Update - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Jamie · 08-21-2003, 07:35 PM

I had my MRI on Saturday AM.. it was a peice of cake. It was loud, but they give you ear plugs as a mandatory item. It was kind cool actually. I held them up, as I am a IT Tech for 80 Retail Stores.. and the power outages kept me BUSY!

Anyways, as of late all I seem to be getting is the right ear fullness still when exposed to sounds. I don't get the "clicking when people talk" as much anymore, but I still hear lots of crazy clicking sounds in my ears when I eat, or move my mouth basically! I still get aches in my jaw every once and awhile as well..

Anyways, the MRI should give me a 100% diagnosis. I am being fitted for my orthotic on September 4th, and that evening I am in a sleep clinic. I wanna see the MRI myself before I persue the rest of my treatment.

I am still confused at how much the jaw can cause these ear problems, and ear problems being the majority if not ALL of the problems. I mean, I understand it... I just don't "get it".

That's the update folks.

Arleen · 08-21-2003, 08:01 PM

Hi Jamie:

Well it sounds like things are moving along well with you. Glad to hear you aren't having too many symptoms, and not too long to wait for your othotic. Is Dr. Rawson fitting your orthotic, as I know you had talked about seeing him.

Please let us know how things go once you get it. I hope you find a lot of relief.

Take care,
Arleen

Cymy Sue · 08-22-2003, 05:39 AM

Jamie,

Many people have ear problems well before they realize they are having jaw or joint pain. I did. I had awful earaches for years before anything else. Then came the headaches and then the other symtoms.

If you can look at a diagram or picture of the muscles and other elements of the TM joint and the ear or auricular cavity, you will see how very close they are. I'm sure you know that you can put your finger in your ear, open & close, and feel the joint working. It's almost like it's in your ear.

The reason we can have so many problems with our ears is that there are 2 very small muscles connected to the ear and to the muscles we use to chew and eat.
They are the tensor veli palantini and the tensor tympani. They normally work fine and cause no problems, but if we have TMJD problems (occlusal, disc, joint, muscular, etc) chewing, talking, grinding, clenching; just the motion of opening & closing puts a constant pull or pressure on the ear due to these 2 small muscles and this can cause ear pain, ear ache, fullness, congestion, hyperacusis, tinnitus, hearing loss. dizziness, plugged feelings, loss of balance, and other symtoms.

It is hard sometimes to understand how all of this can be attributed to TMJD. With TMJD, something is out of balance or not working properly. It may be something seemingly very small. All of the muscles we use to chew and talk work together and there are other muscles that perform other functions connected to them. If the chewing muscles are not working in sync, then we begin to have problems with everything that is connected to them.

It took me many years to even begin to understand all that's involved with this. (Having a Computer has helped) I used books and information from Doctors for years. Can't say I learned a whole lot, the books were pretty good.

I'm still learning everyday. I read yesterday that some of us open & close 2000 times a day. I don't think I had ever seen that. It sounds like an awful lot.

Anyway, I hope this helps some and I wish you well with your treatment,

Cymy Sue