TMJD/TINNITUS Connection.......OLD NEWS?

[Cymy Sue]

Some of you may be aware of this information, but from most of the posts I read, it appears most of us have been kept in the dark about the TMJD/EAR connection.

I saw my Dentist Tuesday. He had been doing research to decide if a splint would be appropriate therapy for me. (multiple surgeries, no disc, nerve damage, scar tissue, etc.) I had told him a while back that the Tinnitus was the one problem that I could not find any relief for. Also, that I could not get an ENT to confirm the connection or help me.

(For me now, a soft plastic splint has been recommended by a group of Dr's who are doing research on long term TMJD. He was told to treat my joints as if they were severely arthritic and/or rheumatoid and hopefully this would cause no further damage, but help with relaxing the muscles.)

He also told me that he had recently attended a conference where a discussion or Re-disccussion of a small ligament (discovered by a Dr. Pinto in 1962) that connects the Tmj area to the timpanic or ear area, totally explains the tinnitus and ear problems we have.

I decided to try & find the papers on "Pinto's Ligament." I could not find that but I did find some information that made me sick and so angry.

Unless, we have been going to Ent's, Oral Surgeons and others of the Medical Community who can not read, they have always known of this connection. I am excusing Dentist, because I'm not sure how much study they are required to do on otology and they have just recently had TMJS & TMJD dumped on them, because nobody else wants us. (My Dentist is trying to learn all he can to be able to help.)

Anyway, to find what I was looking for , I had to search "petrotympanic fissure". You will find an incredible amount of info with this. This search led me to "otomandibular syndrome". Not as much information, but some stuff you should read to understand your symtoms.

I am kind of new here, so if this information has been on the board before, I apologize. If you have never seen it, get ready to be astounded that our Dr's could have explained all of this to us, since the info starts with Gray's Anatomy, date 1918.
There is information by Dr. Gelb (no date)on the relationship of tinnitus to craniomandibular disorders.
Dr. Costen, date 1930, Dr. Arlen, date 1970. Dr. Eckerdol, date 1991. These are just a few. There is much more. These are all research findings published for public view on the web.

It appears that we could have at least been told what to expect and could have been treated with a little more courtesy and respect regarding our symtoms. Instead, we have been dismissed, labeled crazy and treated "worse than dirt."

I hope this information is helpful,
Cymy Sue

[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 12-05-2002).]

[crystalll]

Hi Cymy Sue,

It's interesting isn't it. Thanks for sharing all the info. The research and studies have been done, but some doctors still refuse to put it into practice.
It's funny, my regular physician was able to see the connection between the inner ear and TMJ dysfunction when two ENT's, a neurologist, and an oral surgeon couldn't!
It's just common sense.

Crystal

[GenDen]

Sue,

Thanks so much for sharing your information. It appears that we may have to be the ones to teach the medical community. Also, I have learned so much here that has helped me. The help we give each other is a powerful force.

[lori j]

There used to be a tmj site that explained the tmj & ear connection quite well, but the site is gone now. wish i had copied & printed exactly what it said, sounds like you found similar information. isn't there a nerve or something that crosses the same path as the eustacion (sp?) tube area & the jaw. i think that is what i read, but can't remember exactly, but remember feeling great satisfaction in knowing that my ear problems were not imaginary!!

[MichaelV]

Indeed, I wrote and posted a piece about this very aspect of cranial anatomy a while back. The connection is absolute.