justpancho
03-26-2003, 03:12 AM
do you know what caused your tmj? was the pain gradual or start overnight? did you know you had clicking jaw before you ever had any problems with it? has time only made things worse?
sorry i'm just new to all of this and wondering about others who have suffered for a while.
sorry i'm just new to all of this and wondering about others who have suffered for a while.
Sponsor
lecach
03-26-2003, 08:42 AM
The doctors are pretty sure mine started when I was in a car accident when I was 16. No seatbelt, my face broke the windshield. Apparently your jaw isnt thru forming when you're 16. My symptoms (didnt know they were symptoms at the time) started with jaw clicking. So loud that people could hear it. Then after about 8 years I started getting migraines. Bad ones. They sent me to a neurologist. Still got them. Finally it was figured out that I had TMJ. I had my first surgery about 6 years ago to smooth the callous on my jawbone and remove scar tissue. The next year I had scar tissue removed arthroscopically (is that a word?). Then about 4 years later (2001) I started having pain again. After an MRI they saw that my discs had slipped out of place. So last year I had surgery to shove them back in place. I am now in pain again. Im 34 now.
jladams
03-26-2003, 10:02 AM
Mine must have actually started in childhood because I have had the popping and clicking in my jaw as far back as I can remember. But it never caused me any pain so I didnt think anything about it. As I got older I started to experience jaw fatigue...laughing, smiling, chewing, etc. But these were my only symptoms for a long time. I'm 30 now and have just recently been diagnosed with TMJD. Six months ago I got hit with 3 sinus infections back to back, accompanied with severe ear pain and fullness and migraine headaches. But I have never had an injury to my jaw.
GJA
03-26-2003, 10:59 AM
The only problem i had was once and a while my jaw
would dislocate if i opened it really wide--I have never had pain/soreness or clicking.
-in august of 2001, i got out of bed and experienced
extreme vertigo for 20 seconds, and extreme balance
problems afterward--ear fullness/sensitivity to loud noises--the foggyness--etc.
-after multiple sessions with an ent that specializes
in dizziness/an mri/a hearing test--he and my primary
care diagnosed BPV--which usually subsides within
a year--since they said my vestibular system was
functioning normally.
--after researching my symptoms almost every day, in
May of 2002 I found this board and suspected TMD--you
see, I have never had a lot of clicking or pain---but
I clenched every day for many years--it was my bad habit--some people bite their nails, i clenched--intentionally.--I have cracked a molar and have
popped enamal off my teeth.
--as soon as i stopped clenching, all my problems
subsided, but my jaw shifted into a "forward" position and i completely lost a normal "bite".
--my years of clenching caused one problem, and
when i stopped clenching it caused another.
--my neck and jaw muscles are all out of wack.
I have many of the symptoms that most of you are
familiar with--tired jaw/ear fullness/tension at temples-behind eyes, base of neck,around and below the ear,lump in throat--and feeling of being off balance---just not as bad as when i clenched.
-g
would dislocate if i opened it really wide--I have never had pain/soreness or clicking.
-in august of 2001, i got out of bed and experienced
extreme vertigo for 20 seconds, and extreme balance
problems afterward--ear fullness/sensitivity to loud noises--the foggyness--etc.
-after multiple sessions with an ent that specializes
in dizziness/an mri/a hearing test--he and my primary
care diagnosed BPV--which usually subsides within
a year--since they said my vestibular system was
functioning normally.
--after researching my symptoms almost every day, in
May of 2002 I found this board and suspected TMD--you
see, I have never had a lot of clicking or pain---but
I clenched every day for many years--it was my bad habit--some people bite their nails, i clenched--intentionally.--I have cracked a molar and have
popped enamal off my teeth.
--as soon as i stopped clenching, all my problems
subsided, but my jaw shifted into a "forward" position and i completely lost a normal "bite".
--my years of clenching caused one problem, and
when i stopped clenching it caused another.
--my neck and jaw muscles are all out of wack.
I have many of the symptoms that most of you are
familiar with--tired jaw/ear fullness/tension at temples-behind eyes, base of neck,around and below the ear,lump in throat--and feeling of being off balance---just not as bad as when i clenched.
-g
mek918
03-26-2003, 11:38 AM
I was really depressed, and then had a horrible bout of the flu- I never get sick like that and was in bed for a week. I think that's when it all started.
mbr22
03-26-2003, 03:34 PM
All y pain and symptoms began after I had my four wisdom teeth removed. I was put out with an injection of demerol, and I think they stretched the heck out of my jaw, and it just has never been the same since. On top of that, I was in two very minor car accidents, where I may of sustained some whiplash, but very minor.
Nevertheless, I didn't notice too many symtpoms initially except for the headaches and ear fullness, but now it seems like I have a million different symptoms, and still growing.
take care,
mbr
Nevertheless, I didn't notice too many symtpoms initially except for the headaches and ear fullness, but now it seems like I have a million different symptoms, and still growing.
take care,
mbr
OHJELJ
03-26-2003, 04:21 PM
My story is almost identical to GJA's....got out of bed one day and was dizzy etc...was misdiagnosed for six months and then had lousy TMJ treatment for almost 3 more years....
