Now pain in other jaw. Still myofascial pain disorder? I'm worried. - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

wonderingtoo · 02-13-2007, 02:45 PM

Last year I started having pain in the right side of my face. First I thought it was a sinus infection and was treated for that, then I thought it was a salivary gland issue, which my doctor thought it could be too. She sent me to an ENT who said it wasn't. My dentist said it wasn't TMJ. It felt like pain and pressure in my jaw and mouth, and even in my throat sometimes. My face felt swollen, even though there wasn't any appearance of that. My ear felt congested. This lasted a few months on and off. Then I went to another ENT and he diagnosed me with myofascial pain syndrome from tension and teeth clenching.

That pain went away, and I now only occasionally feel tightness on that side. Now I'm having very similar symptoms on the left side. The only difference is that I actually have a spot behind my bottom tooth on the left that feels irritated when I eat acidic foods. I just had a dental check-up and everything looked fine. I really want to go back to the doctor, but I know they think I'm crazy already cause I went several times for the right-sided face pain and abdominal problems I"ve had.

I really wanted to know if other people had this problem. I just need reassurance that I don't have some underlying salivary gland problem. I don't think it would switch sides. I have health anxiety. It is a horrible thing to have to live with.

I forgot to mention I notice often that my shoulders are hunched, and my neck muscles and top of my shoulder are sore on that side.

Thelma-Louise · 02-13-2007, 04:28 PM

Your first and last paragraphs sounds so familiar in terms of it being related to tmj and myofacial pain syndrome, even neuromuscular dysfuntion or trimengial nerve pain. All of these can affect the upper cervical spine as well so its not unusal for your shoulders to hunch up and that area to hurt - your neck and shoulder muscles are responding to pain.

I guess what's got me stumped is the issue with sensitivity with one tooth when eating acidic food. B/c of the tightness in the throat some get with tmj anything that overly stimulates the salivary glands and taste buds can cause the area to constrict even more so. For me its anything with vinegar or anything sour. But I have never been able to attribute it to a particluar tooth. Its possible you have more than one thing going on.

The fact that you are having abdominal problems as well makes me wonder if you are experiencing symptoms of acid reflux or GERD since either can be aggravated by acidic food. Add to this your anxiety problem which can have a significant impact on the digestive tract as well as cause your abdominal muscles to contract - and the fact that recurring or frequent acid in the mouth can affect the teeth over time (erodes the enamel). Have you ruled out esophagus spasms or a hiatal hernia as well as GERD and acid reflux?

wonderingtoo · 02-13-2007, 04:40 PM

Thanks for your reply.
I went to the dentist and he did x-rays and didn't see anything. It's not so much one tooth as it is the gum area behind my back tooth on that side.
Also, I've had a cold for a few days, and my glands under my neck are really swollen on that side. I don't usually get swollen glands with my colds, and the fact that it's only on that side have me worried. But then again, I do have health anxiety.

My doctor has put in a referral to a GI doctor for me, so hopefully he will check for acid reflux. Sometimes I have sharp chest pains on the left, but I dont' have any heart problems that I know of, I've had tests done in the past. I also go through periods where I have a irritation feeling down in my throat with occasional coughs for no apparent reason, so I've wondered about acid reflux.

So, does it seem odd that I had the pain on my right on and off for 6 months, now that's gone and the pain is now in my left jaw?

Thelma-Louise · 02-13-2007, 07:31 PM

I don't think so b/c my pain flip flops too. I do notice that it corresponds with the position of my lower jaw - which has also been shifting a lot. When this first started I thought my left side was only affected but then it moved to the right and then at one point my enitre head and face hurt so much I couldn't tell where the pain was coming from. Today only my right side is bothering me. Its probably why I drive the dentist nuts as well - it sounds like I can't make up my mind - but its not me. It probably more to do with the jaw not really being equally balanced - like shifting your weight from foot to foot when standing - after a while the one foot hurts so you shift to your other foot and so on.

Jade001 · 02-21-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderingtoo

Last year I started having pain in the right side of my face. First I thought it was a sinus infection and was treated for that, then I thought it was a salivary gland issue, which my doctor thought it could be too. She sent me to an ENT who said it wasn't. My dentist said it wasn't TMJ. It felt like pain and pressure in my jaw and mouth, and even in my throat sometimes. My face felt swollen, even though there wasn't any appearance of that. My ear felt congested. This lasted a few months on and off. Then I went to another ENT and he diagnosed me with myofascial pain syndrome from tension and teeth clenching.

That pain went away, and I now only occasionally feel tightness on that side. Now I'm having very similar symptoms on the left side. The only difference is that I actually have a spot behind my bottom tooth on the left that feels irritated when I eat acidic foods. I just had a dental check-up and everything looked fine. I really want to go back to the doctor, but I know they think I'm crazy already cause I went several times for the right-sided face pain and abdominal problems I"ve had.

I really wanted to know if other people had this problem. I just need reassurance that I don't have some underlying salivary gland problem. I don't think it would switch sides. I have health anxiety. It is a horrible thing to have to live with.

I forgot to mention I notice often that my shoulders are hunched, and my neck muscles and top of my shoulder are sore on that side.

Do you suffer from headaches like from behind the eyes?