kanattoo
04-20-2004, 12:13 PM
I wasn't sure where to post this, but maybe someone here can help me. For about a month, I have been having pain in my left ear. I have had ear infections before and it doesn't feel like the pain I had with those. It hurts the most when I get up in the morning. It hurts when I move my jaw around, yawn and sometimes when I am eating something that is especially "chewy". I don't have any other allergy, sinus or cold symptoms. I don't have headaches either. Could it be TMJ? Anyone have any idea what this might be? Thank you
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kanattoo
04-20-2004, 12:49 PM
No, I don't grind my teeth, but I will check out the post. Thanks!
hbep
04-20-2004, 02:54 PM
You may not grind your teeth, but you might find that you brace your facial muscles a lot, or clench your teeth together when concentrating. I wasn't aware I did either until I got this.
best,
hbep
best,
hbep
lori j
04-21-2004, 05:01 AM
You may not grind your teeth, but you might find that you brace your facial muscles a lot, or clench your teeth together when concentrating. I wasn't aware I did either until I got this.
best,
hbep
I don't grind mine either, but due to stress I used to grit my teeth when upset or angry. My first & worst pain from TMJ was ear pain, no infection, months of tests & anti-biotics & it was TMJ in the end.
best,
hbep
I don't grind mine either, but due to stress I used to grit my teeth when upset or angry. My first & worst pain from TMJ was ear pain, no infection, months of tests & anti-biotics & it was TMJ in the end.
hanelo4
04-21-2004, 05:11 AM
So we have something else in common, lol. I've had TMJ for years now. I can't even remember how many splints I've ever had. I would clinch my teeth so bad at night that I would actually have spasms. I had to take muscle relaxers for a while. I grinded the whole right side of my teeth down a little. It's not noticeable to the eye, but my dentists sure notices, lol. I finally had enough money to put braces, so I did. Big hugs to you Lori:)
Chantel
Chantel
westin4
04-21-2004, 10:30 AM
Chantel,
Hey, you came over from panic! I was wondering if you were ever told this like I was, that the clenching and extreme grinding are often associated with panic/anxiety disorders? Once I got on the meds for the anxiety, my clenching lessend soooooo much, I do still grind but not like I used too. I woke several times with a cracked or broken piece of a tooth in my mouth, YUCK!
Good to see ya over here........
Karen
Hey, you came over from panic! I was wondering if you were ever told this like I was, that the clenching and extreme grinding are often associated with panic/anxiety disorders? Once I got on the meds for the anxiety, my clenching lessend soooooo much, I do still grind but not like I used too. I woke several times with a cracked or broken piece of a tooth in my mouth, YUCK!
Good to see ya over here........
Karen
hanelo4
04-22-2004, 06:24 AM
Hugs Karen,
Yes, I found my way:) Found another friend who posts on the panic board too. Thanks for inviting me hun. I do think I remember my dentist saying something about anxiety causing my clenching, but I ignored it because I knew I already had anxiety. I've been having it for years. I didn't have the panic attacks then though. I would clench so hard sometimes that when I would finally wake up, I couldn't open my mouth. It was still stuck together. Was very weird.
Broken tooth? Ouch! I've never done that yet. Just woke up with little grinded peices in my mouth like chalk. How many times have you had a splint? I have holes in all my old ones.
Chantel
Yes, I found my way:) Found another friend who posts on the panic board too. Thanks for inviting me hun. I do think I remember my dentist saying something about anxiety causing my clenching, but I ignored it because I knew I already had anxiety. I've been having it for years. I didn't have the panic attacks then though. I would clench so hard sometimes that when I would finally wake up, I couldn't open my mouth. It was still stuck together. Was very weird.
Broken tooth? Ouch! I've never done that yet. Just woke up with little grinded peices in my mouth like chalk. How many times have you had a splint? I have holes in all my old ones.
Chantel
westin4
04-22-2004, 10:58 AM
Chantel,
Hugs back at ya! So does that make 3 of here that have tmj and panic/anxiety?
I have been in a splint since 1997. I had been doing really well for the past 3 years without really any symptoms unless I ate something that I knew I shouldn't. I had to leave that dentist for insurance reasons and I just didn't go for a while cause I was symptom free and my splint although full of holes and in 2 pieces, was feeling great and I always wore it. I started going to a new dentist about a year and half ago and she TOTALLY messed me up and started this flare up that I am in now. I left her after she made me a splint that sent me over the edge and set me back years from where I had gotten with this. I left her and found an awesome dentist. I have been with him for about 4 or 5 weeks and am in my second splint from him, and awaiting my acrylic splint to come in. He took the splint she made me and remade it and I ground through it in 6 days. He told me maybe I should go to the junk yard and chew on an old tire! haha :) That is where I am at this point, I am locked on the left side and have an opening of 15mm which is up from 9 where I was when I first went to him.
What is some of your background with all of this?
Karen
Hugs back at ya! So does that make 3 of here that have tmj and panic/anxiety?
