TMJ Disorder

[mookie]

Ok, this is going to sound like a 'diagnose me' post, but i'd really appreciate others opinions on what this could possibly be.

Stabbing ear, jaw and side of the face pain
Sometimes I wake up with a sore throat
2 rounds of antibiotics in 3 weeks; no change, pain intensified
2 swollen lymph nodes on collarbone and throat
Besides a butt load of pain pills, I've been on anti-histamines, nausea meds and a mild anti-inflammatory
I clench my teeth a lot in my sleep and during the day, too
Reduced appetite
Blood tests came back clear, no outer ear infections, antibiotics mentioned above were used to rule out middle/inner ear infections
Stabbing pain comes on just about anytime during the day. at night, if I don't position myself and pillow correctly, it strikes.

google research points towards TMJ but after seeing the doctor 3x for this, he hasn't mentioned it once. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow and a second opinion with a general practictioner next week.

HELP?!!!!

Thanks in advance.

[katespade]

In my experience, TMD doesn't normally present with a sore throat or swollen lymph nodes, but you could try warm compresses, gentle jaw stretches, and an OTC night guard to see if it helps reduce your pain.

[mookie]

Thanks katespade
I've tried all of the above except the night guard and, nothing. Stretching my jaw any more than I have to makes the pain worse. It flares up after talking so I try to avoid over usage, when I can.

[katespade]

mookie - Are you doing actual stretches (for example, www.wikihow.com/Cure-TMJ-with-Jaw-Exercises), or just opening and closing? How often are you doing warm compresses? The first thing your doctor/dentist will probably recommend is a night guard, so it wouldn't hurt to pick one up OTC (they're about $20 and can be found in the toothbrush aisle) to see if it helps. They can be uncomfortable to wear at first, but most people notice a difference pretty quickly if that is the issue.

[mookie]

I'm just doing opening/closing exercises. The pain is so severe and disrupting that I am so apprehensive about moving my jaw anymore than I absolutely need to. I've cried a few times in the middle of the night due to pain. But it is definitely worth a try and I will be trying these today.
I usually do the warm compresses in the evenings until I go to bed. Off and on from 7-11.

thanks katespade

[katespade]

mookie - I would give the actual exercises a try, but if they cause pain you should stop immediately. Quite a few of the symptoms you listed aren't typical TMD symptoms, so I would definitely be hesitant to do anything that might cause more damage if it is something else.

Any jaw popping or locking?


***For the record, I've worked in the dental field but I am not a medical professional. None of this is medical advice, just thoughts based on my own experience with jaw pain/grinding/clenching/etc.

[mookie]

Aug 18, 2014 8:16:25 GMT -5 katespade said:

mookie -
Any jaw popping or locking?


***For the record, I've worked in the dental field but I am not a medical professional. None of this is medical advice, just thoughts based on my own experience with jaw pain/grinding/clenching/etc.

more popping/clicking than locking. And ear popping when I did some of those exercises just now.
I also forgot to mention the pain comes intensely when im eating something too cold or hot (eg. ice cream or tea).

[cinnamoncox]

mookie

I have TMJ disorder it sucks I feel you.
Mine clicks but locks a lot and I have to use my hands to put it back in place.
I take Valium at night to relax the muscles.

Mine isn't due to grinding, the dentist said there would be evidence of grinding on my teeth and there isn't.

I forget if this is an old post but be careful with the mouth guards unless specifically told to use one by med pro.

Dh bought me one once, and the price sticker was stuck over the spot that says on the box "not to be used by patients with TMJ disorder"

Good luck. Nothing helps too much. I did about 6 months of physical therapy, and it felt great when she was warming it and massaging it, it didn't help long term.

[mookie]

Thanks for the advice cinnamoncox
My dentist prescribed muscle relaxants as a trial and error attempt and so far they've seemed to work.
I'm just worried about what will happen after my prescription finishes. I don't know if I want to take them for the rest of my life, you know?

