Jamie
10-15-2003, 11:05 AM
Hey all,
Today I see Dr. Rawson for a follow-up on my splint. The good news is, I will remain with the night time splint as it has basically eliminated my waking up at night. I also don't snore anymore supposedly, so that's a good think.
Unfortunatly, my ear problems are getting worse. I am now convinced that my problem is not TMJ. My hyperacusis is worse, my "clicking" noise is worse and the distortion in my ears is worse. I am not blaming the splint, but I had a fear that playing with nerves in that area would make the problem worse.. and it has.
I know Dr. Rawson will be happy with solving the sleeping problems, and i am thankful for that -- I AM. However, I really could care less about that. I just want my ears back.
So, I am going to thank him today and stop my treatment. Wearing this splint is doing nothing for me in regards to my ears, and it has been a month and the only thing I have noticed is the fact that it's worse. Also, 95% of my problems are in my right ear, but I still have problems in my left ear. It clicks like CRAZY when it hears sounds! TMJ problems are usually related to ONE ear only.
Now I am going to have to fight for another diagnosis.
Today I see Dr. Rawson for a follow-up on my splint. The good news is, I will remain with the night time splint as it has basically eliminated my waking up at night. I also don't snore anymore supposedly, so that's a good think.
Unfortunatly, my ear problems are getting worse. I am now convinced that my problem is not TMJ. My hyperacusis is worse, my "clicking" noise is worse and the distortion in my ears is worse. I am not blaming the splint, but I had a fear that playing with nerves in that area would make the problem worse.. and it has.
I know Dr. Rawson will be happy with solving the sleeping problems, and i am thankful for that -- I AM. However, I really could care less about that. I just want my ears back.
So, I am going to thank him today and stop my treatment. Wearing this splint is doing nothing for me in regards to my ears, and it has been a month and the only thing I have noticed is the fact that it's worse. Also, 95% of my problems are in my right ear, but I still have problems in my left ear. It clicks like CRAZY when it hears sounds! TMJ problems are usually related to ONE ear only.
Now I am going to have to fight for another diagnosis.
Sponsor
sham32
10-15-2003, 11:25 AM
I WOULDN'T GIVE UP SO SOON. I KNOW IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS IS I NEED TO BE PATIENT. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD I KNOW. I HAVE BEEN WEARING A SPLINT 24/7 SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. MY EAR STILL KILLS ALL THE TIME BUT THE MUSCLES AROUND THE JAW ARE RELAXING MORE. EVENTUALLY THEY SHOULD BE RELAXED ENOUGH TO STOP THE EAR PAIN. YOU KNOW THE EXPRESSION "I HAVE BEEN TO HELL AND BACK" WELL I AM NOT BACK YET AND IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS. HANG IN THERE!!!!!
totallyconfused
10-15-2003, 02:03 PM
Jamie,
I am so sorry you haven't been helped yet by the splint. I understand your concern. A month isn't all that long in a splint, but it IS possible to still have TMJD and NOT be helped by a particular splint. I used a splint for 4 months and that particular splint did not help me. That doesn't mean I don't have TMJD, I do. I just haven't found the right treatment for it yet.
I hope you find something that will help you Jamie. I wish you the best of luck in whatever treatment plan you decide to pursue. You might want to talk to your dentist to see his thoughts on this.
Take care,
TC
I am so sorry you haven't been helped yet by the splint. I understand your concern. A month isn't all that long in a splint, but it IS possible to still have TMJD and NOT be helped by a particular splint. I used a splint for 4 months and that particular splint did not help me. That doesn't mean I don't have TMJD, I do. I just haven't found the right treatment for it yet.
I hope you find something that will help you Jamie. I wish you the best of luck in whatever treatment plan you decide to pursue. You might want to talk to your dentist to see his thoughts on this.
Take care,
TC
saaraah
10-15-2003, 02:43 PM
jamie - im sad to hear that your ear symptoms havent been helped by the splint. like you said, tho, it's great that you're sleeping better.
i wish you luck with whatever treatment you continue.
would you try another splint? do you know what you're going to do now?
take care,
- saaraah.
[This message has been edited by saaraah (edited 10-15-2003).]
i wish you luck with whatever treatment you continue.
would you try another splint? do you know what you're going to do now?
take care,
- saaraah.
[This message has been edited by saaraah (edited 10-15-2003).]
GenDen
10-15-2003, 02:59 PM
Jamie,
From my personal experience, one month is too soon to give up. It takes much longer than that for the muscles to settle down. Also, it might be necessary to be referred to a physical therapist who specializes in head and neck to "release" the tension in the muscles. It is not unusual for the tinnitus to get worse for a while--been there, done that. The muscles are readjusting and when things are stirred up the nerves react. Give it more time.
