TMJ question? please help! - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

SCAREDGIRLALWAYSDREAMING · 07-27-2003, 08:16 AM

HI I had a TMJ question.
MY dentist said I have a bad TMJ by just placing his figers just in front of my ears and asked me to open my mouth. I have been suffering with very bad headaches that radiate down my neck and shoulders and across my farhead, I also have vertigo and a balance problem can this really all be caused from the TMJ problem? when I open my mouth to eat, yawn etc,, I hear popping and clicking Sounds in my ears. also my sinuses are really bad I always feel like my ears and head are clogged. If I place ny fingers next to my ears and open my mouth I feel my jaw shift and make very loud cracking and clicking sounds when I shift my jaw back and forth side to side it actually pops. sometimes I wake up at night clenching my teeth and I notice the musles in my face feel tight. I feel it more in the right ear then the left, Does anyone have these same symptoms and could the ear & head pressure feeling along with dizziness really have something to do with the TMJ problem? I have been battling with this vertigo, dizziness for awhile and didn't know why
can it be related? And what are some advice on treatment for this problem? He mentioned a splint but the insurance I have now don't cover it, so we are switching Insurance, is there anything I can do in the mean time to help this problem?
thanks for any advice
scardgirl

SRH_NF · 07-27-2003, 09:53 AM

scardgirl:

Your symptoms are very much typical TMJ symptoms. You're best bet is to go along with the doctor and get treatment. A splint is a typical form of treatment that most doctors go with in treating this problem. As for what you can do, there isn't much that you can do yourself to solve the problem, but you can take certain cautionary measures. Don't chew gum; don't eat anything that is hard to chew or hard to get your teeth around -- corn on the cob and whole apples are no-nos. To avoid headaches, you may try not having your teeth together. Get in the habit of keeping them apart (this will be useful for when you get a splint too). When your teeth are clenched together, it causes strain on your jaw muscles and may trigger a headache.

Now, the medical world is careful to say that there is no 'cure' for TMJ. However, if you are treated early enough, such a cure may be possible if you can get your jaw joints working in the proper manner. For many people, a 'cure' is simply being able to live your life without pain -- that's cure enough for most people.

Finally, don't be scared. MANY people live their lives normally with TMJ. Those who don't live well with it have usually waited too long for treatment or have been getting improper treatment from doctors. For a long time, many doctors knew very little about TMJ. It is still underresearched, but there are many great doctors (and bad ones) who treat the condition. My advice is to get treatment for this now as early as possible, so that you have a greater chance of living a normal life that is pain-free.

There are MANY people on this board who are very kind and who will give you lots of advice and support. Some people on this board have been suffering from TMJ for 20 years! So, if you have any questions, post away. Someone on this board is bound to know something about what concerns you.

Keep smiling and don't worry!

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Sheldon

[This message has been edited by SRH_NF (edited 07-27-2003).]