Is it TMJ?
Although this condition is common, it is not well understood by many primary care clinicians and misdiagnosis is common. Furthermore, TMJ is often blamed for a variety of ear-related disorders without a valid medical investigation. Although an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI are often helpful, the diagnosis of this disorder is often made solely on the patient’s report of symptoms. Consequently, this diagnosis is often wrong.
Because of the nerve pathways, TMJ disorders can cause a plethora of symptoms in other anatomical areas, such as headaches and ear pain. Dizziness, neck pain, shoulder pain, tinnitus (ringing of the ears), swallowing difficulties, and sleep disturbances may also be related to TMJ problems. Since many of these symptoms can also have hundreds of other causes, it is often medically difficult to attribute TMJ as the sole cause of symptoms such as dizziness or tinnitus.
The first step for any person that believes that have a TMJ disorder is to be properly diagnosed. This usually requires the intervention of a specialist, either a dentist or oral surgeon that specializes in TMJ disorders, or a good ENT. Since various forms of arthritis can be involved in TMJ, your primary care medical provider should be intimately involved in your collaborative care. Other than laboratory tests for arthritis, there are no specific lab tests that would determine if you have TMJ or not. X-rays are important, but have their diagnostic limitations. Many specialists will order an MRI or CT scan of the TMJ area. In some cases, a bone scan is helpful.
The next step involves management, with a goal to reduce pain and improve jaw function. A comprehensive approach that may include medications, physical therapy, and possibly intraoral appliances is optimum. Certain lifestyle modifications are often necessary, such as avoiding "chewy" foods, gum chewing, nail-biting, and excessive talking. People who are prone to teeth--clenching and grinding (bruxism) may need a custom mouth guard at night.
Pain and inflammation is often controlled by the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen. In severe cases, short-term steroids are used, as well as muscle relaxants and antianxiety medications. Physical therapy, such as hot/cold compresses, jaw exercises, muscle-stretching, and massage can be very helpful in all cases. If anxiety and stress are underlying issues, this must be addressed, either by relaxation therapy or psychological intervention.
Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, or naturopathic methods have not been shown to be effective and there are few, if any, scientific studies to show they are curative.
Surgery is usually the last resort when conservative treatments fail. Surgery purports a high success rate. Every person and every case of TMJ is different, so surgery is highly individualized. Before undertaking a surgical approach, I often recommend second opinions.
TMJ disorders remain a frustrating problem for the patient and the treating clinician. The best hope appears to be a combination of therapies, coupled by a good attitude. Many things in medicine cannot be cured, but they can be effectively treated.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: TMJ, temporomandibular joint pain, jaw pain, health and wellness
134 Comments:
I have suffered for debilitating migraines for years. I have complained of tinnitus to numerous doctors and have they have just shrugged their shoulders. I am now being treated by a dentist who limits her treatment to TMJ. My migraines are dramatically better. I feel like I have my life back after only a few weeks.
I had TMJ. I had a simple procedure called an occlusal adjustment. This took 10 minutes in the dentist chair and amounted to filing a couple spots on a couple of my teeth so they would close together better. It was as simple as filing your nails. That was over 15 years ago and I felt immediate relief and have not had a problem since.
I have had TMJ since I was 10 years old @ 34 now there's nothing like jaw pain, migranes and restless nights to make you feel miserable. I'm fortunate to have a great Maxillofacial Surgeon to treat my conditiion. After surgery 2 years ago I still have severe pain, only b/c I have braces to fix my bite.
I highly recommend everyone suffering with TMJ seeking a Maxillofacial Surgeon!
On another note, University of Minnesota and Emory University are doing a study on TMJ patients, in which I signed up, so maybe they can find what and how to treat people like us with these horrible issues.
I have had diagnosed TMJ since I can remember. I have had everything from headaches to tinnitus to occipital mialgia. I have seen several people- not a Maxillofacial surgeon, but physical therapists and dentists and oral surgeons and they all seem to say that there's not much they can do. It has progressively gotten worse over the last few years and it looks like it will continue to get worse. I've gotten steroid shots in my neck to relieve pain, but I deal so poorly with steroids. I've had braces and spacers and retainers and placement fillings; nothing seems to help except Excedrine when I have pain. I've really gotten used to it all including the pain, but people who dont know about my problem are sometimes disgusted by the snapping and popping of my jaw when i eat. Its audible from a distance. I've been told that they can try breaking my jaw and/or my pallet and do a bunch of surgery to alleviate some of the symptoms, but I've decided that its not worth it. I'm 23 and I'm wondering how much worse could it get?
I was just diagnosed w/TMJ after suffering for 5 months with what originally was thought to be a sinus/ear infection. I have ear pressure, ringing, muffled sounds, horrible headaches & sinus pressure behind my eyes. I was on 3 rounds of antibiotics, steroids, Singular, Nasonex & Claritin-D. After a CT scan, the ENT diagnosed TMJ. Went to my dentist and she said my bite was fine but I'm severely clenching my jaws. My problem is all stress-related and probably started in my neck and upper back (Never realized how tense those areas were). A week ago, I started acupuncture and massage therapy and wearing a night guard while sleeping and my symptoms have subsided considerably. For me TMJ was the result of neck and upper back problems. Good luck, everyone.