The problem was fixed with arthroscopy. I had dislocated my jaw in two different directions by grinding my teeth in my sleep...
Jennifer
The problem was fixed with arthroscopy. I had dislocated my jaw in two different directions by grinding my teeth in my sleep...
Jennifer
littlebrace
03-26-2003, 04:54 PM
I had clicking in my jaw for a couple years before I got pain. I never thought anything about the clicking, I thought it was normal, and I actually use to make my jaw click all the time, from habit. Then one day it just started hurting and never stopped. It seriously just started to hurt for no obvious reason.
hbep
03-26-2003, 07:07 PM
Hmmm. Not 100% sure that mine has started, i.e. I don't know if this is what I have, but I'm starting to have a sneaking suspicion this could explain a lot. I've had fullness/pressure/tinnitus/ear pain/light-headedness for 7 months now. Gone the ENT route - inconclusive - no positive test results although possible eustachian tube dysfunction was discussed. The difficulty is it is possible to have ETD with a normal hearing/pressure test, but almost impossible to be sure. Still awaiting an MRI, further ear pressure tests. Over the last few days I've developed a feeling of tightness in front of/under left ear, down in to my neck. I have no pain on opening or closing mouth but if I move my jaw from side to side notice a very feint sound - either like a slight sloshing of water, or maybe a filing sound - hard to describe. I also clench my teeth and frequently bite on a knuckle.
[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 04-02-2003).]
[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 04-02-2003).]
hbep
03-26-2003, 07:15 PM
Repeated this post, erased it.
[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 04-02-2003).]
[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 04-02-2003).]
neo81
03-26-2003, 07:53 PM
i've always been a biter--first my nails, then the insides of my cheeks and lips--gross, i know, so sorry.
when i was 15 or 16, i was playing basketball and got knocked in the side of the face by a boy who was much bigger than me, and i remember a lotta jaw pain then.
i've ground my teeth while i sleep since i was little, and there were several times in my life when it was notably worse or better--it was terrible (with closed lock and everything) my first year of college--my first time away from home.
it was the best it has ever been when i was running 4-5 times a week to get in shape before my wedding.
now it is the worst--newly married, no job, new town...i've never had so many symptoms at once.
and as a note, i think that it's interesting to see that most of these symptoms crop up during our mid-twenties. i guess that, after 20 years of grinding, biting, clenching and dislocation, something finally "gives".
i'm currently trying to take up running again because it was such a great stress reliever before. i ordered the treadmill yesterday!!
neo
when i was 15 or 16, i was playing basketball and got knocked in the side of the face by a boy who was much bigger than me, and i remember a lotta jaw pain then.
i've ground my teeth while i sleep since i was little, and there were several times in my life when it was notably worse or better--it was terrible (with closed lock and everything) my first year of college--my first time away from home.
it was the best it has ever been when i was running 4-5 times a week to get in shape before my wedding.
now it is the worst--newly married, no job, new town...i've never had so many symptoms at once.
and as a note, i think that it's interesting to see that most of these symptoms crop up during our mid-twenties. i guess that, after 20 years of grinding, biting, clenching and dislocation, something finally "gives".
i'm currently trying to take up running again because it was such a great stress reliever before. i ordered the treadmill yesterday!!
neo
Jill J
03-26-2003, 08:28 PM
I think mine all started after dental work but I didn't know it at the time. I started with muscle spasms in my right temple and it just spiraled from there. My dr sent me to shrinks and to all different specialists. It wasn't until I had the ringing in my ear that I made him send me to an ENT. The ENT diagnosed my TMJ and I have been under splint therapy and "pharmacologic" treatment. I don't take any of my meds, only tylenol if I get a headached ( Which isn't too often). After all the drs and bs they put you through I started looking for natural ways to deal with my TMJ: chiro, PT, Reike, you name it I tried it.
(BTW: TMJ started in 8/02)
It wasn't until I started seeing a new dentist last month that she figured out that a replacement filling was not shaved down right for my bite. We have been taking some off slowly and it seems to be helping along with my other therapies........best of luck, Jill
(BTW: TMJ started in 8/02)
It wasn't until I started seeing a new dentist last month that she figured out that a replacement filling was not shaved down right for my bite. We have been taking some off slowly and it seems to be helping along with my other therapies........best of luck, Jill
justpancho
03-26-2003, 09:02 PM
Thanks everyone for sharing your stories! today's been a really bad day and it helped to know i'm not the only one suffering. i've stopped saying to myself 'this is the bottom and it has to go up from here' as i think i'm just jinxing myself. i yelled at God today in the shower and i'm thinking that probably wasn't a good idea either. *sigh* you guys/gals are keeping me going now. thanks for being here.
TiffanyAnn
03-26-2003, 11:28 PM
My TMJ problem began after I had braces put on as a teen ager. By the time I had my braces removed I had pretty serious clicking in my jaw. My orthodontist said the problem was that I needed my wisdom teeth removed. What did I know, I was a teenager? After seeing several other specialists I learned that having my wisdom teeth wouldn't matter in the least and it seemed my orthodontist didn't want to take any responsibility for my problems so was looking to push me off on someone else since he had all his money from me. Over the years the problem has gotten worse and worse and the pain and headaches have increased to where I them it everyday, all the time.
