possible symptoms - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Mich41 · 07-30-2003, 08:43 AM

Hi there,

I have been reading through the posts and think I may have some symptoms. I have been thinking I have throat cancer for about a year now, but the ENT whom I have seen about 7 or 8 times says no!
My symptoms are:
-mild right sided headaches
-discomfort in right side of jaw near the ear
-right sided fullness in the ear-sometimes aches or is itchy
-right sided sore throat for a year now. Occassionally will go away for a few days but comes back-ent says I also have cryptic tonsils
-my jaw makes a popping noise when i open my mouth, but i don't seem to have limited motion. I thought if you had TMJ your motion would be limited. Does everyone's jaw pop or click when you open your mouth?

Anyway, the right sided sore throat for a year now is what has scared me the most. I have had ct scan or the neck, three fibreoptic scopes to the vocal cords and other tests. The doc says no cancer. I am 33 and starting to look for other reasons for these pains. My right eyelid sometimes appears puffy as well.
Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Mich41

saaraah · 07-30-2003, 09:37 AM

i'm not a doctor, but it looks like you have some symptoms of TMJD. you need to find a *good* dentist where he'll give you a proper diagnostic assessment to truly find out if you have TMJD or not. remember to start conversatively in your treatment - do not undergo any irreverisble treatments until you've exhausted *all* of your options.

btw, jaw clicking and popping is quite common. apparently, it only causes worry when there's limited opening or pain.

take care

- saaraah.

Mich41 · 07-30-2003, 09:51 AM

Thanks Sara,

Are you saying that because I don't have limited jaw movement that it is unlikely to be TMJD?

Sorry for all of the questions.

Thanks again,

saaraah · 07-30-2003, 12:32 PM

no, im not saying that - i really dont know if you have TMJD or not.

count yourself lucky that you dont have a limited opening. maybe other people have a better explanation, but i think that when someone does have a limited opening that means that the disk is displaced or "stuck", which limits the amount of opening.

if you are having pain and discomfort, tho, which you said, those seem to be warning signs that you might have TMJD. there are many different symptoms that someone can have, which varies from person to person.

someone else posted a list of common symptoms of TMJD; if you do a search for "TMJD symptoms", that post should come up.

anyway, i'd get checked out by a good dentist.

- saaraah.

[This message has been edited by saaraah (edited 07-30-2003).]

DianeTMJ · 07-30-2003, 05:06 PM

Hi!
Your beset course of action is to find a TMJD dentist. You may want to try a neuromuscular dentist, they sure helped me.
Take care
Hi Saraah! How are you!
Later
Diane