mcruk
12-22-2004, 10:11 AM
Hi all
Im very new to this board which I have just discovered so please forgive me if my 1st post is a bit long.
In June of this year I had a real bad headache which lasted about 2 days but then just vanished then about 3-4 months ago I started to get these strange shooting pains in my head, not necessarily in the same position I might add. However its usually around the sides and front of my head (forehead) and in or around the eyes. One minute the left side and the next the right. The pains are not severe and only last for a few seconds. There is a mild pressure around the sides of the head and by my ears. At the moment the pressure is in both sides of my head. Only mild though. I get pains in my ears also.
This year on two occasions I have also had a sore to the touch scalp which again comes in waves and only usually lasts for seconds. Also at the same time the pain would radiate into my ear/ears. My left ear was blocked by hard wax but that has since been removed.
I have seen a number of doctors at my local surgery and I was told that its stress and tension. Maybe its the case now but at the time things were going great for me so I had no casue for stress. The second visit resulted in the hard wax removal incase that was the cause but it wasnt. My 3rd visit I tried to be a bit more thorough in my symtoms. I explained to her that for years I have had a really sore neck which grinds and cracks all too often. This also seems to effect my shoulders also. I get occasional numbness on the sides of my hands also. She seems to think that this could be the cause of my problems and she could certainly be right. I will be going for physio for this.
However there is another problem I have which I have never really thought about until now. For many years I have been a heavy grinder of my teeth when sleeping, loud enough to keep a bunch of campers awake at night! Also for many years I have noticed that my jaw cracks and grinds when moving it around. Also the joint seems to hurt which is by the ear! So I thought it might be TMJ as the symptoms certainly fit it? Oh I also get constant ringing in the ears/ears.
My problem is I am a huge health anxietist and am really worried that this could be a brain tumour even though 3 doctors says it just doesnt fit with a brain tumour. Do you think I should go back and explain about the possible TMJ?
Anyway thanks for listening, nobody else does
Im very new to this board which I have just discovered so please forgive me if my 1st post is a bit long.
In June of this year I had a real bad headache which lasted about 2 days but then just vanished then about 3-4 months ago I started to get these strange shooting pains in my head, not necessarily in the same position I might add. However its usually around the sides and front of my head (forehead) and in or around the eyes. One minute the left side and the next the right. The pains are not severe and only last for a few seconds. There is a mild pressure around the sides of the head and by my ears. At the moment the pressure is in both sides of my head. Only mild though. I get pains in my ears also.
This year on two occasions I have also had a sore to the touch scalp which again comes in waves and only usually lasts for seconds. Also at the same time the pain would radiate into my ear/ears. My left ear was blocked by hard wax but that has since been removed.
I have seen a number of doctors at my local surgery and I was told that its stress and tension. Maybe its the case now but at the time things were going great for me so I had no casue for stress. The second visit resulted in the hard wax removal incase that was the cause but it wasnt. My 3rd visit I tried to be a bit more thorough in my symtoms. I explained to her that for years I have had a really sore neck which grinds and cracks all too often. This also seems to effect my shoulders also. I get occasional numbness on the sides of my hands also. She seems to think that this could be the cause of my problems and she could certainly be right. I will be going for physio for this.
However there is another problem I have which I have never really thought about until now. For many years I have been a heavy grinder of my teeth when sleeping, loud enough to keep a bunch of campers awake at night! Also for many years I have noticed that my jaw cracks and grinds when moving it around. Also the joint seems to hurt which is by the ear! So I thought it might be TMJ as the symptoms certainly fit it? Oh I also get constant ringing in the ears/ears.
My problem is I am a huge health anxietist and am really worried that this could be a brain tumour even though 3 doctors says it just doesnt fit with a brain tumour. Do you think I should go back and explain about the possible TMJ?
Anyway thanks for listening, nobody else does
Sponsor
britishgirl2
12-22-2004, 10:17 PM
I also experienced those shooting pains that last for just a few seconds - mostly in the right side of my head. Mine started when I quit taking zoloft, and I thought it was a reaction to that, as I had read that this could happen. Finally this year I did go to the doctor about it and he ordered an MRI and a CT scan, both came back fine. Now with the onset of my other symptoms I guess it may be related to TMJ, but I still have a sneaky feeling the zoloft had something to do with it.
westin4
12-23-2004, 12:10 AM
mcruk,
It sure sounds like tmj. I had the whole brain tumor thought, I was checked for one and even checked for MS. The symptoms can be very severe and SO many symptoms can be related to tmj. If everything else is ruled out than I would say since you are a confirmed grinder,you most surely have tmj.