Tiffany
Tiffany
tmjinflorida
03-27-2003, 03:33 AM
I first started having popping and clicking noises in my jaw when I was about 14 and some mild pain. It didn't get really bad until I had my tonsils out and then I experienced lock jaw after that ... essentially my jaw wouldn’t move at all. I was on a completely liquid diet and pain killers for month and also had splint therapy and physical therapy. After months it got better and eventually I thought it was gone for good.
I was told there were certain things I should never do ... like chew gum, eat raw carrots, etc. I followed that advice for a few years but since my jaw had been fine for years ... I started chewing gum and doing all those things that were bad.
Then one morning about 2 months ago, I woke up and my jaw hurt. And it just kept getting worse until it hurt so much I couldn't do anything. So I went to an oral surgeon who said my muscle had gone into a severe spasm and he prescribed flexeril but no pain killers or a splint. The next day I was in such immense pain when my husband called to see how I was feeling I said death would be better than this. At which point he rushed home to try to take care of me.
Anyway I then mentioned it to a friend whose husband is a dentist who specializes in TMJ ... (lucky me) and when I saw him he said that the other doctor was negligent since he just blamed stress instead of looking for a physical cause. After doing some tests and taking some x-rays he found that one of my teeth is pushing against my sinus nerve. So when I grind my teeth at night I was experiencing pain in that tooth and then my muscles compensated by tightening up to protect the tooth. Anyway .. now my bite is completely off. I'm on a liquid diet, medicines and have a new bite splint ... And have been seeing a massage therapist who treats TMJ. Yesterday I also had the dentist grind down some of my other teeth in order to fix my bite … apparently when grind my teeth at night I’ve caused uneven wear on the teeth.
And I'm starting to feel better. So there is hope. Although I'm now convinced that I helped create the problem by not listening to my doctors orders the first time about avoiding certain things for life and by not seeking help when it first started to hurt. I waited until the pain was unbearable.
BTW, I find it odd that everyone seems so young on this board. I'm 24. I read somewhere recently that the reason more women in the ages of 20-30 start getting this problem is some how related to estrogen levels in the jaw area. Who knows how true it is .. but it makes me wish I could have a sex change!
I was told there were certain things I should never do ... like chew gum, eat raw carrots, etc. I followed that advice for a few years but since my jaw had been fine for years ... I started chewing gum and doing all those things that were bad.
Then one morning about 2 months ago, I woke up and my jaw hurt. And it just kept getting worse until it hurt so much I couldn't do anything. So I went to an oral surgeon who said my muscle had gone into a severe spasm and he prescribed flexeril but no pain killers or a splint. The next day I was in such immense pain when my husband called to see how I was feeling I said death would be better than this. At which point he rushed home to try to take care of me.
Anyway I then mentioned it to a friend whose husband is a dentist who specializes in TMJ ... (lucky me) and when I saw him he said that the other doctor was negligent since he just blamed stress instead of looking for a physical cause. After doing some tests and taking some x-rays he found that one of my teeth is pushing against my sinus nerve. So when I grind my teeth at night I was experiencing pain in that tooth and then my muscles compensated by tightening up to protect the tooth. Anyway .. now my bite is completely off. I'm on a liquid diet, medicines and have a new bite splint ... And have been seeing a massage therapist who treats TMJ. Yesterday I also had the dentist grind down some of my other teeth in order to fix my bite … apparently when grind my teeth at night I’ve caused uneven wear on the teeth.
And I'm starting to feel better. So there is hope. Although I'm now convinced that I helped create the problem by not listening to my doctors orders the first time about avoiding certain things for life and by not seeking help when it first started to hurt. I waited until the pain was unbearable.
BTW, I find it odd that everyone seems so young on this board. I'm 24. I read somewhere recently that the reason more women in the ages of 20-30 start getting this problem is some how related to estrogen levels in the jaw area. Who knows how true it is .. but it makes me wish I could have a sex change!
goodwillstacy
03-27-2003, 03:30 PM
My TMJ started right after I got mauled by a dog in 5th grade. After that I started getting horrible headaches, and clicking and popping which progressed to pain in the joint.
I'm now 21 and I consider the problem to be at full force, at it's peak. I am very actively persuing treatments outside of surgery, but it looks like an arthroscopy is where I'm going next.
It seems like those of us that have had trauma to the joint end up being more difficult to fix, but then again, that is just my opinion. Seems like everyone here is one of those "difficult" cases.
Hope you're all having a pain-free day,
.stacy.
I'm now 21 and I consider the problem to be at full force, at it's peak. I am very actively persuing treatments outside of surgery, but it looks like an arthroscopy is where I'm going next.
It seems like those of us that have had trauma to the joint end up being more difficult to fix, but then again, that is just my opinion. Seems like everyone here is one of those "difficult" cases.
Hope you're all having a pain-free day,
.stacy.