Dizziness and ?s on what to ask dr. - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

taylorsmom93 · 01-17-2007, 12:54 PM

Hi all. I was wondering about the dizziness you get from TMJ. How severe, how long does it last, etc. I have had dizziness from it before, but now it seems like every other day I stay dizzy. I am getting really worried. It scares me. I am going to a TMJ dentist soon. Is there anything specific I should ask about? Thanks.

Thelma-Louise · 01-17-2007, 06:01 PM

I am dizzy most of the times - some days it borders on vertigo which is really scary. Most of the time I only notice it when going up or down stairs or when getting up from a sitting position or if standing in one position for too long - my tmj dr said it has to do with the position of my lower jaw and proximity to the neck (cervical spine) and also that it comes from the optic pressure induced by the facial muscle spasms.

Some of the questions you could ask the tmj dr are:

What tests does he do to determine what your exact problem is?

What is your exact problem? TMJ is complex and is not always limited to a tm joint problem - it could be a displaced condyle, poor bite (malocclusion), jaw position, imbalance or deformity in the jaw, muscular dysfunction, etc.

How many tmj patients is he treating and how many have been cured or have seen improvment with their symptoms.

What type of treatment does he propose.

Does he work with other specialists for alternative treamtents as well?

Would he give you the names of some patients that you could speak to about their experiences?

What does he charge - is it one charge for everything or ala carte? Are any of his cost covered by insurance and does his office work with insurance cos or with the patient in submitting claims?

How long does he anticipate treatment to take?

What happens if you do not see any improvment from the treamtent? Are there other types of treatment for your particular problem?

Obvisoulsy any dr said that says he has 100% success rate or all his patients improve is being somewhat grandiose so I would be cautious. Also if you do like him and decide to give him a try - stick to conservative and reversable treatments in the beginning to see if any results are achieved. Don't get talked in to crowning all your teeth at the onset or anything like that until you are sure it will fix the problem. The dr I am now seeing told me that anyone using splint therapy should be 100% symptom free for at least a year before making any bite changes permanent.

Hopes that helps some.

taylorsmom93 · 01-17-2007, 07:47 PM

Thank you so much Thelma-Louise. I always enjoy reading your posts. You seem sincere and knowledgable. And I'm not sucking up!

Thank you for the advice on what to ask the dr. Do you also get headaches? Today has been the weirdest day for me. My neck hurt all nite long last nite and today on the right side of my temple and forehead feels like someone is stretching my muscle. On and off, but when it hurts there, I can feel the same thing in my neck. It really feels like muscle. Sorry to drag on. I just get so frustrated. And mine isn't as bad as alot of ppl I have read abt on here. God bless...Amy

Thelma-Louise · 01-18-2007, 11:53 AM

There are so many interconnected muscles between the face and the neck - some of the more seasoned tmj veterans actually know all theirs names - I do not - they sound Greek to me - but I do know that I have one particular mucle in my neck that I feel pull or tugged at on my left side when I try to open my jaw - its somewhat at the base of my neck behind my ear yet it sends pain down my shoulder and under my chin and up the side of the face. It kind of feels like a torn or stretched ligament. Some drs have told me its due to the C! vertebrae or atlas located at the base of the head - others have told me it is due to a muscular and structural imbalance in my face. All I know is I never had it before the tmj started. Since I have cranial and facial pain 99% of the time you would think that I have frequent headaches - but I can actually still differeniate a tension headache from the tmj pain I have - luckily my respond well to Anacin - which unfortunately does nothing for the other pain. But I did have a period of suffering with them for several years in my late 20's and early 30's but thought it was due to lack of sleep and stretching myslef too thin in terms of being very busy. It never occurred to me back then that it could be from having braces in my mid 20's or that my teeth were shifting afterwards or that I was heading in the direction of tmj.

If you haven't seen a chiro - I know a lot of people and the medical profession tend to dismiss them - I did too for most of my life - but I have gotten most of my relief from neck pain from them. Not all are created equal so you need to do some research - many will speak with you before you make an appt to discuss what your problem is and whether they think they can help or not. Some are trained in tmj or cranial or sacral therapy which is what can really set them apart from others. You might want to give it a try. My dizziness was somewhat diminished from treatment as well. I am just about ready to start again - my insurance only covers 26 visits - so by the 4th qtr of the year I have to stop and wait for the next new year so they will cover it again. Since there has been a lapse in my chiro treatment I have noticed however that my neck pain and dizziness has become more pronounced again - so for me I know treatment is helping - it doesn't cure it - but I'll take anything I can get.

Please let us know how your appt with the tmj dentist goes and on your progress. Good Luck.