Tmj Or Something Else???? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

CaydenJ · 08-14-2008, 07:34 PM

After I was diagnosed as a non-tmjd patient, I was left extremely confused so I did some of my own research. I knew and the doctors knew that there was something wrong with my jaws but the doctors answers were very ambiguous to my concerns. I understand that there's not much that can be said with an hour consult but they proposed classes with muscle relaxing training and denied I had tmj and I wanted and still do want faster results. My spine, since I first felt tmj-like symptoms felt and still does feel very weird especially when I sleep and my posture felt out of balance so I recently came to the conclusion that something was wrong with the base of my skull and how it's coming in contact with my spine. I had my doubts regardless but just feeling my way through these past couple of months came to the realization that it might actually be a possibility, then, just yesterday I came across an explanation of how an imbalanced jaw, skull and spine relationship can mimic tmj symptoms.

I want to go to the chiropractor and saw a previous thread on here about someone going to a chiropractor and wondering how that worked out? My symptoms resembled TMJ symptoms to a T including the distorted/changed facial appearance/spasm but I guess it's not. The jaw being misaligned but secondary to the "head/neck" balance does explain a lot.

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Thelma-Louise · 08-15-2008, 02:00 PM

I can't tell from your post if you are looking for advice or input or just some discussion on whether what you have researched is valid or not but there are several of us here that do have this issue where we do not have tmj in its purest sense (a joint or condyle problem) but rather a cranio-cervical structural imbalance which results in tmj like symptoms and more in that once the neck is affected the rest of the body is usually impacted as well. Some tend to call this muscular tmj in that there is no apparent physiological issue with the tm joints but nonetheless they suffer with tmj symptoms. Finding the right type of dr is probably the hardest part since this type of issue is only recently becoming more common - so most drs have never heard of it or seen it so most will dismiss patients with such widespread symptoms on a number of different levels and for different reasons. Once the right dr is found however, - not just dentist but chiro - the proper assessment and treatment of the problem can be met.

I guess from your post you are trying to point out that your issue (and others as well) is not tmj in its purest form but one of a head/neck balance issue which while may be true, one has to consider how the head and neck loss their natural alignment and balance to begin be it trauma or accident, incorrect orthepdics of the jaw due to braces or ill-fitting crowns, bridges, or fillings that were too low or too high, all of which may result in a change in bite and balance of the jaws if not an actual shift or deviation of the jaws. This is turn can often impact the c-spine as well as the sphenoid, sternum, and pelvis/hips area by forcing them out of alignment. Is it tmj? - not in the truest sense, no. But given today's current medical & dental standards and practices it is often treated as such.

CaydenJ · 08-16-2008, 05:35 AM

I didn't know it was quite common. I thought I had made a new discovery or something and thought everyone here suffered from some form of TMJD or wasn't sure. So then, how did you go about your treatment process? I'm sure you went to a lot of TMJ specialists and been turned down plenty because what you have in fact is something else. Have your problems been relieved?

Had I known it was my spine all along, I would have saved a lot of time and money. The relief of knowing would have slowed down my aging process as well. What's your story Thelma-Louise? I'm still kind of new to this board and topic so different case scenarios is novel to me.

Do you think that this might be worse than having tmj, easier to treat, or similar?

Thelma-Louise · 08-16-2008, 03:25 PM

I wouldn't say its common but it is becoming more prevalent (probably due to so-called advanced dentistry and our society's push for the perfect smile, but that's only my opinion). I think for the most part, although as you have found from your research - there are some studies and proposed treatments regarding it - it tends to be dismissed by drs and medical/dental professionals since three is not much scientific study behind it. What is probably true at this point is that those who do treat tmj reccognize the fact that those that suffer with this do not have tmj in its truest sense - so we are told we do not have tmj and are often left floundering to figure it out on our own.

Like many others I went from dr to dr, dentists, chiros, neurologists and tried various forms of alternative treatments to help ease the pain and accompanying symptoms. I wish I could say I know the solution or which treatments worked but I do not - although I have made some improvement within the past several months. Mine started in 2004. I probably could tell you more what NOT to do than what to do.

I made the mistake of eventually letting a supposed tmj dentist adjust my bite and my problems only got significantly worse. Trying various splints did not help either as did crowning my back teeth. The only thing that helped with some of the pain was going for cranial sacral therapy and PT - but neither addressed correcting the problem.

I suffer with facial spasms that result from the imbalance or structural conflict I am experiencing. It came on quite suddenly one night but I have an extensive dental history as well - 2 childhood accidents, braces, chin augmentation surgery, dental implants and bridges. It was replacement bridges done in 2000 that set the wheels in motion though - at least that's when I first started getting pain and other symptoms. Initially it was limited to the facial spasms and neck pain but it quickly affected the rest of my body to the point I could barely walk, sleep or eat and naturally couldn't work. MRIs, CT scans and tomograms do not indicate any issue with the tm joints or condyles - but one dr I did go to pointed out that the atlas (C1) was off center quite a bit and rotated towards one side which pushed me closer to the realization this was not tmj in the purest sense.

Right now I am working with a chiro who is trained in applied kinesiologiy (ICAK) and he has been able to better reposition my cranio-cervical alignment but it has taken him almost a year to do so and I still have along way to go - or so he tells me. I am also working with a holistic dentist who was probably the first to figure out I did not really have tmj but this cranio-cervical problem. His hope is that once the chiro stabilizes, if not corrects, the structural imbalance he will be able to re-create a stable bite - which I no longer have due to previous tmj treatments by other drs.

Do I think this is worse than tmj - well its hard for me to answer that since I am biased, of course. Its probably no better or no worse in terms of the pain, symptoms and suffering either endure - but it might be harder to treat in some respects since most tmj dental treatments focus on repositioning the jaw so the joints and condyles can function better - yet with cranio-cervical problems - splints either do not help or can make it worse. The entire orthopedics of the musculo-skeletal structure needs to be addressed. And its very hard to find just one dr that can address both issues at the same time.

Welcome to the boards BTW - sorry you are going through this as well. What have you done or tried so far - what types of treatments or drs have you tried?