Hi Everyone!
I posted this message in the tmj board and figured i'd give it a shot posting it in Inner Ear too!
I am trying to figure out if these symptoms I am having could be tmj related,
or inner ear related? I was told a few years ago that I had tmj and my symptoms lately have been horriable. They are as followed:
Tension type headaches, constant pressure feeling in my head like a ton of bricks are sitting on my head or a tight band around my head, pressure behind my eyes that make it difficult to focus/function, my eyes always feel tired, dry burning as if I haven't slept in days. If I close my eyes and look up I could feel the pressure in my eyes, at times it effects my vision as if my vision gets jumpy. Feeling disconnected from myself, dreamlike everything seems off Dizziness/Lightheaded this is my main complaint, I feel like I am on a boat swaying/motion sensation, sometimes it feels as if I am falling to the side or a dropping sensation the kind you get in an elevator. Best way to describe it..
seems to be worse when standing, sitting or walking, and subsides if I lay down. My head always feels out of it, like I am drinking all day when not!
My ears have pressure and fullness with some deep sharp pains now and then, A crackling sound that feels like I have a bad radio station connection, This is made worse or brought on with yawning, speaking, swallowing and loud noises, yelling, etc. My jaw has a popping, cracking sound directly in the jaw bone close to where your jaw and ear meet. Eating foods that are hard make this symptom worse among yawns that are big!
My neck and shoulders are always sore, I notice if I lean my neck back and move my head side to side there is a horriable cracking popping sound that comes from the base of my neck, my trigger points are painful.
I wake up everymorning feeling like I was hit by a truck, tired, jaw tightness, fullness and soreness in ears, swollen eye lids, pain in head around temples, lightheaded.. And on top of it all I have anxiety which I bet is no Big surprise. I guess my main question is does this all sound tmj related? I mean I know tmj can mimic other illnesses and visa versa but could these symptoms really be tmj caused or perhaps I should be looking into an inner ear disorder? I know tmj could be related to dizziness along with 1000 other illness. But I am wondering if the dizziness/off balance thing for me could be related to the jaw, it's not so much a spinning feeling more of a off balance swaying falling sensation . Any advice would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance. Sorry my post is so long but lately it seems like my symptom list is endless! :wave: Boxerlover

No thoughts, Anyone?:confused:

No thoughts, Anyone?:confused:

Hi Boxerlover

Well lot of symptoms posted there---this part would definitely fit--a vestibular injury:

...."If I close my eyes and look up I could feel the pressure in my eyes, at times it effects my vision as if my vision gets jumpy. Feeling disconnected from myself, dreamlike everything seems off Dizziness/Lightheaded this is my main complaint, I feel like I am on a boat swaying/motion sensation, sometimes it feels as if I am falling to the side or a dropping sensation the kind you get in an elevator. Best way to describe it..
seems to be worse when standing, sitting or walking, and subsides if I lay down."......

Been to see a/the Doc yet??

:cool:

Thank you Subs30 for taking the time to reply to my post on my "dizziness and more" This actually has been a problem with me for some time now. I am just trying to sort through all my symptoms and see what each of them may or may not be realated to. I was Diagnosed a few years ago with Lyme Disease, when my"symptoms" first appeared I was struck with flu like symptoms, horriable vertigo, headache like no other, rapid heart rate.. The list goes on. I felt as If I was going to die. I was treated for this diagnosis for 1 1/2 years with doxycyclin. At that time I had all kinds of blood test, neuro exams, ENT, cardio test, etc..Lots of money spent. I was told my Lyme had went into remission and I should be feeling better. Days,weeks, months, and years have past and I still felt this horriable vertigo/dizziness, headaches, and all the rest of these wonderful symptoms I posted in my previous post called "TMJ RELATED". I have returned to the Doctor several times over the years complaining of all these symptoms and My Doctor said it was all stress related, and that I shouldn't be experiencing any symptoms directly linked to the lyme..I was prescribed xanax .25mg which help subside the
anxiety I was experiencing, and the vertigo calmed down a bit, but not
enough to say it was fully gone.. I think I was more sedated and just didn't
notice it as much.
I settled for these answers not happily. I tried returning to a normal life, with struggles here and there, maninly the headaches and Vertigo, and anxiety were my struggles. I was then told I had a tmj problem and this was something that could be causing alot of the symptoms I was experiencing, I didn't think much of this being that my Jaw at that time wasn't giving me much trouble besides for occasional clicks and cracks now and then. SO here I am a few years later, only my symptoms have progressed, and my jaw makes horriable clunking/clicking sounds with any jaw movement, my headaches are worse then ever, my vertigo is out of control and my anxiety due to the "unknown" Is driving me insane.. I know I clench and grind my teeth, I know I make my dizziness worse with panic and stress, but I also know my body and feel there are more to these symptoms then just stress!
I started to research on my own time to see if this could all be possiably tmj related, before spending hundreds of dollars on appliances and things that may not even be the direct problem. So I figured the best place to start would be to get some feed back from others who may or may not be going through the same! I thought perhaps tmj or an inner ear disorder so I posted my symptoms and story on both boards to see what kind of feed back I would get, to be honest I think I have both!!
I will end my message for today with a thank you again for taking the time to be so kind and read my story and offer your advice.. my prayers and thoughts are with you all!! :angel: I will keep you updated if I find my answers!!:wave: Boxerlover

