TMD & the Neck Shoulder Connection? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

pipdog · 12-01-2007, 09:41 AM

Apart from the pain/soreness in my face and the clicking, my neck and shoulders are really stiff. So I've been doing neck rolls and other exercises to try to loosen up and every time I get a) good short term relief and b) flickering around my left eye. Left eye is where the major pain/discomfort is located.
Can anybody enlighten me as to what's going on or has had similar experiences?
Dentist who is doing my splint says he has a hunch I am in the 1 in 20 of patients who may need chiropractic treatment.

Mich5 · 12-01-2007, 10:47 AM

I'm currently experiencing severe neck and shoulder stiffness, among many other irritating symptoms like nonstop pain, tingling in my arms and hands, back pain which I think it coming from the shoulders being so stiff, so I'm putting pressure on my back, which in turn, is causing my legs to feel heavy and weak too.

Regarding the stiffness, what does it feel like to you? Do you feel like your muscles just don't want to move easily? Are you finding that you sort of compensate for the stiffness by using other muscles that WILL move better? I almost feel like these stiff muscles are weak in that they just don't feel like moving easily. I have shaky sensations too.

Anyone have this?

I can't wait to go to my neurodentist first appointment in two weeks.

pipdog · 12-01-2007, 11:50 AM

The more I go on in my TMD journey the more I realise what a role stress plays. Our face is what we show the world and it reflects how we deal with what is being thrown at us. We tense up, we clench, we grind.

Sometimes I think I should go to India and learn to relax and follow that line of Krishnamurthi 'where are you going? you are already there'

kerk · 12-02-2007, 10:47 AM

I too used to get the same symptoms, when the TMD was bad. Twitching near eyes disappeared when clicking and stress did, and the same will probably happen for you. Getting rid of nighttime grinding was the key.

Good luck!

MissHeadache · 12-03-2007, 06:11 AM

I don't know about the eye, but I do have terrible soreness/stiffness in my neck and shoulders too. The problem started around the same time as my TMJ and when my jaw and headaches get worse my neck and back get worse too and vice versa. I think it is all to do with the TMJ making you hold the other muscles in your face and neck funny, as a way of compensating for the TMJ problem - I'm convinced I'm developing a hunched back as a result of unintentionally holding my neck and head forward and raising my shoulders. I also get the tingly numb hand/arm symptom. I agree that stress does make it worse. I'm hoping that when I get my spint made in January that these symptoms might ease a little. Has anyone found that splints help sore back and neck muscles as a side effect of easing the TMJ?