TMJ

Member

I just gotten back from my regular dental checkup. For the past few months, I've had jaw pain coupled with meat-clever-in-the-forehead headaches and ear pain -- really felt like sinus garbage, but didn't respond to sinus medicine. Then for the past month it hurts when I eat. Now I make Rice Krispy (*snap*crackle*pop) noises with my jaw.

I played internet doctor and Googled "jaw pain" and "crepitation" (a neat word I learned while transferring medical records to computer when volunteering at a local free clinic) and hit upon TMJ. Being due for a checkup anyway, I thought I'd take it up with my dentist. Turns out that, yes, indeedy, I have TMJ ( http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/topics/tmj.cfm ). My dentist does, too, and we examined my habits: I used to be a nighttime toothgrinder, I talk all day for a living (and recreation Embarassed

), and I catch myself clenching my teeth often. She said that, in her experience, people who work at keyboards are prone to clenching their jaws. In addition, I have a lower front tooth that trying to twist about and is shifting forward, so I need braces for the second time in my life.

For now, she ground down the part of my problem tooth that presses against my uppers (shifting teeth cause the facial muscles to behave differently, often resulting in pain) and has given me a 'script' for pain relief. I'll probably get a mouth guard to wear, too, to keep me from clenching and grinding my toofs.

It's not serious at this point -- my face hurts others, it's only right that it should hurt me, too, right? Razz

Just thought I'd pass this info along in case anyone else is experiencing mystery pains.

Member

Grrr...sorry for the caveman-ese at the start of the post. Tried to edit, but something dies at every attempt (fatal error).

AZhat

TMJ is not a good thing to have. I have known a few people (4 in all) who have had it and have had a lot of pain with it. Headaches...jaw popping...etc. All of them had to have their jaws broken and wired shut. This usually proceeded having braces for good deal of time beforehand. All had to gain weight in order to have something left on their bodies from all the weight that they lost. I'm telling you...they lost a ton! Shocked

I hope this doesn't happen to you. It's not something that's fun.

Member

Member

I've had nightguards made a couple times. They're much less invasive now than in the past. Old ones were similar to what I wore on the lacrosse field. New ones just keep the front teeth apart, on the theory that if your front teeth can't touch, neither can the back ones.

Another thing to ask the dentist about is the laser. Sometimes the jaw pain can be reduced by the application of a laser to the affected area, which kind of warms it into relief.

Your avatar looks like Frida Kahlo.

Member

crazy cat lady

I've got a mild case that appeared after I got braces, but was told 15 years ago that if it bothered me enough they could break my jaw to fix it. Gee....

I personally just avoid gum or chewing on tough things that require extra chewing, ie a tough steak, milk duds, or sourdough bread, etc. Also opening my mouth and having to keep it open (ie, dental appts) usually causes a nice flare-up and a pain for my dentist because by the end of the appt usually my jaw is locked shut.

Other than that though its okay, I live with it fine.

I have a good friend however who had a TERRIBLE case (but fantastic insurance or a fat bank account because) she found the 'leading TMJ oral surgeon' or something who was in the DC area (not where she lived) and he was able to treat her without being too invasive, I think it had to do with lasers. Anyway, she's nearly cured. My point being, there is help out there that doesn't involve wiring your jaw...if you have dental insurance you might talk to an oral surgeon or at the very least your dentist.

I would second the mouth guard recommendation too, I think part of my problem is that I often sleep with my jaw clenched so when I remember to wear my retainer or mouth guard it allegedly helps. dunno

Good luck!

Member

I really appreciate all the information folks -- I'm planning on getting a guard made. I'll have a choice between an $80.00US basic guard or a $100-$200US custom-fitted one. Of course, I'd like to go with the cheaper one (no dental insurance), but I'll have to talk with this thing at my job (telephone operator for Directory Assistance) and would like something that won't impede my speech.

Re: dentist causing flareups...I don't recall any jaw pain following visits, but my jaw trembles/spasms when held open during exams. No lockups, thankfully!

Re: SCM...Interesting stuff -- definitely worth studying. Sometimes, it seems, my pain receptors are "off." When my gall bladder was failing, I felt all the pain on the wrong side. Took forever to figure out what was wrong that time.

All that in mind, I imagine that the med problems (fatigue, IBS, TMJ) I've been experiencing are stress-related. I don't have anything tremendous to stress over, I'm just anxious. My doc keeps indicating stress as the key to my fatigue. Now I've just got to figure out how to chill. Smile

Member

Years ago i had the same pain going on. living in DC and having bad allergies i attibutted it to sinus pain/ear infection. it seemed in the same area to me.

the EENT that i used (due to chronic sinusitis and ear infections) said there was nothing wrong that way and suggessted the same thing. Dentist/oral surgeon told me i was a jaw clencher and had me get some mouth gaurds that i wore at night mostly. I was also learnig to skate at this time so there was someextra clenching as i zoomed scared sh!tless down the hills. so i started wearing the gaurd then too. I used to chew a pack of gum a day, gave that up totally as well.

good luck Bea. too bad

TMJ

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