I am a 39 yr. old female with many problems that creaped up on me over the last 20 yrs. ,or so.Those being:Lesion on the brain, herniated back and neck discs,osteoarthritis,chronic sinus disease, TMJ,mucocelle in sinuses, cyst on my pituitry gland,,carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea,reflux,hiatal hernia,and barret's esophagus,I think I included everything.The most debilitating is the headaches.Have had test to prove all these ailments,buy no real help so far.It's not clear which disease is causing which symptoms: migraines,eye redness,eye discomfort,eye twitching,jaw and teeth pain and nausea.So, I end up going to one specialist for one problem and the rest stays on the back burner.I also have depression and anxiety to go with all that.Think the migraine is the most important,then the sleep apnea,then the tmj,since it's been acting up alot lately.Hope tmj or sleep apnea is causing the headaches.I am hoping that one of these diseases is the culprit for multiple symptoms,so it will get rid of more than 1 symptom at a time with treatment.I spend alot of time in pain with different symptoms. I don't think my husband understands the severity and the toll it takes on me. I am exausted all the time.The doctors don't believe that the sinuses or the lesion or pituitary cyst is the cause of the headaches now.So, that's why I'm hoping the tmj or sleep apnea is the culprit so I can have it treated.A few months back,I went over a month,everyday with no letup and no help with a migraine ,out of meds.. It brought me to attempting suicide 2 days in a row.I wasn't able to get more Imitrex or pain meds,because of the ins.I was desperate. I took my first overdose in the hospital parking lot,not being able to get seen in 3 hrs. wait.They sent me home and I overdosed again the next day with double the amount of pills.I can't sleep with the cpap machine and the Ins. won't cover a splint for tmj. Anyone with a similar situation or a solution.
I also have cheek and ear pain and I clench my teeth at night.
charlene, I am a 38 year old female with almost all of the same problems you have except I have never been diagnosed with TMJ, and just yesterday was told I have a 12X14 lesion on my penial gland. I have had two neck surgeries, c4-7 fusion, back injections, I have sleep apnea, reflux, I had chronic depression for a year, which was debilitating, suffer with occular migraines, numbness in my legs, feet and hands, even the left side of my face. Lately I have been forgetting the most simplest stuff. I am extremely tired, however I have the worst insomnia, I try to sleep with the cpap machine, the only thing that seems to help is the valium the doctor gave me. I really believe that it is the lesion they have discovered, because I was healthy until 2003 and since then these symptoms have gotten worse. Now I am freaked out about the brain thing. One thing I do know is suicide is not the answer! Tried that once, no matter how bad things seem to be, there are people depending on us and we cannot be selfish and think about ourselves. So hang on and keep fighting because there is a reason why we are here, we just have to figure out what it is.
I'm 15 years old, and over the last few months, my jaw has been causing me many problems. It started in June, and after suffering for a month, I finally had to go into the emergency room on the morning of my 15th birthday in July and the doctor there told me I had an anxiety sleep disorder, stemming from other things, but very related to my TMJ. I've been seeing my regular dentist often and getting my splint adjusted(i clench my teeth horribly, too), but it hasn't been working. Over the last few weeks, my sleep has been suffering horribly because of my jaw. It's affecting my nerves (i'm currently doing reading about it now, which led me here...lack of sleep last night kept me home from school today) it causes a lot of shakiness in my entire body, usually resulting in under 5-6 hours of sleep a night, I lay there for hours before I can finally get to sleep and as a student in high school with what feels like everything else going on, it's very hard to deal with. I am going to see a jaw doctor in a few weeks, and after doing my own research on this, and reading some scary things, lol, it's a bit comforting to read these comments and see how people have been helped...I went to see this jaw doctor last year, but it wasn't as bad then. I never got any information from either doctor that I've been reading about. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about this, so I can get this fixed because I do not want to suffer my entire life. Like I said, I've been reading all these things and it's like "Woah!" That's a lot to take in, ya know? Thanks
I can't say I've been "officially" diagnosed with TMJ, but I went to see a GP last year due to what I thought was an ear infection. He saw no redness, so he asked me if I grind my teeth. "I do, at night," I told him. He asked me if I'd been dealing with a lot of stress lately, which I had been. He said it could possibly be TMJ. He perscribed me a few days worth of Valuim. Believe it or not, it seemed to work almost instantly. Since then, I haven't really had much of a problem with it until the last week or so. At this point it feels like someone's jamming a screwdriver in my ear. It's good to know where to start with this, as far as a more permanent treatment is concerned. Like I said, this is kind of a sporadic thing for me, so maybe a band-aid solution is all I need for now. If it decides to stick around, though, I'll know who to seek out. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I don't know if I have TMJ but all I know is that my jaw locks up or sticks and then closes off balance when I am chewing crunchy food and then I end up biting the skin inside my cheek real hard. It is very painful and I hate it. This last weekend was the worse it's ever been and I had 3 incidents in a row. The skin inside my right cheek was really sore. It's possible that I grind my teeth at night. A few years ago I got a night guard but I have not been using it. Maybe I need to go back to it.
Those night guards can sometimes be the problem. It actually threw my jaw out of whack. Mine now has been out for over three weeks and I can't chew food. I saw one Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon but he didn't really seem interested. He wanted to wait to see if it popped back in by itself. I know my jaw (the left one is out and 25 years ago I had surgery on the right)and I knew it would not pop in by itself. That was two weeks ago. Now he is on vacation. I'm going to someone else. Good Luck to the rest of you. I have empathy for you.
Has anyone ever heard of dental work causing TMJ? I saw my dentist in May for a crown on a molar, lower jaw, right side. The tooth was broken but didn't hurt and didn't need root canal. Four months, two root canals and six dentist visits later, I am in a great deal of pain on the right side of my face eminating from my jaw under the ear, into my frontal sinuses with pain in my forehead and behind my nose. I often experience a squeezing sensation in my right cheek that feels like a hypodermic going into my mouth. Face is tender around the joint. Similar pain on my left side, but not as bad. The symptoms started in June, after my third trip to the dentist when he started the root canal because my tooth started hurting after he worked on it the first time. His root canal didn't take so I had to see an endodontist for a 2d root canal. When my dentist put on the crown, the toothache finally subsided but I'm left with all this other pain. I've never had sinus problems or allergies before. My dentist doesn't think it's TMJ. I need to find someone to diagnose it one way or the other. The pain is intolerable.
