How TMJ effects the ears? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

hbep · 03-25-2003, 11:49 AM

Hello there,

I usually post on inner ear disorders, have been suffering from ear pain/pressure/fullness/dizziness etc... for 7 months now. Seen an ENT - at the moment looking in to Eustachian tube problems, although have no firm diagnosis. I have recently developed more TMJ like symptoms - tightness/pain in neck/ in front of ear, behind ear, on TMJ joint. Be very grateful if anyone could tell me how TMJ causes inner ear pain/fullness? Does it impact on the eustachian tubes causing inflammation? Is there some other reason? I was at the dental hospital yesterday - they said TMJ is a possibility - would really like to know more, but of course didn't think of all the things I needed to ask at the time.

Big apologies if the answers to this are obvious to long term TMJ'ers - be really grateful for any answers.

OHJELJ · 03-25-2003, 12:46 PM

Hey there,

I've had TMJ for over 13 years now...had arthroscopy 10 years ago and again about 3 weeks ago. I have no severe problem other than the disks in my jaw slide out of joint and cause damage to the bone as well as severe pain.

That being said, when I first became ill 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, an illness that is basically sudden onset of vertigo that usually only affects much older people. The ENT did balance tests and hearing tests and decided that there was sufficient evidence to sustain his diagnosis. He put me on valium and sent me home.

The moral to this story is, that although I was always dizzy, had a large hearing loss in both ears and constant pain in my ears, I didn't have Meniere's. I had TMJ. My dentist found out by accident when I couldn't open my mouth to have my teeth cleaned!

It was a nightmare, but it's part of the charm of TMJ. No one ever really thinks to look at the jaw for an ear problem or sight problem, although they are definitely side effects of TMJ!

So, follow through with seeing a specialist in the TMJ area, whether it be an Oral Facial surgeon, dentist etc...

Have them take an MRI of your joints and hopefully they will get the real picture of what may be going on!

Good luck & Best wishes!
Jennifer

Marlene · 03-25-2003, 07:54 PM

Hi hbep,

Very often, pain will be referred to the ear area, when, in fact, the irritated area is not the ear but the jaw joint or one or more of the surrounding muscles. The opening of the eustachian tube, which drains the middle ear is in an area surrounded by a muscle. When this muscle is in spasm, it affects the eustachian tube and pressure and fluid can begin to build-up in the middle ear. This muscle can go into spasm any time there is spasm in the jaw muscles, because all of these structures develop from the same early tissues in the embryo, and, consequently, their nerves are closely related.

Hope this helps explain it!
Marlene

hbep · 03-26-2003, 03:29 PM

Thank you so much for your replies - this may explain a lot - not sure. The ENT said my symptoms were a bit of a mystery as my hearing test was normal - generally with eustachian tube dysfunction hearing diminishes. Maybe the 'mystery' is that I don't exactly have an ear disorder but have TMJD. Hmmmm. Clearly need to find out more. Generally people's experiences with ENT's are not that positive - I'm irritated but not surprised that he didn't even mention TMJD as a possibility - it was my dentist (she's great) who referred me to the dental hospital to look in to TMJ.

[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 03-26-2003).]

TiffanyAnn · 03-26-2003, 08:51 PM

I believe that the reason we think we are having ear problems is because the jaw joints are so close to the ears and they swell causing us to think it is the ears. I may not be correct on this but that is what I think just from my own experience with TMJ.
Tiffany