pennyb
03-20-2003, 10:36 PM
Hi everyone!! Yep another hard core question that i might not find the answer too. I have been having a lot of ear aches. Not ear infections though i have had a few in the last year. Now what i am wondering could this possibly be due to my tmj and serious jaw problems. It's actually not the ear itself it's farther down in the drum by your 2 main neck muscles. OMG i am so afraid of permanate damage to my ears.
any help would be great.
thank you everyone your the greatest as usual
pennyb
any help would be great.
thank you everyone your the greatest as usual
pennyb
Sponsor
Cymy Sue
03-21-2003, 07:35 AM
Penny,
I have had severe earaches all of my life. (I am 50)
Earaches are sometimes the first symtom that cause people to seek treatment. It was for me. Ear infections always need treatment to protect your hearing. Earaches with no infection can be TMJD related, can cause much misery, and I've read in some cases, cause some degree of hearing loss. In some cases, it causes intolerance to noise.
In a lot of cases, I would think it does not cause damage to the ear, even though there is pain, and finding an ENT who believes that TMJD and Ear problems are related is the best way to be sure.
Take Care,
Cymy Sue
I have had severe earaches all of my life. (I am 50)
Earaches are sometimes the first symtom that cause people to seek treatment. It was for me. Ear infections always need treatment to protect your hearing. Earaches with no infection can be TMJD related, can cause much misery, and I've read in some cases, cause some degree of hearing loss. In some cases, it causes intolerance to noise.
In a lot of cases, I would think it does not cause damage to the ear, even though there is pain, and finding an ENT who believes that TMJD and Ear problems are related is the best way to be sure.
Take Care,
Cymy Sue
OHJELJ
03-21-2003, 10:10 AM
Hey PennyB,
Ear issues and TMJ are very closely related. Actually during my surgery, they perforated my right ear drum because the two areas are so close together. My syptoms 12 years ago involved my hearing and balance, but these issues were resolved following my first arthroscopy.
I've noticed my hearing was much worse before my second surgery a few weeks ago. It's slowly getting better, but I still have pretty consistant ear aches. My doc said that ear infections were a side effect of the surgery as well and they have me taking a steroid ear drop to help heal and protect my ears during the recovery period.
Hope this helps! You are not alone!
Jennifer
Ear issues and TMJ are very closely related. Actually during my surgery, they perforated my right ear drum because the two areas are so close together. My syptoms 12 years ago involved my hearing and balance, but these issues were resolved following my first arthroscopy.
I've noticed my hearing was much worse before my second surgery a few weeks ago. It's slowly getting better, but I still have pretty consistant ear aches. My doc said that ear infections were a side effect of the surgery as well and they have me taking a steroid ear drop to help heal and protect my ears during the recovery period.
Hope this helps! You are not alone!
Jennifer
pennyb
03-24-2003, 03:10 PM
Jennifer, do the ear drops really help. I am wondering right now it that would be a good way for me to go also. I am so freaking out that i am going to end up with permanate ear damage. They hurt really bad deep down so i wonder if those drops will help calm down the pain. What are the name of those? Do you think i should make a request to my doctor for those? If they do help then i really would like to try them.
what do you think, thanks hon
pennyb
what do you think, thanks hon
pennyb
pennyb
03-24-2003, 03:14 PM
cymy, so all the earaches you have had your whole life were due to tmj. god i have so much fear of serious damage to my ears. I had an ENT doctor check them out a few times and they are inflamed way down in my drum but they never recommend anything. Isn't that odd. OMG i hate earaches and you know where there is a loss of hearing but only in one ear. uggggggg i am desperate for no pain. thanks hon for your help.
pennyb
pennyb
OHJELJ
03-24-2003, 03:26 PM
Hey PennyB,
The only reason the doc gave me ear drops was because one of my ear drums was perforated during surgery. The drops were to heal the hole....doubt that eardrops would help with the pain....the pain's caused by swelling internally by everything associated with the whole TMJ issue. If you are getting ear infections, I would go see an ENT separately from your TMJ doc so they can dal with the ear issue specifically.
Heat helps a little with the pain, but mostly unless you can reduce the internal swelling, your ears will continue to hurt. If they are inflamed, that's a different story and you should definitely see an ENT...don't mess around with your ears!
Good luck!
Jennifer
The only reason the doc gave me ear drops was because one of my ear drums was perforated during surgery. The drops were to heal the hole....doubt that eardrops would help with the pain....the pain's caused by swelling internally by everything associated with the whole TMJ issue. If you are getting ear infections, I would go see an ENT separately from your TMJ doc so they can dal with the ear issue specifically.
Heat helps a little with the pain, but mostly unless you can reduce the internal swelling, your ears will continue to hurt. If they are inflamed, that's a different story and you should definitely see an ENT...don't mess around with your ears!
Good luck!
Jennifer
paintitbetter
03-25-2003, 01:29 AM
Penny,
Are you currently seeking treatment for your TMJD? I have had ear issues all of my life, Tinnitus and ear fullness. Especially the last seven years or so, the fullness and ringing is about all I can take. But I have been improving, after about 18 months wearing a splint 24/7. You have to learn how to ride out the bad days, and try not to panic. Keep seeking treatment. I have been trying physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage as of late.
I think it is important to Keep yourself busy.