I am a stay-at-home mom with 3 small children. Just after the birth of my third son, eight months ago, my ear started stopping up and I began having severe episodes of vertigo. I would wake up every morning unable to hear well out of my left ear, and I would be dizzy. I started going to the ENT office in April, and by September, after every test they felt they could run on me, they determined that they really did not know what was wrong. By this time, I was unable to care for my children most of the time, and I had lost a lot of my hearing in my left ear. I felt completely hopeless. Someone suggested that I see a chiropractor. At this point, I would try anything. As soon as I started talking to him in my consultation, he asked me if I grinded my teeth at night. I knew I had this problem, but I was told my three different ENT "specialists" that this could not be affecting my ear. After two adjustments, my hearing was completely restored. Now, five short weeks later, I am able to drive my children to school every day, which I consider to be a really amazing thing. I have to also add that I spent a lot of time on my knees praying. I would encourage anyone who is having problems with TMJ to see a chiropractor. If you're as desperate as I was, you'll try anything.
When I was a kid I used to make my jaw pop. I thought it was so cool and did it all the time. I stopped being able to do it a couple years ago. Well this last Jan. it started popping in and out on it's own, when I talked when I would chew food. Sometimes it would even look out of place. It was really painful. April it stopped popping and I can now barely open my mouth an inch. And that is really painful. If I don't open my mouth for awhile it starts to ache the next time I try to open it.
This is a very painful problem! I also have TMJ. the left side of my face hurts badly into my left ear. I also have suffered from DREPPSION for many years. I cant sleep @ night either. When I do I find my self clinching my teeth!!Not soo good! I went to the doctor 2 day & he put me on some medication, so far nothing has relived the pain that I have either!! Good luck to all of you!
SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF US ALL HAVE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, ASIDE FROM THE TMJ. LESIONS ON THE AND WITHIN THE BRAIN, EXTREME FATIGUE, DEPRESSION, VISION PROBLEMS, AND OF COURSE, TMJ-ALL ARE SYMPTOMS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. I'M SORRY TO HEAR SO MANY OF YOU FEEL AS POORLY AS I DO. I UNDERGO AN MRI WITH CONTRAST THIS WEEK TO CHECK MY BRAIN FOR M.S. LESIONS. HOPE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS FOR THE WAY I FEEL THESE DAYS. I NEVER USED TO BE A PERSON WHO WAS IN THIS MUCH PAIN, AND FEELING THIS TIRED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO LABLE MY PROBLEMS-BEGINNING TO THINK PEOPLE BELIEVE IM CRAZY WHEN I TELL THEM MY PROBLEMS. WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
Today is my 38th birthday and I am in terrible pain from what I suspect is TMJ. I have been suffering for months hoping it would resolve itself. My jaw aches, I have terrible headaches, ear pain my face hurts, all the thing described here.I have an appointment with my dentist tommorow. I read the other comments and I am so disappointed in the outlook of this problem.
I have been suffering with ear pain and some minor jaw pain.Motrin seems to do the trick. Went to my dentist today and he said that he thinks it is TMJ. He suggested to try Ginger Root tea. Has anyone ever heard of this? My pain is mostly in my ear.
At age 18 I had a car accident where I hit my jaw on the steering wheel. Slowly I began to have headaches and migraines. In the past few years I started having alot of eye problems. One problem was in the morning when I woke as soon as I opened my eyes it felt as if a knife was being stuck into the back of my eyeballs. The pain was so bad my doctor first thought I had cluster headaches. But the pain shifted from primarily my right eye to occasionaly my left eye. Apparently cluster headaches don't do that. ??? I got a night guard for my jaw and that pain stopped. However, I have a vision problem, which I have had for years and its getting worse. My right eye seems to twist my vision so if I'm looking at an object I'll see two or the peripheral vision will become 'wavy'. I've been to eye doctors and TMJ specialists and they have never heard of this. If I cover my right eye my vision seems fine. No one can help me. But when it does happen it makes me feel like a migraine is coming and I get feeling sick. My eye doctor keeps increasing my eye glass perscription such that I can't see as well overall but the twisting and wavyness of my right eye vision calms down for a few months. Before 5 years ago I didn't even need glasses. Can anyone make a recommendation?
Hello everyone,
I was eating dinner the other night and felt a cramp in my jaw, it was very intense. I reach up to feel what the hell was going on and felt the biggest knot. It was the size of a golf ball!! I totally freaked out. However I haven't read anyone's comments about swelling. I didn't know what doctor I should call. Hell the dentist, a general? I finally decided on my ciro since I have had a recent accident and hurt my neck. Hence my diagonosis. He is trying to fix it and says that if it doesn't get better he will send me someone else. Has anyone out there had severe swelling?
I have problems w/ swelling. If I eat food that is tough or requires a lot of chewing the whole left side of my face swells and the pain in my jaw is severe. Ice helps a little but not enough. I have been to the ENT the Oral Surgeon with no help. My dentist just recommened an Occlusal Guard but they are very costly.
HERE IS SOME PAIN RELIEF HELP!!
I promise this works. I have had TMJ for about 2 years. Try taking a clean sock and filling it with rice. Tie the end off, and microwave it on high for about 2 minutes. Lay down with the painful side of your jaw facing upward. Lay the sock on the jaw. In just a few minutes, it will feel better. Microwaving the rice creates moist heat, which is what you need to help relieve it. I actually use it so much, that I bought a pair of neat green and white striped socks to lput the rice in. It is an amazing amount of relief.