I have been in a splint since 1997. I had been doing really well for the past 3 years without really any symptoms unless I ate something that I knew I shouldn't. I had to leave that dentist for insurance reasons and I just didn't go for a while cause I was symptom free and my splint although full of holes and in 2 pieces, was feeling great and I always wore it. I started going to a new dentist about a year and half ago and she TOTALLY messed me up and started this flare up that I am in now. I left her after she made me a splint that sent me over the edge and set me back years from where I had gotten with this. I left her and found an awesome dentist. I have been with him for about 4 or 5 weeks and am in my second splint from him, and awaiting my acrylic splint to come in. He took the splint she made me and remade it and I ground through it in 6 days. He told me maybe I should go to the junk yard and chew on an old tire! haha :) That is where I am at this point, I am locked on the left side and have an opening of 15mm which is up from 9 where I was when I first went to him.
What is some of your background with all of this?
Karen
hanelo4
04-23-2004, 01:46 AM
Karen:)
I had braces before when I was about 16. I wore them for almost 3 years. I took them off too early because I was fed up. That was a big mistake. It took a while, but they all started moving again. I think this caused me to get TMJ cause I didn't have it before. I've been suffereing now for about 10 years. I, like you, chewed many holes in my splints and still wore them, lol. They are so darn expensive. For a while I had gotten a mouth guard from Wal-mart and wore that until I could afford a splint. It didn't work nearly as good as the splint. So, I wore splints off and on until I could finally afford to wear braces. My orthodontist told me braces would correct TMJ. I sure hope it does.
Oh, another thing I remembered. I used to get really bad headaches too. Usually in the morning. The dentist told me it was because I was grinding down so hard. I also had to take muscle relaxers for a while a few years back because I would grind so hard at night, my jaw would spasm and I couldn't open it for a while after I woke up. My whole jaw would shake. It was weird and scary. I've never had it lock on me though. I've had it pop many times when I opened my mouth too much. Boy does that hurt!
P.S.- I'm sure most people who have this deal with anxiety/stress. I'm just glad we have each other to talk too. I now wear a flat plastice peice in my mouth to stop my teeth from touching just until I get the braces off.
Chantel
I had braces before when I was about 16. I wore them for almost 3 years. I took them off too early because I was fed up. That was a big mistake. It took a while, but they all started moving again. I think this caused me to get TMJ cause I didn't have it before. I've been suffereing now for about 10 years. I, like you, chewed many holes in my splints and still wore them, lol. They are so darn expensive. For a while I had gotten a mouth guard from Wal-mart and wore that until I could afford a splint. It didn't work nearly as good as the splint. So, I wore splints off and on until I could finally afford to wear braces. My orthodontist told me braces would correct TMJ. I sure hope it does.
Oh, another thing I remembered. I used to get really bad headaches too. Usually in the morning. The dentist told me it was because I was grinding down so hard. I also had to take muscle relaxers for a while a few years back because I would grind so hard at night, my jaw would spasm and I couldn't open it for a while after I woke up. My whole jaw would shake. It was weird and scary. I've never had it lock on me though. I've had it pop many times when I opened my mouth too much. Boy does that hurt!
P.S.- I'm sure most people who have this deal with anxiety/stress. I'm just glad we have each other to talk too. I now wear a flat plastice peice in my mouth to stop my teeth from touching just until I get the braces off.
Chantel
lori j
04-23-2004, 03:23 AM
Hi all, I'll bet a lot of people get TMJ from stress and don't even know they have it, til it gets bad & they start going to doctors. That's what happened to me, it was my ear first, but after a while it also affected glands in my neck, the roof of my mouth would be sore when I swallowed, I'd get headaches, eye pain & even my lips & cheek on the right side would feel hot & numb. I'm sure mine is from stress, the minute I go back to gritting my teeth the pain comes right back & I know without AD's right now, I'm doing it & didn't even realize it.
Anyone have ulcers???? LOL I had two!!!
Anyone have ulcers???? LOL I had two!!!
lori j
04-23-2004, 03:26 AM
OH, one more thing, does anyone like pop or grind their bottom jaw from side to side? I do, I know it's a nervous tick thing, but that also can send my pain over the edge, so I think I've been doing that a lot lately too.
hanelo4
04-23-2004, 05:41 AM
I'm gonna open a thread so we can all see what we all suffer from, LOL. I'm curious.
Chantel
Chantel
lori j
04-23-2004, 05:58 AM
I'm gonna open a thread so we can all see what we all suffer from, LOL. I'm curious.
Chantel
Good idea, or not, may be too depressing!!! :rolleyes:
Chantel
Good idea, or not, may be too depressing!!! :rolleyes:
hanelo4
04-23-2004, 06:24 AM
Well, LOL. It may be. Especially after I read the long list of things I have down there. I'm in my mid 30's!!!! I shouldn't feel this way:( Look at my list in the panic board. I had ulcers too. Dang stress!
Chantel
Chantel
lori j
04-24-2004, 02:51 AM
Well, actually had a pretty good day, the tmj pain is almost gone & icing & resting my back have helped that too. Have to celebrate those days you know!!! They are few & far between..
I have one more to add to your list, I will go do it now....
I have one more to add to your list, I will go do it now....
bugaboo1311962
04-24-2004, 04:41 PM
kanattoo,
I have tmj, & I get ear infections alot & of course have been told that ppl who have tmj are more apt to have ear problems. before my tmj I never had ear problems.
I have tmj, & I get ear infections alot & of course have been told that ppl who have tmj are more apt to have ear problems. before my tmj I never had ear problems.