Hi Boxerlover

If you have looked over the posts on this board---u know---that---"anxiety"---a major part of Inner Ear Injuries---not the cause---but---brought on by---not knowing---what is wrong with u--i.e., not/no Dx---or the wrong Dx---while TMJ---is a possible candidate---it usually does not produce--the profound symptoms---U posted & I responded to in my post---most Doc's especially ENT's are not good at this since it is not their specialty---it is the specialty of a:

" NEUROTOLOGIST"

I think I would be looking for one of them---to try and sort it out---prior to a trip to the TMJ---folks.

By the way a Neurotologist(not a neurologist)---is---by training also---well qualified---to render a Dx of TMJ---if that turns out to be the root cause.

Look through the Nortwestern Univ web site(Dr/Prof Hain's site) in the sticky---it is all there.

:cool:

Hi Subs30
Thank you again for your response to my message, I have been researching the inner ear disorder and I agree I think this is a much more of the path I should follow before tmj. I am just wondering and a bit confused. Most have said that their vertigo is more spinning than floating or swaying and that they usually feel worse when they lay down, and mine is the opposite, I feel better when I lay down. This is by far my most comfortable position for me,
also I feel this constant, not so much a episode. I realize the connection between anxiety and vertigo, and could truley understand why!:dizzy: I feel like I have been drinking wine all day without the glass! boxerlover:wave:

Hi Boxerlover,

Just wanted to say that my symptoms are feeling like I'm falling side to side and like I've got sea legs. I have alot of the other stuff, too. I'm much more comfortable laying down. So you're not alone.

Kat

Hi Boxerlover

...."vertigo is more spinning than floating or swaying"....

Well vertigo---is not always---spinning---most of the time---yes but there are exceptions---depending on the type of vestibular injury involved

.." I feel better when I lay down."....

Depending---on which phase of the compensation process ur in---usually accounts for that----when the injury(for most)---first occurs---u normally will be in what the call the "Acute" phase---during this phase---symptoms are very pronounced---and the brain---place a "cerebral clamp"---on the inputs(basically three systems areas) to it's equilibrium center---that can last from 1 to 7 days(some times longer)---once the brain sorts out the bum input---it ignores it---as much as possible---and starts the second phase---of compensation---during this phase---most people have the floating swaying---stuff---that continues---unless there is a relapse---back to the acute phase---or ur brain fully compensates for the injury---during this phase---most people---feel better---if they don't move/lay down.

There is a type of vestibular injury---that stands alone---from the other types---that one---starts out---kind of like sea sickness---starts---but continues---for some time---with the sway/floating feeling

They all make u feel like u have been drinking---for the most part.

The only way I know of to sort it out---is to see an Doc who is experienced and who has the proper testing capability---and even then---its tough---since so many of the bodies systems are involved---in some very weird ways---it is just to complex a problem to "easter egg" it.

:cool:

Hormone inbalance... pre menopause... symtoms. I have those same symtoms and finally put it all together. Look into menopause symtoms and go to your GYN for some help. I just started the Predesone cream and will be starting the hormone pills next week. Good luck...