I have burning in my cheek. Has anyone had this?
I posted on 10/5 about my possible
TMD being caused by dental work gone wrong. Well, I found a dentist in Baltimore through a link on WebMD who diagnoses and treats this disorder. He confirmed it was TMD and said he could tell just by taking my history, even before he did the exam. He said that dental work, along with the stress from the painful tooth, as well as other stress can cause TMD. He also could tell I've been grinding my teeth at night. Put it all together and I met my threshold for pain and problems. I'm going back in a couple of weeks for a panoramic x-ray and a fitting for a custom-made dental guard that will fit between my incisors to keep me from grinding my teeth at night and try to break the cycle. He thinks my problem is more in the muscles than the joint and is easier to treat. Since I've had the pain for so long, he thinks it will take about a month before I see results. If you suspect you have TMD, I recommend finding a dentist who actually treats this disorder. I appreciate that he understood my pain and didn't blow me off like my other health care providers. Good luck.
I have had TMJ since i can remember. My mother has it and she is on muscle relaxers but i hate to have to take medication for it. I am one of those people that believe that you shouldn't have to take drugs to make something better. I am 21 and i had braces a couple years ago and now my TMJ is starting to get worse. I do not have health insurance and my TMJ is getting so bad i can hardly talk and when i wake up i can't open my mouth and my jaw often gets dislocated. I have a hard time swallowing and i just read that that is a symptom. I guess now i have a reason for sitting there with a blank stare on my face waiting for the pain of my food going down to stop while i eat. lol but yeah idk what to do i have tryed a mouth gard but i never can keep it in my mouth it somehow always ends up under my pillow when i wake up. i think i just have to start popping the Ibprofen although i hate to do it becuase there is nothing left for me to do i feel.
After numerous tests and seeing a bunch of different doctors I was finally told by a dentist who is a specialist in treating TMJ that I had a slight case of TMJ.Unlike alot of you I have no pain,I have tinnitus which has driven me crazy for about 9 months now.Other symptoms that I have are a tingling burning sensation on my right cheek,numb tongue,vision disturbances,and at times I have pain on the back of my eyeballs. I was biting the inside of my cheeks at night,I am now wearing a mouthguard for night time and taking anti-inflamatory and muscle relaxers to help me sleep.I have not seen any change in the ringing in the ears.Does anyone know if there is anything that helps that or is it something I have to live with for the rest of my life?
I'm 18 and have grinded my teeth since (at least according to my sister) I was about 11 or 12. The TMJ didn't seem to start until I was 16. Since then, the grinding has been so loud that it wakes up my boyfriend at night and I've done damage to my teeth!
It seems like a lot of you have had it worse than me! I don't have migraines or anything like that, but I do have an anxiety disorder and stress. I think I can say that part of the reason I have TMJ was, I swear, because of dental work.
My dentist made me one of those retainer-nightguard combo things. It was made of hard plastic and it set my bite askew. I can't open my mouth straight down very far, and the bruxism didn't stop.
An ENT gave me a $60 nightguard which was crap and was so uncomfortable.
So I went to CVS and bought another nightguard (the DenTek one) for half the price that was actually comfortable and didn't make me jut out my lower jaw. That one lasted about a couple weeks and a few days ago, I grinded my teeth so hard that it broke it.
So I bought The Doctor's Night Guard and so far it's been fine. It killed my jaw trying to do the home fitting though. You have to bite down REALLY HARD, and it hurts a lot when you have TMJ. The funny thing is, it says on all of those mouthguards "do not use if you have TMJ." But I was prescribed one! And I have TMJ BECAUSE I grind my teeth!
My mom set me up an appointment with a specialist at Johns Hopkins. All anyone's been doing to help me so far is just give me mouthguards. Sure, that protects my teeth, but I want the grinding to stop so the pain will go away!!
I was dignosed with TMJ 1-1/2 years ago and i've recieved medical attention from the help of my dentist who was very understanding of my condition at one appointment i had. it was the first time i spoke up about the pain i had had in my jaw for a couple of years. and my dentist recommended me to go see a proslodontist and he was a specialist in TMJ and he really alliviated me pain a lot. now at 17 i have to wear a mouth piece at night but it really helps! i only have a minor case of TMJ but i can relate to a lot of the people who have already left comments! and my advise to anyone who thinks they may have TMJ is to get it looked at and not put off treatment, it will change your life, for the better!!!
I don't know if anyone watches Dr. Oz on Oprah, but he suggested that if you suspect that you have TMJ or grind your teeth at night, you should put a cork from a wine bottle the long way between your teeth. I tried it for the first time last night, and the pain was excruciating, which suggests that I may actually be suffering from this! Do the cork therapy at least 2-3x/day, and apparently eventually your jaw muscles will relax enough. This is a stretching exercise. If you're unable to put it the long way, put it in the other way, and keep working at it until you can put it in the correct way. Today it's much better already! I'm going to keep working at this. It's cheap and easy!
I have suffered w/TMJ for years. The locking, the pain, the migraines, the neck pain. I finally decided to do something about it. For all the postings about where to get help, I found it at my city's University Hospitals. They are it took alot of calling and alot of waiting, but I WAS FINALLY VALIDATED THAT I WASN'T GOING CRAZY!! The upside is that that the costs are usually cheaper and you will encounter teaching doctors who WILL help. The downside is there can be alot of waiting around or appointments that are 2 months out. I have been diagnosed as needing the arthosopic surgury and have another consultation coming up, but I went through 10 local dentists, oral and maxiofacial surgons that wouldn't come near me. The Dr. and Interns at the University hospital really want to help and learn. Good luck to everyone and don't give up. It's been a 6 year run for me on this but I need relief and I hope I will finally find it.