[cinnamoncox]

Aug 26, 2014 9:40:09 GMT -5 mookie said:

Thanks for the advice cinnamoncox
My dentist prescribed muscle relaxants as a trial and error attempt and so far they've seemed to work.
I'm just worried about what will happen after my prescription finishes. I don't know if I want to take them for the rest of my life, you know?

You're welcome.

I take muscle relaxer every night before bed. I have for going on 12 years. It's that or basically have very little use of my jaw
It was getting really bad. Even taking the meds there are things I can't eat of course like crunchy stuff or chewy like taffy and gum.

I still sometimes will be eating and my mouth doesn't open all the way unexpectedly and I poke myself in the lips/teeth with the fork.
The food falls off the fork and I'm a mess. It's embarrassing and effects my eating experience sometimes.

I wish I could avoid the meds but so far it's all that helps besides the physical therapy but eventually insurance stopped paying because it helped in the moment and for the day but it didn't solve the problem and they wouldn't pay forever.

Good luck. It hurts and it sucks

[Deleted]

I'd want to ask you more questions, but 1 of the things at the top of my differential after reading your description would be trigeminal neuralgia. I hope your dentist and/or doctor can figure out what's going on soon!

[mookie]

Aug 26, 2014 17:47:22 GMT -5 @wandering said:

I'd want to ask you more questions, but 1 of the things at the top of my differential after reading your description would be trigeminal neuralgia. I hope your dentist and/or doctor can figure out what's going on soon!

Feel free to ask anymore questions @wandering

[Deleted]

@wandering

I have electric like shocks on the side of my neck that send a jolt of pain through my whole head, and many times it looks like a tic (my head jerks to the side).  It's really painful.  It happens when I swallow with my neck a certain way.

I've read about trigeminal neuralgia, but it doesn't just hurt at my jaw line.  More like a quick jolt of electricity to my whole body.

I've got a lot of weird symptoms, and was just wondering if you have any insight (not looking for medical advice!)

[TBM]

I accidentally clicked on this board and saw this post. I have TMJ and had every weird symptom in the book, and the only thing that worked for me was a chiropractor. It was a life changer for me. Everyone else tried to relieve symptoms but basically told me that I was stuck with them. I refused to believe that I would have to live with pain and vertigo forever, decided to try the chiropractor and now have very few problems. When they do arise, I have the tools to deal with them and get everything back to normal quickly.

Good luck finding a proper diagnosis and relief.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2014 9:12:28 GMT -5 mookie said:

Aug 26, 2014 17:47:22 GMT -5 @wandering said:

I'd want to ask you more questions, but 1 of the things at the top of my differential after reading your description would be trigeminal neuralgia. I hope your dentist and/or doctor can figure out what's going on soon!

Feel free to ask anymore questions @wandering

Sorry to not be clear. I didn't mean I would want to ask you more questions, but if I were your doctor I'd want to ask more questions before going down the route of trigeminal neuralgia. Was the dentist able to help at all? Hope you're feeling better!

[mookie]

Sept 1, 2014 17:28:57 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Aug 28, 2014 9:12:28 GMT -5 mookie said:

Feel free to ask anymore questions @wandering

Sorry to not be clear. I didn't mean I would want to ask you more questions, but if I were your doctor I'd want to ask more questions before going down the route of trigeminal neuralgia. Was the dentist able to help at all? Hope you're feeling better!

OH! I misunderstood.
I was given muscle relaxers to take every night and should be starting physio this coming week. But the pain has significantly decreased, i'm assuming because of the muscle relaxers. But I will still try out physio. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
katespade
cinnamoncox
@wandering

[katie]

I have TMJ but not too severe a case. I clench at night really bad. I got a mouth guard made by my dentist and it changed my life. I was waking up every morning with horrible headaches and my jaw pain. I took muscle relaxers while I was waiting for the mouth guard. Sometimes I still get some ear pain but it's not too often.