Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 1, 2004, at 12:47:12
OK, so what is TMJ?? I hear it mentioned it a fair amount, and believe it is connected to jaw pain..
I keep getting terrible jaw pain on the right hand side of my jaw. The pains radiate down my neck and into my shoulder, and seem to start from behind my ear. They last for about a week, then go for a week or so, then start again.
The pain is very much under my jaw rather than along it so I don't think it is from clenching, and it feels very much like nerve pain. No over the counter pain killer is helping, though massaging Tiger Balm in (a chinese herbal rub) does ease it for about 20 mins a little. Co-drydamol helps a little, but I don't want to take too much, and the other pain killer (apparently fairly strong) does nothing but give me nausea.My GP has reffered me to a neurologist, but that appointment will take months to come through.. (I'm still waiting to hear 5 months after being reffered to a gastro specialist).. any ideas on what to do in the mean time??
Nikki
Posted by partlycloudy on June 1, 2004, at 14:53:03
In reply to TMJ Questions, posted by NikkiT2 on June 1, 2004, at 12:47:12
Have you ever consulted a dentist about it? If the occlusion of your bite - the way your teeth come together when you chew - is off by even a millimeter, it can cause pain such as yours.
My TMJ resulted in my ears being stopped up (eustachian tubes between ears and throat inflamed from tmj), headaches that no pain reliever even touched, jaw pain, sensitive teeth, the list goes on and on. I'd see a dentist first. It might be as simple as having your bite adjusted (ground down slightly), or they might recommend a nightguard - that's what I wear.
When my meds went up in dosage, I started clenching my jaw in my sleep and almost bit through my current nightguard. The dentist added material to the device and I'm so much better.
(One thing I have plenty of and that's free advice!)
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 2, 2004, at 11:11:50
In reply to Re: TMJ Questions » NikkiT2, posted by partlycloudy on June 1, 2004, at 14:53:03
Thanks for that info.
Unfortunately I can't afford to see a dentist..
My right ear (the side where the pain is) is weeping quite heavily now.. but the pain doesn't seem to be worsened by touch or movement..
*sighing* And no more painkillers for me now.. my stomach is too screwed for that it seems.
Oh joy oh joy
Nikki x
Posted by partlycloudy on June 2, 2004, at 11:30:35
In reply to Re: TMJ Questions » partlycloudy, posted by NikkiT2 on June 2, 2004, at 11:11:50
I didn't put together my symptoms as TMJ for the longest time - and my jaw wasn't always sore, but other parts of my head were. If your ear is draining, is it possible you've got an infection in your sinus cavities? Those suckers are all over your face, too. In the most unlikely places.
And pain can telegraph into places where the cause doesn't even exist.One thing that should bring you relief would be warm, moist compresses (like a towel wettened with very warm water). When the towel cools, warm it up again (in the microwave, but careful not to burn yourself.) Try to do that for about 20 minutes. See if that helps. Pain releivers mess up my tummy, too.
Good luck!
Posted by jlbl2l on June 2, 2004, at 17:51:16
In reply to TMJ Questions, posted by NikkiT2 on June 1, 2004, at 12:47:12
I am going to get a TMJ stint this month, from a tmj research center, very professional.. i live in NY. I work with the NCF and the president of the NCF gives me inside info on chronic fatigue and fibromyglia latest findings..such as the ciguatera epitope.., TMJ is very common in fibro/cfs.
if you would like discuss tmj or cfs/fibro further.
jlbl2l
Posted by Alisha on June 17, 2004, at 21:51:55
In reply to Re: TMJ Questions, posted by jlbl2l on June 2, 2004, at 17:51:16
I've had TMJ for the past four and a half years. Within that span of time, I've been put on medications as well as splint/mouth guard therapy. A splint and mouth guard are the same thing, though the duration it stays in one's mouth is dictated by one's physical pain and doctor recommendation. I just wear mine at night and receive the greatest amount of muscle-tension relief. The jaw joints themselves do not stop hurting, but there is a considerable difference in the quality of sleep I get by using the splint. As for the medications to control the pain...they help but the side effects are not pleasant. Right now I'm on daily doses that add up to: 4800 mg of Neurontin, 60 mg of Baclofen, 40 mg Adderall, 25 mg Vioxx, 120 mg Inderall, and 30 mg Remeron. The Neurontin, Baclofen, and Vioxx help with TMJ pain; Adderall counteracts the side effects of Neurontin and Baclofen; Inderall alleviates daily headaches associated with my TMJ pain; and the Remeron helps with sleeping and depression (mostly due to chronic TMJ pain).
The severity of my TMJ problems began at the age of 13; I turn 18 this Sunday (6-20). My problems are far from over. At this point, I am seeing one physician in hopes that she can find another combination of medications that will control the pain better than Neurontin and Baclofen do. She is working me off of the Neurontin at the moment, slowly working Gabitril into its place. (I'm currently looking for info on Gabitril as I've never heard of it.) Her plan is to back me off of all the meds I'm on, then try out a narcotic patch to see how controlled the pain becomes.
I'm also preparing to have my wisdom teeth taken out in August, followed by getting braces put on my teeth. About six months after that, I'll be ready for jaw surgery to correct my open bite, which the doctors believe is the pain source of pain. The pressure of my bite all goes to the back teeth since the canine teeth do not touch. Despite the face that the right lower jaw bone is a bit shorter than the left, and that the discs have slipped in both joints, they think it is mostly my bite that causes the pain.
If all of that made sense. :)
I mostly find relief by applying ice packs to my face. Sometimes a heating pad works better, but cold compresses mostly work much better for me. If your pain doesn't get any better, see your dentist. Do not let him manipulate your jaw as mine did, twice. The next step is to find a specialist in the Oral and Maxillofacial field, who will hopefully hook you up with a splint and maybe medications, if they're necessary.
If there's anything you'd like to know about TMJ, you can ask me (I'll be as helpful as possible...I've been through MANY things because of my jaw) or visit http://www.tmj.org
Hope some of that helps!
Posted by atlkevin1 on June 20, 2004, at 21:44:59
In reply to Re: TMJ Questions, posted by Alisha on June 17, 2004, at 21:51:55
By the way, happy birthday Alicia!!!
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 22, 2004, at 7:28:58
In reply to Re: TMJ Questions, posted by Alisha on June 17, 2004, at 21:51:55
> I've had TMJ for the past four and a half years...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding TMJ to Psycho-Babble Health. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040523/msgs/358915.html
Thanks,
Bob
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