Question for Thelma Louise - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

Vivs · 01-29-2007, 11:04 PM

HI Thelma, I have been reading your posts and I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions,being that you sound like an expert with TMJ issues. I have been posting on the Inner Ear boards because I was diagnosed with an inner ear/vestibular dysfunction. My main symptom is dizziness, I feel like I am on a boat 24/7! Have felt dizzy for 4 months now, its not in spells, its constant. I do not have jaw pain. Although I get a mild pain pressure in my ear or at least I think it is coming from my ear. I have had all the test MRI, Hearing test, eye test,blood test, ENG, all came out normal. I am currently undergoing Vestibular Therapy, have been for 4 weeks, will keep doing it because some say it may take months before brain compensates.
Anyhow, these are my symptoms

Dizziness 24/7 : rocking, swaying, pulling, rotating, falling
Head pressure every now and then
PArts of head feel tender from temples, top and back of head every so often.
Ear ringing (left) 24/7
Right jaw joint feels awkard in morning when yawning like its rusty, not painful
Stiff and sore neck and trapezoid area often at least 3-4 times a week
Bouncy/shaky vision every so often
crackling/sponge like sound in left ear only present upon opening and/or moving jaw joint on left side

I went to my dentist she is very helpful. She said she was not sure if what she does will help ,but she will do "something". That was refreshing since all other docs have just looked at me like "oh weLL, theres not much I can do, it will just eventually go away.
Anyway, my dentist listened to me for about 40 mins, she told me I have a deep set bite and the alignment 'fall" of my mouth is slightly dropped.
She aligned my bite a bit and is going to give me a night guard to wear all day. I don't know if I have TMJ or a vestibular dysfunction but a lot of the symptoms overlap. It couldn't hurt to investigate and do therapies for both.

I was perfectly fine when I got this. I just turned 27. I did not have a cold, flu, head trauma, accident, no plane or boat rides, I just had a mild allergy "nasal drip". I started thinking and in April 2006 I had all 4 wisdom teeth extracted. Maybe my jaw aligned in a different way? I wonder if that is possible?

For me the dizziness is the worst, I YEARN for stillness soon. Sorry for the long post, I hope you are feeling better. Take care
Vivs

Thelma-Louise · 01-30-2007, 02:23 PM

In a way I really wish I felt this was inner ear related but something tells me its more to do with your wisdom teeth being removed. Were they already erupted and part of your bite or were they still under the gum or impacted? Did you do all at the same time in one surgery or 2 and 2 or 1 at a time? Sometimes the length of time you are kept open or how wide they open your mouth to extract the teeth can affect the joints in addition to the teeth themselves altering your bite once they are removed.

The symptoms you mention lends me to think this is tmj-cranial related and that something has changed either with your bite or neck-jaw-tm joint relationship that may be causing the inner ear symptoms. You could try the nightguard and sees if it helps (she could be right) but if you don't see any improvement within a few weeks of wearing it I would suggest you see a more experienced tmj dentist that is more knowledgeable about tmj-cranial issues - unless your dentist is also trained in FJO which will allow her to try other orthotics if the nightguard does not help. You should also have a tomogram or ICAT (dental cat scan) done that will show where your joints and condyles are - I think the ICAT can also include the neck (cervical spine) which should be looked at as well.

I'm not familiar with Vestibular Therapy - I'm assuming its supposed to somehow equalize the inner ear pressure or stabilize the inner ear ( I think there are little bones called stapies or something like that?) to restore balance? Assuming there are no risks with it or that its not causing any harm I would think you could continue with it but if it doesn't eventually help then you may want to reconsider or stop it for a while and try something else. I got very good relief of dizziness from a NUCCA chiro.

Thank you for the compliment - but to be honest I learned most of what I know from many of the members here that are more experienced and knowledgeable than myself - so the credit is due to them - but thank you just the same.

Vivs · 01-30-2007, 07:29 PM

Thank you Thelma.
I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed at the same time. The bottom 2 were impacted. Can I feel the symptoms 5 months after the surgery? Thanks for all the info, On thursday I will ask my dentist about all the tests.
Vivs

Thelma-Louise · 01-30-2007, 07:55 PM

I'm also wondering if the wisdom teeth removal have had some affect on your sinuses which lead to your eutachion tubes. Have you tried any type of nasal decongestant or anti-biotics since this started?

Vivs · 02-03-2007, 03:31 PM

HI Thelma! Yes, I my GP gave me an antibiotic when this first started and I have used nasonex and allegra. Did not notice any significant change in dizziness. I am having a really stiff and sore neck lately, and I get little pains on my head, temples, they are tender to touch. I am currently looking for a TMJ specialist in the Orange County, Ca. area. We'll see what happens. Thanks for your support.
Vivs