Ear Pain! - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

kristinah · 01-31-2004, 10:48 PM

I have severe pain in my right ear at night that started several years ago. At first I thought it was an ear infection because it throbbed, etc. and I went to my family doc and then to an ENT. Perfect ears and hearing, but ENT said I probably clenched at night and didn't know it. I thought that was silly but soon realized he was right when I developed many symptoms of TMJ (clicking, popping, aching, catching) and my ear pain problem continued, along with the stuffiness in my ears.

Does anyone else wake in the middle of the night with strong throbbing ear pain? What do you do about it? I am considering getting a splint - do you think this will help the ear pain? As I understand it, the ear nerves and jaw muscles are closely connected and the ear pain is related to the clenching/TMJ. Does this sound right? I definitely notice that the ear pain and jaw soreness/TMJ symptoms coincide in severity.

Thanks,
Kristina

Marlene · 02-01-2004, 08:58 PM

Hi Kristina,

If you've ruled out other causes for your ear symptoms, then yes, a splint will more than likely help. However, first you need to confirm a diagnosis of TMJ with a dentist that is extensively trained in the proper treatment of TMJ. You are correct that the ear nerves and jaw muscles are closely connected and the ear pain you are experiencing can be related to clenching/TMJ.
I had successful splint therapy and all my ear symptoms, etc. completely went away.

Marlene

kristinah · 02-03-2004, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marlene

Hi Kristina,

If you've ruled out other causes for your ear symptoms, then yes, a splint will more than likely help. However, first you need to confirm a diagnosis of TMJ with a dentist that is extensively trained in the proper treatment of TMJ. You are correct that the ear nerves and jaw muscles are closely connected and the ear pain you are experiencing can be related to clenching/TMJ.
I had successful splint therapy and all my ear symptoms, etc. completely went away.

Marlene

Hi Marlene,

Thank you for sharing your success with the ear pain. I am in the process of researching dentists so that when I go in for my cleaning I can hopefully talk to a dentist who is knowledgeable about TMJD and get a splint that will help.

Kristina

Crossbow · 02-03-2004, 12:20 PM

I had severe ear pain that turned out to be TMD. I got a prescription for Xanax that I take when I'm aware of clenching, and it helps a LOT, but it's not good to take it every day.

I had a splint at first, and it made the problem a lot worse at first because I chewed on it. Eventually it got better. Now my teeth have shifted too much to use that splint, but I don't have the problem very often anymore. I think I used the splint long enough (about 2 years, I guess) to "train" my muscles to go into the right position when I sleep.

kristinah · 02-03-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crossbow

I had severe ear pain that turned out to be TMD. I got a prescription for Xanax that I take when I'm aware of clenching, and it helps a LOT, but it's not good to take it every day.

I had a splint at first, and it made the problem a lot worse at first because I chewed on it. Eventually it got better. Now my teeth have shifted too much to use that splint, but I don't have the problem very often anymore. I think I used the splint long enough (about 2 years, I guess) to "train" my muscles to go into the right position when I sleep.

Interesting! I'm guessing that in your case, the clenching was made worse by stress/anxiety and the Xanax helped that? I'm sure mine is related, too, because I know I clench more when I'm stressed - I can even catch myself doing it during the daytime. Thanks for sharing your experience and I will have to see whether or not I chew the splint, too. Hopefully I can get one, and hopefully it will help!