From my personal experience, one month is too soon to give up. It takes much longer than that for the muscles to settle down. Also, it might be necessary to be referred to a physical therapist who specializes in head and neck to "release" the tension in the muscles. It is not unusual for the tinnitus to get worse for a while--been there, done that. The muscles are readjusting and when things are stirred up the nerves react. Give it more time.
Isobelj
10-15-2003, 10:07 PM
I've had problems in both ears, which I believe and am told are tmj related. There are several kinds of noises in my ears, popping and clicking I believe due to spasming (you can have spasms which cause clicking without even knowing you are in spasm or feeling any sensation of spasming) and subsequent eustachian tube blocking causing the popping I can hear and fullness and pressure in the middle ear. The ear is only 3mm away from the tm joint, so it makes perfect sense too that ear symptoms absolutely identical to those caused by actual problems in the ear can be caused by tmjd, the ear has the very real problems/symptoms, but the cause is not in the ear even though symptoms are. Anyway, then I also have vibration in my ears, and inflamed ears, noises from this are rumbling, a gentler brrrring noise, a humming like an electric noise, wind noise and so on. This was my first symptom of tmj for me, coming before any kind of jaw/joint pain or head or scalp pain. It seems odd and I don't understand it still but somehow I had very inflamed ears from joint problems before I was even conscious (via symptoms in my face) that I had any joint problems at all.
My ear issues began 11 weeks ago and have however been gradually decreasing until I am now mostly free of them which I am so grateful for. I've tried hard to stay away from loud noise in the interim, given up caffiene (many tinnitus and tmj sites I've looked at suggest this because it constricts blood vessels and prevents optimum muscle health) and taken a lot of antioxidant vits, used heat and cold to calm facial spasms, not taken any kind of medication which can cause tinnitus like muscle relaxants or even aspirin(except in one week, I think that was a mistake), and slept with soft foam ear plugs, I know lots of ENTS say don't use ear plugs but I think soft ones definitely help protect the ears from vibration/noise damage.
I know you may say well good for you, but you yourself are stil left with the ear issues, and I know they are terrible, like you I wanted more than anything to have my hearing normal again, that took priority over all else for me. I just wanted to give you some encouragement that they can improve, there couldn't have been anything worse than the way my ears felt two months ago. Also though, trust your instincts too, if you feel the splint disturbs your ears maybe it is not quite right for you, maybe just try if you want to not using it for a few days and see how you feel then. Or maybe as others say it takes time for any positive changes to be manifest.
But best of luck anyway, I do really sympathize and was wondering how you are.
Isobel
[This message has been edited by Isobelj (edited 10-15-2003).]
My ear issues began 11 weeks ago and have however been gradually decreasing until I am now mostly free of them which I am so grateful for. I've tried hard to stay away from loud noise in the interim, given up caffiene (many tinnitus and tmj sites I've looked at suggest this because it constricts blood vessels and prevents optimum muscle health) and taken a lot of antioxidant vits, used heat and cold to calm facial spasms, not taken any kind of medication which can cause tinnitus like muscle relaxants or even aspirin(except in one week, I think that was a mistake), and slept with soft foam ear plugs, I know lots of ENTS say don't use ear plugs but I think soft ones definitely help protect the ears from vibration/noise damage.
I know you may say well good for you, but you yourself are stil left with the ear issues, and I know they are terrible, like you I wanted more than anything to have my hearing normal again, that took priority over all else for me. I just wanted to give you some encouragement that they can improve, there couldn't have been anything worse than the way my ears felt two months ago. Also though, trust your instincts too, if you feel the splint disturbs your ears maybe it is not quite right for you, maybe just try if you want to not using it for a few days and see how you feel then. Or maybe as others say it takes time for any positive changes to be manifest.
But best of luck anyway, I do really sympathize and was wondering how you are.
Isobel
[This message has been edited by Isobelj (edited 10-15-2003).]
LarLarz
10-16-2003, 01:44 PM
Isobel J,
I think that is how mine started as well, It has been so long now (over a yr) I can't be positive...but I do remember my ear was always doing that weird thumping or vibrating thing. Funny though, bc it usually happens in my left ear and my right side/jaw and ear is the side that is giving me the most problems. TMJ does make sense to me, but I just can't believe it caused ALL of these problems I am having.
I think that is how mine started as well, It has been so long now (over a yr) I can't be positive...but I do remember my ear was always doing that weird thumping or vibrating thing. Funny though, bc it usually happens in my left ear and my right side/jaw and ear is the side that is giving me the most problems. TMJ does make sense to me, but I just can't believe it caused ALL of these problems I am having.