. I am pretty desperate and would welcome some advice.

Has anyone else been here? Any advice on splints, and if they work? All thoughts welcome.