Ouch, my TMJ hurts
About three years ago I started to feel some pain in my jaw and teeth, and then occasionally in my sinuses. At first it seemed like sinus problems, then my dentist told me I needed a root canal, and eventually, as the months wore on and the pain intensified and nothing seemed to fit, I was taking about 6 extra strength ibuprofen a day and still in pain. I had my wisdom teeth removed, had cranial X-rays done...and no clear diagnosis in sight until about 7 months ago.
Because it took so long for someone to tell me "You're not crazy, there's a name for all these symptoms!" I thought I would share some of my experiences with this disorder. Maybe someone reading this will see themselves and be able to find relief, or at least acknowledgment.
Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders have varying symptoms, usually involving pain in the jaw, face, teeth and or sinuses. There is a small joint at the point where your jaw and skull are connected. For some reason, in some individuals, the joint becomes worn out and no longer works properly. This means that everything else in that area--muscles in the face, jaw, head, neck and shoulders--has to work much harder than it should, leasing to strain and discomfort. As the jaw opens and closes abnormally, the nerve that connects to the face, teeth and sinus area is sometimes irritated, causing intense pain. Some people experience cracking, popping and dislocation of the jaw upon trying to open and close the mouth. Others are left completely unable to open and close the mouth.
When I read others' stories I see that I am actually fortunate, it could be worse. However, the intense pain I feel when I have a flare up (like today and yesterday for example!) really interfere with my life. I haven't slept in 36 hours, I feel extremely frustrated and I also feel like a burden to those around me. Anyway, enough of my whining. Here are a list of symptoms typical to people with a TMJ disorder. If you have experienced this kind of thing, please tell me about yourself and how you are managing to cope.
-Headache
-Teeth grinding (your teeth may feel "sore"in the morning)
-Teeth clenching
-Ear pain
-Tooth pain
-Facial/sinus pain (no sinus discharge)
-Cracking when opening the mouth
-Difficulty opening the mouth
-Jaw "twitching" shut involuntarily
-Difficulty chewing or biting accurately (teeth that don't fit together well)
-Stomach discomfort
Here is a link to just one of many many websites dedicated to TMJ disorders.
Just google TMJ disorders and you'll find tons of info, as well as forums where you can hear others' stories.
Because it took so long for someone to tell me "You're not crazy, there's a name for all these symptoms!" I thought I would share some of my experiences with this disorder. Maybe someone reading this will see themselves and be able to find relief, or at least acknowledgment.
Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders have varying symptoms, usually involving pain in the jaw, face, teeth and or sinuses. There is a small joint at the point where your jaw and skull are connected. For some reason, in some individuals, the joint becomes worn out and no longer works properly. This means that everything else in that area--muscles in the face, jaw, head, neck and shoulders--has to work much harder than it should, leasing to strain and discomfort. As the jaw opens and closes abnormally, the nerve that connects to the face, teeth and sinus area is sometimes irritated, causing intense pain. Some people experience cracking, popping and dislocation of the jaw upon trying to open and close the mouth. Others are left completely unable to open and close the mouth.
When I read others' stories I see that I am actually fortunate, it could be worse. However, the intense pain I feel when I have a flare up (like today and yesterday for example!) really interfere with my life. I haven't slept in 36 hours, I feel extremely frustrated and I also feel like a burden to those around me. Anyway, enough of my whining. Here are a list of symptoms typical to people with a TMJ disorder. If you have experienced this kind of thing, please tell me about yourself and how you are managing to cope.
-Headache
-Teeth grinding (your teeth may feel "sore"in the morning)
-Teeth clenching
-Ear pain
-Tooth pain
-Facial/sinus pain (no sinus discharge)
-Cracking when opening the mouth
-Difficulty opening the mouth
-Jaw "twitching" shut involuntarily
-Difficulty chewing or biting accurately (teeth that don't fit together well)
-Stomach discomfort
Here is a link to just one of many many websites dedicated to TMJ disorders.
Just google TMJ disorders and you'll find tons of info, as well as forums where you can hear others' stories.
posted by Tere | 7:07 PM
2 Comments:
Hi! Got TMJ too! And it sucks!
The mandible is a single bone in the midline, connected on both sides by ligaments. Another bone like this is the sacrum.
Anyone with TMJ problems probably has their sacrum out of alignment.
I'd recommend that she looks for a chiropractor, specifically one who uses SOT: Sacral Occipital Technique. Grab the yellow pages and call the chiropractors in Your neighborhood, asking: "Who is the best SOT doctor in the area?" There are several chiropractic techniques and any chiropractor who's been around awhile knows who's in the area and who does what. Keep calling... and You'll see a pattern emerge. People will undoubtedly try to get You in their office, but just keep asking: who is the best SOT doctor? Eventually, after several calls, it will become clear that it's Dr. Brown or Dr. Smith or Dr. Merriman {haha, I made that up!} so go there. - Vandana. cibaca_says@yahoo.com
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