After going into my doctors office today due to ongoing ear and face pain, he said I have TMJ...it all kinda makes sense now. I've been suffering with depression for about 5 years now. I lose lots of sleep, I have constant ear and sinus pain/ pressure, the left side of my face seems to hurt often, my neck always feels stiff on the left side. I always have ringing in my ears, etc. I'm just glad I know what it is now, so I can finally treat it.
I am a 34 year old female that has an appt. to see an ENT. This was suggested thru and oral surgeon that doesn't take my insurance (Medicare/Medicaid.) I'm glad that some people mentioned the tinnitus, as I had forgotten that sometimes when my jaw pops, the ringing starts. I hope that the appt. helps, and I will tell you the results! Thanks!
I was diagnose with high blood pressure when I was almost 39yrs, I had a difficult time finding the right medication after 9mths of suffering my ear started popping and ringing ENT suspect tmj.Everytime, around my periods my jawline swells,I get headaches and my sinus bother me not to mention nosebleeds and anxiety.
16 years ago my jaw was broken in a car accident. I was lucky enough to have a great oral surgeon from Yale New Haven hospital in Connecticut. The down side is that 1/2 my life later, after surgery, wearing soft splints, hard splints, all day and now just at night my pain is still here. Even with physical therapy, medication, hot/cold compresses, jaw excercise the pain really never goes away. Some days I am so dizzy I don't feel safe to drive my 6 year old to school. Other days, I just don't eat because I know the pain is too much. It really sucks going through this, I even have my husband rubbing my face, neck and head all the time. I would give anything to spend a pain free day.
WOW i AM SO GLAD THAT I FOUND THIS I WAS STARTING TO HAVE SHARP PAINS GO THROUGH MY HEAD.tHEY WOULD NEVER STAY IN ONE PLACE THEY WERE ALL OVER THEN THEY WENT AWAY FOR LIKE A WEEK THEN THEY CAME BACK NOW IT HURTS BY MY EARLOBE AND MY EARS ARE ALWAYS STOPPED UP...ON MY RIGHT SIDE BY MY NOSE IT HURTS LIKE PRESSURE THEN IT GOES AWAY...NOW I KNOW TO GO TO A DENTIST..SOMETIMES IT HURTS REALLY BAD SOME DAYS IT DOESNT...OTHER DAYS I NOTICED MY BACK TEETH HURTING AND MY JAW FEELS TIRED I GUESS I GRIND MY TEETH AT NIGHT...I WISH THIS STUFF WOULD GO AWAY I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY...I AM ONLY 26 YEARS OLD AND IT HURTS..IF YALL HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS LEAVE COMMENTS SO I CAN DO IT..RIGHT NOW I WOULD TRY ANYTHING...
I am a 37 year old female who recently had a baby (9 weeks ago). About a month ago my left side jaw started hurting a bit and I often feel the urge to "pop" it. Which now after doing this makes my ear ache. I am also depressed and exhausted (mostly from the lack of sleep of having a newborn baby). In a recent visit to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned I mentioned my jaw problem and the hygenist suggested that I probably grind my teeth in my sleep and they could prescribe me a night guard which cost about $175. I declined since I am kinda broke and insurance won't cover it. I am hesitant to purchase one of the ones in the drug store because they specifically say they do not use if you have jaw pain. Confusing!
I think I may be suffering from TMJ. I have not been to the doctor but I have been suffering from severe headaches for a couple years now. I have had a CAT scan done and they found nothing. About 2 months ago, I would wake up every morning with a stiff jaw. It would hurt severely when I moved my jaw opened and closed. I have pain and pressure behind my eyes and my jaw. It seems to just throb all the time. My headaches feel like I have pressure and hurts in my neck also. My ears also feel like I have pressure. Any advice or comments on what you think I may be would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I'm 19 years old right now. It's been about 3 years since my jaw began popping, and in the past year, my TMJ has progressed to constant extreme pain and discomfort. I went to see the only TMJ specialist within 100 miles a couple times, but 2,000 dollars later (on a credit card, sadly), I'm even worse. My insurance will not cover any more treatment related to TMJ. I know it's hopeless, and this is frustrating. I wish I could just have a little physical therapy to help ease the pain, but we can't afford that.
I currently experience slight numbness (on the right side right over the joint), popping, cracking, tight neck muscles (especially on the right side), headaches, difficulty swallowing, plugged ears (mostly on the right side), earaches, difficulty concentrating, etc. I've been told the discs on both side are anteriorly dislocated forcing the condyles to be posteriorly dislocated in the joint, but to me it feels as though there is some kind of imbalance, a difference in the degree of dislocation on each side. I've tried ice packs, heat packs, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications, splints, physical therapy... and with no lasting positive results. I think some of us are just forced to deal with it and move on.
I have had tinnitus for over ten years. It started after having two teeth extracted i saw two ents a
neuro surgeon two cat scans and 1 mri the orthodontis made a night guard it did not help and i was finally told "learn to live with it" I have never been able to do that so now I have stress, high blood pressure,have had an angioplasty and not one dr has been able to treat the tinnitus which i think brought on the other problems. My worse time is night I cannot sleep i have tried all the routine things and nothing helps oh after i had the dental work i have tmj sue
Brittany--It sounds like you have it from the symptoms as described to me by the dentist who is treating me. I've never had pain behind the eyes, but apparently that's a symptom of TMD. I've been wearing my splint for 3 weeks now (it only goes between my front teeth to keep my back teeth from touching) and no relief yet, but I feel my jaw muscles are remodeling and my bite is different. I mentioned in an earlier post mine was caused by dental work gone wrong. The panoromic x-ray showed wear and tear in the right joint, which is where the pain is coming from. I can't take ibuprofen because it gives me long-lasting nausea. I'm still having the pain between my eyes and behind my nose. I'm going to try moist heat and be patient. Anyone with these symptoms should see a specialist. I just wish I had left my broken tooth alone, as it wasn't hurting me. Now I have more pain and problems than I ever could have imagined.
