TMJ? Unknown illness for 6-months - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

burgeke · 01-06-2003, 01:08 PM

I happened to stumble upon this board and have noticed many insightful posts! I hope someone here can shed some light onto my situation. Pasted below is my horror story to-date. I typed this up to bring to my latest doctor. This will be my first visit to an ENT.
Thanks!
****

Current persistent symptoms without infection present are:

- Ear pressure/congestion in both ears.
- Headaches.
- I hear constant popping and clicking sounds when I swollow.
- After Dr. Schenkel's (Allergist) PA mentioned TMJ, I became consious of those symptoms, jaw sore, teeth sore, facial pain, jaw grinding, clicking.

This all started in June 2002. A couple of environment changes during that time frame were:

- another dog (dogs entire life - allergy ***** test negative)
- I finished the basement during this time frame, carpet in basement.
(note that I did the work and produced drywall dust/general dust for over a month)

Initial symptoms were:
- pain and congestion in my left ear only.
- Several weeks later, my body ached badly all over.

This led to the doctor visits listed below.

July-August 2002

- two or three trips to GP - Dr. Callichio, (Doctor is In - Phillipsburg)

Symptoms:
Vertigo
Ear pressure
Severe pain in body, "overexagerated aches"
Sharp left ear pain
Congestion (green/yellow) - by ears
Fever
Overall "bad" feeling

Diagnosis/Treatment:
Sinus infection.
Zythromax 5-day with partial results.
Amoxocyllin 14Day.
Zyrtec (stopped due to bad mood swings)
Rhinocort Aqua

After antibiotics, infection was gone but congestion/pressure @ ear area still present.

Sept-Jan 2002/03

- 6 visits to Allergist - Dr. Schenkel.

Symptoms:
Vertigo (off and on)
Ear pressure
Congestion (when infection present green/yellow), (otherwise, clear-white) - by ears
Fever (when infection present)
Overall "bad" feeling

Diagnosis/Treatment:
Clarinex (did not work well)
Allegra 1/day (did not work after 12 hours)
Allegra-D 2/day (taking currently)
Augmentin 14day (thought infection was gone but congestion/pressure @ ear area still present)
1 month after Augmentin, Tequin 14days (infection was gone but congestion/pressure @ ear area still present)
Immunization shots - ongoing, only had 1 shot to date.

Cymy Sue · 01-06-2003, 04:34 PM

Hello & Welcome,
I bumped Marlene's post of TMJ Symtoms up, in case you had not read the posts and replies. There is a lot of information on that thread that might help you. Sometimes, a comparison of symtoms will give you some insight to your problem.

It sounds like you're having an awful time. I hope you will get some response here that will help.

My problem is completely TMJD oriented, with ear problems secondary, so I don't think I can help.

A lot of people who post here do have a lot of ear symtoms and I'm sure you will hear from them.

I wanted to welcome you to the board and hope you get answers soon.

Cymy Sue

shell389 · 01-06-2003, 05:56 PM

Hello! Just wondered if you ever had any root canals done on your teeth especially recently? I have read of stories of people getting this sick from a root canaled tooth. Michelle

burgeke · 01-07-2003, 06:31 AM

WOW! What a response. Thank you all for your concern and information. It surely is nice to know that I am not alone - that in itself helps greatly!

Here are some answers to the questions you have asked of me...

- I have had several root canals in the past. When the symptoms started, 6 mo ago, I had a dentist visit. It was only for a cleaning.

- Carol, thanks for your post! Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. The vertigo was mostly as you describe, happens when I get up from a seated position mostly. I do hope the ENT can help. I was POSITIVE that it was allergies in the begining, before the many infections. We had gotten a new puppy to keep our other dog company. In the past, I had a kitten which put me in the hospital for similar symptoms x100. Got rid of the kittenj

and I got better. This would seem to make sense but the allergy tests were totally negative for dog and cat. I have also had dogs my entire life with no problems.

An additional note to the feeling that it is NOT allergy is that I have NO other allergy symptoms. My nose is clear, eyes normal etc. I do have bad allergies but they always produce clasic allergy symptoms.

Thanks again to everyone for the warm welcome!

burgeke · 01-07-2003, 12:59 PM

update...

Woke up yesterday with neck and jaw pain. My teeth were sore and my ears plugged (more than usual.) I also had the headache to go along with it. Although I went to sleep on my back, I woke on my side. Also my pillow was all bunched up. All day my symptoms were terrible.

Today I woke on my back and had no pain or soreness. My ears were still plugged but not as bad. No other symptoms. I just got back from lunch and my jaw is drawn and sore. My teeth hurt once again, I have a headache and my ears are plugged bad.

All of this kind of explains to me why I am bad certain days and not on others while being exposed to the same things. More evidence of TMJ instead of allergy.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I don't know if I mentioned that I have always ground my teeth at night. Sometimes my finacee wakes me. I can also see the jaw take the "detour" as it opens and closes like many of you mention.