Karen
It sure sounds like tmj. I had the whole brain tumor thought, I was checked for one and even checked for MS. The symptoms can be very severe and SO many symptoms can be related to tmj. If everything else is ruled out than I would say since you are a confirmed grinder,you most surely have tmj.
Karen
oldpal
12-24-2004, 03:08 AM
Hello,
Just to be sure you don't have "tmj," which i think you do, get a tomogram and have an experience doctor read it. A tomogram should tell you if you have tmj or not.
take care,
oldpal
Just to be sure you don't have "tmj," which i think you do, get a tomogram and have an experience doctor read it. A tomogram should tell you if you have tmj or not.
take care,
oldpal
westin4
12-24-2004, 11:32 AM
mcruk,
Don't forget that if you are a heavy grinder, your tmj could be totally muscular in nature in which case there is no definitive "test." All of my tests have always come back "normal" and I have a pretty severe case casued by overextension.
Just make sure whatever the case you get some help going so you don't get worse. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone,
Karen
Don't forget that if you are a heavy grinder, your tmj could be totally muscular in nature in which case there is no definitive "test." All of my tests have always come back "normal" and I have a pretty severe case casued by overextension.
Just make sure whatever the case you get some help going so you don't get worse. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone,
Karen
mcruk
12-26-2004, 04:58 PM
Thanks for the reply everyone.
I guess I will go and see the doc about a tomogram whatever that may be and see what it comes up with. I suppose I should also get an MRI just to be on the safe side. The whistling/humming sensation in my ear is annoying and maybe getting worse. I also feel spaced out, not dizzy just spaced out if you understand me.
Out of interest, is there something that can be done to ease or even cure the sympotoms, something that actually works?
Hope you all had a wonerful christmas.
I guess I will go and see the doc about a tomogram whatever that may be and see what it comes up with. I suppose I should also get an MRI just to be on the safe side. The whistling/humming sensation in my ear is annoying and maybe getting worse. I also feel spaced out, not dizzy just spaced out if you understand me.
Out of interest, is there something that can be done to ease or even cure the sympotoms, something that actually works?
Hope you all had a wonerful christmas.
mommy2scl
12-26-2004, 06:45 PM
Without seeing a doctor and getting an RX for a muscle relaxer, I use a heating pad or bed buddy (heats up in microwave and gives off moist heat) on my head area when I am having a headache. It works well for sore muscles. When my joint itself is bothering me, I go for the ice pack. I can always tell the difference. By the way, I also get the painful scalp from the constant muscle spasms. I think the way to go as far as Xrays is the MRI. It shows soft tissue that could be damaged. I am not sure if the tomogram does or not. A tomogram is a 3d type xray rather than just a flat panoramic xray. If you have TMJ, you will become familiar with all of these terms!
Mommy
Mommy
mcruk
01-07-2005, 04:59 AM
By way of information I went to see my doc about it but she just told me to go and see my dentist. So I did and talked to him about my symptoms. He did an examination of my teeth and said there was a problem for sure. He has made me a mould for a splint and showed me the evidence in the mould itself pointing towards grinding on the left side of my face (most of the pain is here). He is 100% convinced I have TMJ problems.
Well I just hope that wearing the splint will stop me grinding at night and perhaps lead me to to a cure as I dont want to go to a specialist as it will cost me an am and a leg. The dental treatment yesterday cost me £160. I guess time will tell.
Well I just hope that wearing the splint will stop me grinding at night and perhaps lead me to to a cure as I dont want to go to a specialist as it will cost me an am and a leg. The dental treatment yesterday cost me £160. I guess time will tell.
westin4
01-07-2005, 11:10 AM
Keep this in mind...........there really is no "specialist" for tmj. They can hang out a shingle saying that they "specialize" in tmj but a dentist who is a DMD is FAR less expensive and my experience has been far more knowledgeable. I have been to 2 so called specialists and left both of them promptly. One due to financial reasons the other due to lack of knowing what he was doing.
Give the splint some time.......I am talking MONTHS. You tmj's don't get out of whack overnight and neither do your muscles so there has to be some healing process. The only thing is, if you start to get WORSE or develop NEW symptoms, than that will be your clue that your splint is not right, or may need adjusting.
Best of luck,
Karen
Give the splint some time.......I am talking MONTHS. You tmj's don't get out of whack overnight and neither do your muscles so there has to be some healing process. The only thing is, if you start to get WORSE or develop NEW symptoms, than that will be your clue that your splint is not right, or may need adjusting.
Best of luck,
Karen