Questions about MRI - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

madnmas · 05-28-2009, 08:38 PM

So I will be getting a CAT scan of the TMJ in a few weeks and I have a question or two. Sorry about posting it as an MRI.

Whenever I put my fingers right by my ears and then proceed to open my jaw (TMJ pain is on left) I can feel something kinda pop out and then go back in as I close my jaw. This does not happen on the right.

Is there such thing as a "moving" CAT so they can see things AS they happen? Otherwise, I am not sure how they can tell there is a problem on that side unless they take a CAT I in "open jaw" position. Do they do that either?

Also, any self professed TMJ experts want to take a jab at what they think is literally happening when I feel that?

Thanks!!! All these people are getting MRI's, but this TMJ sp[ecialist is only doing a CAT of the jaw and also an xray like they do in the dentists office.

Thelma-Louise · 05-28-2009, 11:02 PM

I am pretty sure you are feeling the disc pop out or displace on opening and then be recaptured when you close. Your dr should be requesting images of you both in the open and then closed postion - numerous images are taken in both positions. In the open positon you should be given a mouth peice or bite plate that you can rest your jaws so your back teeth do not touch - the bite plate used may depend on how wide you are able to open at the time of the test. I had a CT done and when that only showed some slight abnormalities and nothing significant with the joints the following year I had an MRI done to see if anything had changed but it basically came back with the same conclusions.

madnmas · 05-29-2009, 08:58 AM

Thelma,

If I had something come back as normal I think I would SCREAM!!

I have learned, however, that people can have great pain (with any problem) and the problem be small.

Thelma-Louise · 05-29-2009, 04:00 PM

I wanted to scream too but I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to do so. LOL

Unfortunately muscular tmj due to a poor or unbalanced bite can produce similar tmj symptoms and pain yet nothing will show on film or images - I think many with this scenario would agree with me that this is most disheartening - yet some with displaced discs have no other symptoms other than popping and clicking. Its the pain that makes all of us seek treatment. And chronic pain can alter our brain chemistry which in turn affects the central nervous system and endocrin system - this in turn creates a pain cycle and puts the entire body under duress and once this happens even a hang nail will seem like torture.