I was diagnosed a week and 1/2 ago with TMJ. My jaw pops and it feels as if it is coming from my left ear. When the popping occurs, I feel a burning sensation coming from the ear. I haven't seen anyone mention the burning from that area or that follows the popping. I have the popping and the clicking and it's very frustrating. My docter said that its pointless now to spend all that money on a mouth guard because he says he thinks its too far gone and the only thing to fix it would be surgery. I went to my physical therapist on Thursday and he gave me 10 dry needle shots into my jaw but it did not help the pain. He said he will get me in to see a specialist next week as an emergency visit. I can't stop messing with it, it is like an itch that just has to be scratched. I have tried the soft diet and the not talking and I am always using ice because the right side of my jaw is swollen. That said, I have looked inside my mouth and the right side of my bottom teeth are shifted to the left. They curve away from my back molar so when I go to close my teeth together, the left side is ok, the top and bottom touch but the right side is not ok, the top row doesnt close down onto the bottom row because of how far shifted they are. They used to be straight! Has anyone had the surgery for this? Im scared to have it but I guess I dont have a choice. Why do some of you say that you just have to learn to deal with it when there is a surgery to fix it? Also, what about the burning? Anyone have that?
I recently had three wisdom teeth removed and two were impacted. Two weeks after the surgery I was eating dinner and I felt a loud pop and consequently followed by pain. I did a follow up with my oral surgeon and we both believe the extractions contributed to my TMJ condition. I am exercising my mouth on a daily basis and applying a hot water bottle for relief. I also purchased a product with Arnica for bruises and pain relief. I believe the answer is to deal with the jaw alignment and strenghten the muscles and ligaments in this complex area. I am a 45 year old male who will never take his jaw alignment for granite!
I am 36 y/o male. Since I was child my jaws popped and locked. I always bite my cheeks and tongue. In the past few weeks it became worse, I am afraid to eat because I think I am going to bite my cheeks off. Finally a week ago my ears started to have ringing in my right, and the pain is getting worst. I am losing hearing that ears. Its starting to scare. I thought I was going deaf.
im 18 yrs. old and i had tmj because of my braces and a car accident. at first it wasnt that bad but it has gotten worse and worse. from head aches to neck and back pains. i got a splint and it got better. but den it went back to popping! and then now it has broken. and it is very expensive. massaging and takin pill sometimes helps but other that theres nothing. do i have to live all my life with TMJ?
I'm a 39 yr-old male. I have been in pretty good shape - exercise regularly and I am not overweight. Beginning six weeks ago, I began feeling dizzy with on again off again headaches and face/sinus pain. After visits to the eye doctor (eyes fine), EKG (fine), ears clear and headaches that come and go as well as pain at the crown of my head, I am finally beginning to make sense of it. I had a dental appointment 4 weeks ago. She told me I grind my teeth and I have an appointment for a mouth guard. I lift weights and have had recent spinal misalignment within the past year (tension in my shoulders and neck). I think I am finally beginning to put it all together. Thank you for your posts and giving me piece of mind... and yes, I have had my jaw tighten before into a lump.
I have had all the symptoms most of you have had....the only thing different is that I have pain in my chin and numbness of my nose too. It`s the weirdest feeling in the world. It`s like I have just had a shot of novacain that is starting to wear off slightly.
It`s 5.45 am and I`m still awake. I`ve taken about 8 Tylenol PM meds (Generic) in about 12 hours - still no signs of sleep.
One thing I am grateful for and that is I`m not alone in this. Thank you for sharing your stories and allowing me to post mine.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a restful New Year and a pain free 2008.
Apparently I have TMJ too... I have clicking Jaw, as do everyone in my immediate family. I only realized this recently when a non-related individual spent time with me and my immediate relatives. We have symptoms ranging from random headaches to dyslexia and hearing difficulties. At only 22, I apparently have a perfect bite despite the clicking , have never needed braces, or anything major or external, not even the removal of wisdom teeth. However, I was told this by a friend when I told him that a friend said we have some genetic disorder relating to clicking jaws... oh my i suppose I shall see what follows next. Good luck to all of you.
I am wondering, when I was diganosed with MS my eyes totally crossed. I had two hours of steroids a week later my knees went out. I am forced to walk with a cane now. I had test done, and it is not our friend author but the steroids. Is there anything that I can do to reverse these effects. Most doctors do not think that MS has taken it's toll just yet but the steroids. What can I do to help myself to reverse this mess? Does anyone have any suggestions?
I had this TMJ off and on for several years and finally was treated by a dentist that figured it out and had my old root canal removed and found that the silver tipped filling was corroding and spreading and was causing the problem, it was because in the 60's and 70's mercury was the cover on these root canal fillings. My locked jaw and severe pains and all the other pains disappeared after a few days. LCH
I have suffered from a mils ear ache in both ears,( worse on the right side0 for about 10 months , I have been to 5 diffrent doctors all they do is give me antibotics. I have spent about 2,000 dollars and no help.My jaw is sore and my right ear roars so bad at night I have a hard tiem getting any rest. I have noticed I do clench my jaw. I may be doing this in my sleep as my jay is very sore everymorning. Could I have TMJ?
