new here, TMJ disorder questions - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

roseyone60 · 07-28-2008, 08:51 PM

I'll start with my brief self-diagnosis about 4 years ago. I started to feel a tingling in my left cheek. It was accompanied by very bad headaches that I took advil for. I was worried that it might be a stroke due to the tingling. go to the doc and he doesn't think it's a stroke, sends me to have an MRI which results as normal. then sends me to a neurologist who also finds nothing. meanwhile my SIL who is a dental hygienist suggested it might be TMJ. I research and lo and behold she was right!! I knew it when I got relief after one day of starting jaw exercises. I have since lapsed in doing these exercises as it did get better and the headaches went away.

enter about 3-4 weeks ago when it started again. same cheek but this time it not only tingles but it's a bit painful. I was worried about a tiny bit of "after bite" (the stuff with 3.5% ammonia in it, for mosquito bites) that got into my left eye. I will stress the tiny bit greatly as I don't think this is related, but mention it just in case. I immediately flushed my eye with water (luckily I was standing next to a sink!!) and have had no ill effects in my eye at all. I think the cheek thing had already started before the eye incident. but the eye incident is now 3 weeks ago....

so.....I've been doing the jaw exercises since Friday with a bit of improvement over the weekend. today however, it hurts!! and it tingles yet again. sometimes the pain goes behind my eye and sometimes all the way to the back of my head and only on the left. my questions.....well, really looking for opinions I guess from other TMJ pain sufferers. is it normal to not feel anything for about 4 years and then suddenly it's an issue? I will say that I've been under great stress for the past year or so, so maybe that has bearing? does anyone think my eye incident has anything to do with this recent "misery" (for lack of a better word, it's more of a nuisance as it's not that painful). lastly, the A/C in my car has not been working 100% of the time and well, I drove home in 90 degree heat today (for a half hour!!) with no A/C. did the stress of that bring on the cheek pain tonight?

thanks in advance for any opinions and/or advice. I appreciate it!

Thelma-Louise · 07-28-2008, 09:14 PM

Well stress does have way of finding your bodiy's weakest link or "soft spot" and using it almost as a relief valve - so it could be related. Does your neck bother you at all or do you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth during stressful periods - as they may be triggers for what you describe as well. With that said - did the neurologist evaluate you for trimengial neuralgia? your symptoms sound similar to that and it has a predominance on the left side as well. I believe it is often treated with tegretol (sp?). You may also want to look into if you have a pinched nerve in your c-spine somewhere.

And, no I don't think the eye incident is related to or complicated this in anyway - gee I use that stuff - you can smell the amonia in it - what were you doing with it so close to you eyes - or did you get in on your fingers and then rub your eye by accident?

roseyone60 · 07-28-2008, 09:44 PM

I'll start with the eye thing. I had a mosquito bite on my face right next to my eye. the after bite stuff dripped down my face and it was when I went to wipe it with my finger that I felt the sting in my eye. stupid, yes. will I ever use that stuff again? probably not

the neurologist didn't evaluate me for that, nope. but thanks for that, I will do some research and see if it's related.

and I just read your response to someone in another thread that TMJ pain can come and go. I really think that's what it is and it's just flared up again. I used to clench my teeth, usually while driving. when I discovered the TMJ pain symptoms I made a conscious effort to stop doing that and I haven't done so since. I have no idea, however, if I'm doing it in my sleep. I'm gonna guess that I do clench and/or grind in my sleep. how does one know for sure? my neck does not bother me at all. altho I have had what I call a "grinding" sound in there for years. actually started yoga because of that and it's helped somewhat.

I do have a herniated disc in my lower back that I've had for yowsa, 22 years? ouch. I have learned to live with that by doing exercises. could that be related to the c-spine you mention? I have not heard of c-spine before. perhaps it's time to research that too.

thanks for your reply, I appreciate it!

Thelma-Louise · 07-29-2008, 04:35 PM

A good dentist can confirm if you are clenching or grinding your teeth unknowlingly or while you sleep since both result in changes in your teeth on the surfaces and edges - they tend to become rounder or flatter. Both tend to also promote or induce teeth sensitivity, teeth mobility or shifting and bone/gum tissue recession. Also, those that tend to clench or grind during their sleep may also notice an increase in snoring or sleep apnea occurrences and a mild or slight headache or stiffness at the base of the head upon getting up or within an hour or so of being up.

The c-spine or cervical spine is your neck - I forget how many discs are located in the region but is starts out with C1 and C2 - the atlas and axis, respectively - and I think, although not sure - it may go to C10 and then the discs are numbered for the lumbar area or lower spine with L1, L2, etc. The atlas and axis are most important as the head is centered and balanced on them and they rely on the same muscle groups the jaw and tongue use. Its also the area where most nerves run through so an issue here can cause tingling in the face as well as to the limbs. Its one of the reasons I thought trimengial neuralgia - its an issue with the trimengial nerve located on the left side near the temple area that runs across the cheek.

roseyone60 · 07-30-2008, 01:04 PM

Thank you Thelma-Louise for your replies. I appreciate it!

funny thing about my dentist? right after I self-diagnosed TMJ pain I had a dental appt. and you know what? he poo-pooed my diagnosis!! and said I did NOT have any TMJ issues. HUH?? I have another appt soon so I will be asking him again. However, I do have headaches frequently when I get up in the morning. so...hmmmm....

my pain at the moment, and for the last several weeks, has been primarily along the cheekbone itself and above my eye? right above my eyebrow and in the middle of it. occasionally the pain radiates behind my ear and to the back of my head. I have had some tinglings in my left arm as well.

I guess at this point, I will plan to ask the dentist again. and if he poo-poos it again perhaps I see an TMJ disorder specialist? not sure how to find one. I perused the list at the top of this forum and only saw one in my area. maybe my primary doc has some ideas.

thanks again for the replies!