SanityLost
10-12-2003, 11:54 PM
Hi Everyone,
I'm new here, so bear with me and my lack of knowledge on this topic. I have been reading a lot of the posts on here and I figure if anyone can answer a question I have, this would be the place to ask. My girlfriend, 24 years old, was diagnosed with TMJ about 6 months ago and has seen a couple of dentists and doctors for it. She has been wearing this plastic mouth guard for a couple of weeks. She still has really bad headaches all the time and shooting pains in the right side of her face that go up behind her ear. The dentist said that this is not out of the ordinary for the first couple of weeks, because the muscles are stretching out and her jaw is "finding a home", as he put it.
The question I have is that for the past week she has developed this 'twitching' on the right side of her face, under her eye. At first, it was just annoying... but now it's driving her crazy. It's bad enough that she is miserable from the pain, but now she's got this noticable twitching thing going on.
Does anyone know if this could be caused by this mouth guard and that maybe it's not working right, or maybe this is a common problem with TMJ patients? I'm doing everything I can to try and help her out, and I hope someone can help me find a solution for her.
S.L.
I'm new here, so bear with me and my lack of knowledge on this topic. I have been reading a lot of the posts on here and I figure if anyone can answer a question I have, this would be the place to ask. My girlfriend, 24 years old, was diagnosed with TMJ about 6 months ago and has seen a couple of dentists and doctors for it. She has been wearing this plastic mouth guard for a couple of weeks. She still has really bad headaches all the time and shooting pains in the right side of her face that go up behind her ear. The dentist said that this is not out of the ordinary for the first couple of weeks, because the muscles are stretching out and her jaw is "finding a home", as he put it.
The question I have is that for the past week she has developed this 'twitching' on the right side of her face, under her eye. At first, it was just annoying... but now it's driving her crazy. It's bad enough that she is miserable from the pain, but now she's got this noticable twitching thing going on.
Does anyone know if this could be caused by this mouth guard and that maybe it's not working right, or maybe this is a common problem with TMJ patients? I'm doing everything I can to try and help her out, and I hope someone can help me find a solution for her.
S.L.
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DianeTMJ
10-13-2003, 06:35 PM
Hello S. L.
Welcome to the board :wave:
Oh so young and to be having TMJD pain :0(
Okay, you say a mouth guard, is it an upper or lower one? Is it a soft splint or a hard acryrlic splint?
Is she seeing a specialist? I am sorry for all the questions, but it will just help the board members out. TMJD is an awful thing to live with, you are a wonderful boyfriend for wanting to stay by her side as she goes through the healing process.
Take care
Diane
Welcome to the board :wave:
Oh so young and to be having TMJD pain :0(
Okay, you say a mouth guard, is it an upper or lower one? Is it a soft splint or a hard acryrlic splint?
Is she seeing a specialist? I am sorry for all the questions, but it will just help the board members out. TMJD is an awful thing to live with, you are a wonderful boyfriend for wanting to stay by her side as she goes through the healing process.
Take care
Diane
Isobelj
10-13-2003, 10:06 PM
Dr Rebecca Griffiths, a dentist who works with tmj patients, mentions facial tension muscle aches & tics as common tmj symptoms on her website. Just recently I experienced for the first time what you mention also, a twitching 'tic' under my right eye, I was on a long car journey this weekend and car vibration always bothers me. It stopped thankfully during the night. but it is horrid, and visible, I know how your girlfriend must feel. Using moist heat and cold alternately on the area would very possibly help, a moist heat pad really helped me.
You are a great boyfriend to take such an interest and to come here looking for info on your girlfriend's behalf!
Isobel
[This message has been edited by Isobelj (edited 10-13-2003).]
You are a great boyfriend to take such an interest and to come here looking for info on your girlfriend's behalf!
Isobel
[This message has been edited by Isobelj (edited 10-13-2003).]
Puzzled
10-14-2003, 12:26 AM
Hi Sanity, not too many from Chicago area on this site. Go Cubs!!! I hope your girlfriend feels better soon. I have been in the process of getting names of doctors in the area in case my current splint doesn't help. It appears there are a lot of TMJ doctors in Chicago so if things don't work out with your current docs and you need names of others, let me know. Deb
CherylLynn24
10-14-2003, 04:39 AM
Hi S.L.,
Welcome to the board. I too, have had eye-twitching. I never considered it related, until I read Isobel's response. (thanks, Isobel) I hope that your girlfriend finds some answers soon. It's wonderful that you're here for her!
Cheryl
[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-14-2003).]
Welcome to the board. I too, have had eye-twitching. I never considered it related, until I read Isobel's response. (thanks, Isobel) I hope that your girlfriend finds some answers soon. It's wonderful that you're here for her!
Cheryl
[This message has been edited by CherylLynn24 (edited 10-14-2003).]
lucy25
10-14-2003, 04:06 PM
SanityLost...tell your girlfriend to hang in there. I have had TMD for almost 3 years and I'm 27. My first major symptom was a constant nasty twitching under my left eye and it lasted about 4 months! Reassure her that it will go away. Is she just wearing a mouthguard at night for grinding or is it a splint to relax her muscles that she wears all day? Let us know of her progress.
Take Care, Lucy :)
Take Care, Lucy :)
SanityLost
10-15-2003, 12:25 AM
Thank you all for the responses! She is currently wearing the splint on the lower teeth and she wears it around the clock. She complains about the headaches often, but the noticeable twitches are driving her absolutely crazy. I will have her try out alternating hot and cold to see if this will minimize the noticeable twitching, and hopefully take them away completely.
Thanks again all for the advice and knowledge. I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond to what may seem trivial to some of the other problems people are dealing with here.
Thanks again,
S.L.
P.S. Love the Cubs comment, Puzzled! :)
[This message has been edited by SanityLost (edited 10-14-2003).]
Thanks again all for the advice and knowledge. I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond to what may seem trivial to some of the other problems people are dealing with here.
Thanks again,
S.L.
P.S. Love the Cubs comment, Puzzled! :)
[This message has been edited by SanityLost (edited 10-14-2003).]