Over twenty years ago my dentist was impressed with my jaw snapping. He sent me to his buddy who sent me to a university who verified I had "world class TMJ." After painful jaw x-rays and dye injections I was fitted for a mouth guard which i never got. The dentist I talked with said there were three typical treatments and each were about equally effective. 1.Surgery 2. the mouth guard, and 3.Nothing. I was a bit surprised about "nothing," but it accompanied the use of moist warm compresses and relaxation exercises. When the life events inventory for that first year included a pending marriage, a mis-carriage, a dying father-in-law, graduation from a student teaching program and subsequent employment my dentist alertly suggested the stress was playing out on my jaw. I was fortunate. Relaxation and warm moist compresses work with Aleve. Over the last twenty years there have been flare ups, but concentrating on stretching and relaxation really has helped.
I have worn a mouth guard for 30 years, but something happened last night while I was out and I can hardly open my mouth.My face is swollen and the pain is unbelievable.I kept ice on it all day but it isn't any better.Of course it's a weekend and you can't get a doctor or a dentist. Thanks for listening Eleanor
I would like to hear more about the "warm moist compresses". 2007 was also a stressful year for me. I have been wearing the small incisors-only mouth guard for over two months and no change yet. I am dealing with stomach problems since I took Motrin after my 2d root canal in August, so I don't think I can take Aleve. My dentist also suggested moist heat, but a hot washcloth doesn't stay hot very long. Are you using anything special for a compress? Thanks.
I have TMJ, diagnosed by an ENT and oral surgeon after an MRI w/contrast. The oral surgeon suggested Botox injections in each jaw. The injections are expensive ($1,000 per injection) and may not be covered by my health insurance. Even my internist concurred with the oral surgeon about the Botox treatment. From what I have read, these injections paralyze the jaw muscles and stop the grinding at night and the ear pain. Has anyone had Botox injections for their TMJ?
My boyfriend has been experiencing jaw pains, and the pain travels through to his teeth and his ear! It pops and he needs to sleep on his right side because thats where it has been happening. All the pain travels through his head. It is getting worse and worse. I think it might be TMJ, I am not so sure just yet. I might take him to the hospital. He looks really crappy and his face is all red and the inside of his right ear is starting to swell up. It wasnt for Webmd, I wouldnt of known what it was. I am for sure certain that it is TMJ
I am a 17 year old female. For the last few months, i have suffered from tinnitus, and have recently started experiencing headaches, vision disturbances, and jaw pain. I've gone to many doctors, and they always insist that there's nothing wrong. Which is not true! Reading this page has helped me so much in realizing what is wrong with me, and like so many of you have said, that i'm not crazy!!! Yay! Thanks a lot.
i've gotten my braces removed over about 2 years ago ive complained of clicking in my jaw when i open and close it. It seemed to happen after i got my braces off right after i complained of thjis clicking noise from opening my jaw but nobody would listen.. i have this fear from what my doctor told me of the jaw sliding out of place in some cases.. how is this caused and how server of tmj must you have to have this happen
MY LFET EAR FEELS MUFFLED AND HAVE TROUBLE HEARING AT TIMES.WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE BETTER?
Hey all, I can truly relate to how difficult this condition is. I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth extracted at the age of 40, and have been suffering with jaw pain,swelling and constant headaches ever since. I had no symptoms previously, but have clenched and grinded for years. When I smile,talk or open my mouth it looks crooked. Is this a symptom of tmj, or does anyone know what else it could mean??
My whole family seems to have this jaw popping going on. No pain, more aggravating than anything. Is jaw popping alone a sign of TMJ or is that just the first sign?
I was diagnosed with TMJ a little over a year ago. Four years prior to that I was also diagnosed with meniers disease, which causes my balance to be poor and at times I get vertigo. Whenever TMJ occurs, it always seems to happen on the same side of my face where I have the meniers disease. I questioned the dentist about this thinking that was possibly related, but he seems to think not. I constantly have noise in my ear and unfortunately learned to live with it. I can tolerate pain but when the TMJ acts up, it is untolerable. To me it feels like your having labor in your face. I have two beautiful children so I've experienced labor and at least the end result was worth it. This labor is horrible! I have used a mouth piece but obviously it doesn't do much good. Any advice? Much appreciated.
Liz, they thought I had meniers disease too because of my vertigo, but it's not. The TMJ can cause the muscles and nerves around the ears to be inflamed, causing vertigo. I also got ringing in my ears and at one point was hearing different pitches in each of my ears. Massage and chiro didn't really work for me so I'm off to physio this week. Good luck!
I was just recently diagnosed w/ TMJ by and ENT. After seeing my family doc, a dentist and an oral surgeon. They were telling me stones in my salivary glands. (?) I was given valium by my family doc, the ENT gave me exercises and said advil 3 times a day. I go back to him in 2 weeks. It started w/ burning sensation in my jaw down my neck and shoulder, then I counldn't open my mouth and then severe pain. I have lost a week of work already. I cant talk or smile. And I love to talk! This changes my whole personality, overnight it seems. I cant imagine if i have to live with this pain :(
I have read all of your comments and messages. It is my hope that we all find a solution for this. I am at the beginning of this search. After having many silver fillings switched to the white ones, some caps and a root canal, my teeth & jaw problems seem to be worse. I have the pain in ear, eye, sinus, jaw. My left teeth are so sensative even room temp water hurts to drink! I am upto about 4 ibuprofen a day. Denist has claimed to adjust my bite (while laying down in chair) and has given me a $500 plastic bite guard that hurts even worse that before. I thought this denist knew what he was doing, but now I am not so sure. I am considering traveling for a chiropractic tmj adjustment (hoping they can pop it into place) before I have a othodonist grind my teeth down further.