Having ear issues most of life, I have learned there isn't much any Doctor can do for you when it comes to your ears.
I am sure that if you can resolve some of your TMJD issues, your ear pain will subside.
Mark
Are you currently seeking treatment for your TMJD? I have had ear issues all of my life, Tinnitus and ear fullness. Especially the last seven years or so, the fullness and ringing is about all I can take. But I have been improving, after about 18 months wearing a splint 24/7. You have to learn how to ride out the bad days, and try not to panic. Keep seeking treatment. I have been trying physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage as of late.
I think it is important to Keep yourself busy.
Having ear issues most of life, I have learned there isn't much any Doctor can do for you when it comes to your ears.
I am sure that if you can resolve some of your TMJD issues, your ear pain will subside.
Mark
Cymy Sue
03-25-2003, 05:02 PM
Penny,
I have better than "excellent" hearing. I have had no damage to my ears from TMJD or the surgeries I've had.
I have always had terrible ear pain and now have Tinnitus, but again, no hearing loss or nerve damage.
All of my ear problems are muscle spasm related.
If you have inflammation, you may need to find a new ENT. I have never had inflammation or infection.
Cymy Sue
I have better than "excellent" hearing. I have had no damage to my ears from TMJD or the surgeries I've had.
I have always had terrible ear pain and now have Tinnitus, but again, no hearing loss or nerve damage.
All of my ear problems are muscle spasm related.
If you have inflammation, you may need to find a new ENT. I have never had inflammation or infection.
Cymy Sue
justpancho
03-25-2003, 06:00 PM
this is something i too have been concerned about. i too have had significant hearing loss since this all began. it's so frustrating to not hear like before. i keep telling myself that when the swelling goes down in my face or when my ears stop popping then my hearing will come back, but the hearing specialist i saw last week tried to prepare me that this might not happen.
mbr22
03-25-2003, 06:47 PM
Hi Mark - when did you first notice improvement from wearing your splint 24/7? How is the splint fashioned? Does it cover the bottom molars only, so you can eat with it?
My last splint covered all of my bottom teeth, and I just couldn't wear it at work while in meetings etc. Alos, I tried to wear my splint while eating, 24/7 etc., but just couldn't do it.
I am now seeking a new dentist who is going to fashion a splint that will cover my back molars only, so I can wear it 24/7, eating, at work, everything. Also, it looks like I should wear the splint 24/7 until I see improvement (maybe longer than just a few months, it seems).
What symptoms have improved for you? I have had constant chronic headache, pain behind eyes (the worst pain!), jaw pain, ear pressure/fullness for like since 1988. Can't take it any longer, something out there has to work.
thanks,
mbr
My last splint covered all of my bottom teeth, and I just couldn't wear it at work while in meetings etc. Alos, I tried to wear my splint while eating, 24/7 etc., but just couldn't do it.
I am now seeking a new dentist who is going to fashion a splint that will cover my back molars only, so I can wear it 24/7, eating, at work, everything. Also, it looks like I should wear the splint 24/7 until I see improvement (maybe longer than just a few months, it seems).
What symptoms have improved for you? I have had constant chronic headache, pain behind eyes (the worst pain!), jaw pain, ear pressure/fullness for like since 1988. Can't take it any longer, something out there has to work.
thanks,
mbr
paintitbetter
03-25-2003, 09:52 PM
Mbr,
The splint I currently wear is attached to my top teeth, and is pretty comfortable, as splints go. It did take me almost a year to finally get use to eating with it at every meal. Now it feels funny to eat without it. I wear it all day, and it is hard to detect, so I'm told.
I'm still battling these ear symptoms, no pain, but screaming tinnitus, ear fullness and crackling noises with head movement...any one got that one? The slightest head movement will cause this. Sounds like marbles rolling around in my head... and oh yeah, I get a gurgling sound sometimes...I swear I'm going to go out of my mind sometimes...sorry about that...OK I've vented.
The Improvement I experience is when I finally get some good days, this thing seems like it is going away. All symptoms work in concert, They are always in both ears, and I always relapse. The fullness doesn't get as bad as it once was. But the flare ups usually last at least ten days, then I get about two good days, and the cycle starts over. I wish I could offer you some advice, but like all of us here, we have to keep trying and try to remain optimistic.
Wishing you "Good Days"
Mark
The splint I currently wear is attached to my top teeth, and is pretty comfortable, as splints go. It did take me almost a year to finally get use to eating with it at every meal. Now it feels funny to eat without it. I wear it all day, and it is hard to detect, so I'm told.
I'm still battling these ear symptoms, no pain, but screaming tinnitus, ear fullness and crackling noises with head movement...any one got that one? The slightest head movement will cause this. Sounds like marbles rolling around in my head... and oh yeah, I get a gurgling sound sometimes...I swear I'm going to go out of my mind sometimes...sorry about that...OK I've vented.
The Improvement I experience is when I finally get some good days, this thing seems like it is going away. All symptoms work in concert, They are always in both ears, and I always relapse. The fullness doesn't get as bad as it once was. But the flare ups usually last at least ten days, then I get about two good days, and the cycle starts over. I wish I could offer you some advice, but like all of us here, we have to keep trying and try to remain optimistic.
Wishing you "Good Days"
Mark