Questions..
1. Has anyone had a success with a chriopractor popping jaw into place?
2. Do back/neck massages help?
3. Are there relaxation or excerises to help?
Thanks,
In Pain
I have had a chiropractor attempt to fix my TMJ around 10 years ago and it seemed to work for many years. It has recently started to come back and I was hoping I could get some suggestions on good treatments I should look into.
I hae had TMJ for a long time. Before i got dignosed with tmj my doctor use to treat me for sinus infections for about 4 months straight. Then he found out that it was tmj after my muscles in my jaw on the right side stopped working. They thought i had Bells palsey, but it wasn't it was tmj. After taking muscle relaxants and massaging it for about 2 weeks my feeling in my jaw returned. But i still have thr pain in my face, neck headaches,my shoulder and biteing my jaw at times. This pain is so unberable at times. Good luck to anyone that has this problem, i am still looking for the correct answer to this problem......
i have seen many cases where people are heavily treated with migraine meds such at maxalt, zomig, imitrex because of a misdiagnosis for TMJ. So before taking a lot of meds for migranes go to ur dentists or treat with it ur self with some mouth gaurds at night time.
I've had headaches for two years now, but the doctors had no answer as to why. I think I might have TMJ. I found this page today because I was chewing gum, and my jaw started popping (like it usually does) then I could barely open it. It still hurts even now. So I started looking at jaw problems, and this looks to be it. I occasionally have tinnitus, and get weird vision disturbances. Im very glad I found this page. I will talk about it with a maxio facial specialist soon, since I'm to have jaw surgery anyways for an overbite.
I have not been officially diagnosed yet, but I'm pretty convinced just by reading all this that I have TMJ. I have horrible headaches that reside in the back of my skull and creep around to my temples. These are an everyday occurance for sometimes days in a row, the throbbing pain just never seems to go away. I also have tinnitus, my ears ring so loud that it drives me crazy. I occasionally have sharp pains in my ears, and I frequently get ear and sinus infections. (don't know if that's related or not?) My jaw pops and clicks sometimes, but I really don't have too much of a problem in that aspect. It's just the headaches and ringing in my ears. It seems as though everyones cases are different and it doesn't seem like there is any kind of consistency in treatment either, which is kind of discouraging considering I haven't gone to a doctor or dentist yet. I'll be interested to see what kind of treatment they prescribe.
Someone asked if there was anything to help ear ringing. I recently discovered "lipo-flavanoid", it's a dietary supplement for the inner ear. It's supposed to help ear ringing. I just started taking it, so I can't say firsthand if it works yet or not. My mom's doctor told her to take it when she had an inner ear problem, she was experiencing tinnitus, and she told me that it helped her. You can find it in any drugstore. I hope this helps someone. Good luck!!
I have been diagnosed with TMJD (displaced disc). Has anyone had success with a splint allowing the displaced disc to return to its normal position? How far apart does the splint separate your jaw? Do you use muscle relaxants in conjunction with the splint? My oral surgeon wanted to perform arthrocentisis right away, but my jaw just displaced 2 weeks ago and it seems too soon to do this. Every website I visited says to wait and see if it will heal itself.
To the person who has Meniere's disease-- I do too. It is a separate condition from TMJD (caused by too much fluid in the inner ear.) I have been on a diuretic (Diazide) and it has helped immensely. If you don't want to be on it for the rest of your life, you MUST be on a very low salt diet to control it.
im 17 years old and just talked to the doctor today for the first time after several days in a row of splitting pain the left side of my head that spread to my jaw and ear in the last couple days.. the doctor said it might be TMJ and to take motrin or advil and i have a few times but it hasnt helped much with the pain. but i was interested in one anonymous person who said upper back and neck stress was the root of the problems... i play a lot of softball, so my shoulders and back are usually pretty tense.. is it common for that to be the cause of TMJ?
There are alot of symptoms out there for TMJ but does anyone have a small rash or bump in the back of the jaw. ever since i started having jaw pain (popping and migranes all my life)there has been a small bump or rash in the back of my lower jaw. it sometimes itches and never goes away. no one can see it but i can surely feel it.
If you have TMJ symptoms, you may want, while sleeping, to make sure your pillow is supporting your jaw bone as well as your head. This was my solution. I found my jaw bone was sagging while I slept putting stress on the tendons in the tmj area.
I have a lot of the same symptoms as most people here, although i haven't been officially diagnosed. :Headaches, ringing in my ears, swelling and stiffness in the jaw after chewing,some dizziness and vision problems.
However my main problem for 2 months now)is pressure and tingling in my temples and tingling in my forhead.
Is this a part of TMJ????
Thanks and good luck to all.
I am cetainly no expert on TMJ, which is why I visited this site tonight, but from what I have read some of your symptoms do not seem to be all that common with it. For instance, tingling in your forehead - this may be related to headaches, possibly though. Do you get a lot of headaches, or a rather fuzzy kind of dizziness in your forehead? Do you have ear problems? If your vision problems are double vision or bouncy vision (when stationary objects appear to move sideways, or jump up and down when you move your head) then you may have a vestibular (balance) problem. Meneire's Disease falls under that catagory, but what you are describing does not sound at all like that one. Have you tried going to an Ear Nose & Throat specialist?
For the person who posted on 2/2/08 about the rash on her jaw, I went to my family doctor today with ear pain and he said that it can sometimes be a symptom of the beginning of shingles and that if I got a rash I should immediately schedule a return visit.
WOW ......... I have now read all the posts. I have TMJ and finally have a appointment in 2 weeks with an oral surgeon, buts sounds like that wi