Medical Question

[Guest]

 

[MissTaken]

Tossing in my two cents based on almost no knowledge...


Sometimes, sinus infections can cause inflammation in and around the jaw, thereby causing pain.

*shrugs shoulders*

Wish I could be of more help.

 

[tulip2lipservice]

After I had my wisdom teeth out

my jaw would lock from time to time. A dentist suggested eating soft foods for a while and it has not really bothered me but does happen from time to time with stress and such.

If it is that bad I remember another dentist suggesting something like a retainer to keep the jaw in line. Check for a specialist if it gets worse.

Feel better and good luck. I hope this helps from my own point of view. I am not in the medical profession. Just speaking from what happened to me.

Peace,
Tulip

 

[hotlittlegirlwv]

Ok....Here's what I can tell you, for what it's worth. I, of course, can't say what exactly might be causing your TMJ pain, but people frequently get relief from muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory meds, which I think they should have given you at the ER. The only alternative that I know of other than surgery is to get a splint made at the dentist. This is a device that is made to fit in your mouth and help keep your mandible in the correct position for proper alignment, therefore alleviating joint discomfort!

 

[The Heretic]

TMJ Dysfunction is a catch all phrase for just about anything that goes wrong with the TMJ. I say that because there will be all kinds of suggestions about what to do, but they may or may not apply to your problem which could be a symptom of dozens of different causes.

The best thing is to see a TMJ specialist, but be aware that at much of any age past 21 surgery can cause more problems than you had originally. If you have a TMJ problem that may require surgery for relief, it is best to catch it in your early teens.

TMJ is kind of genetic in my family (I have it a very little bit), and my daughter had a severe problem with TMJ (it seems to affect females more than males IIRC - I think it has to do with the way the different genders grow). We caught it in her pre-teen years and she eventually had to have surgery - which was pretty painful and of course was not covered by insurance.

My research into TMJ problems has led me to believe that those people who didn't catch their TMJ problems in their teens, and who eventually needed surgery, found that they needed follow on surgeries too, with lots of money spent and little relief. People wound up with much of their TMJ and jaw being titanium and plastic, spending a lot of money, and being in pain all of the time.

Now, after all that forwarning, there are many people like me who have mild TMJ problems who never need surgery. Sometimes just putting ice on the joint and using an anti-inflammatory medicine is enough. I just gave the warning above to caution you that if someone tells you that you need surgery, that you probably want to look in depth at the success rates of people who have had this done once they were an adult.

THings might have changed - it has been over ten years since I looked into this. My daughter is doing fine, but the doctors all predicted she would be okay because she had it done while still young.

Sometimes my jaw gets sore because I was grinding my teeth while sleeping. It sounds like that may have been your problem - especially if you have not had this problem this bad before. A good TMJ specialist should be able to tell what your problem is, but if someone recommends surgery be sure to get a second or even third opinion. I did for my daughter - I brought her up here to Seattle to see one of the better specialist around.

 

[Nefarious]

This happens to me from time to time

I am a motorcyclist, and sometimes after long or particularly fast rides, the pressure of my helmet's chin strap can cause this problem. I've taken my helmet off at a restaurant and found that I couldn't open my jaws more than an inch or so. No pain precedes this, I just discover the lack of normal range of motion.

I've gone ahead and eaten, taking peculiarly small bites, with the accompanying awkwardly tiny chewing motions. It seems to get better on it's own over the course of a couple of days. I've never had a doctor recommend any operation. The TM joint problem, in my case, seems to have been caused by old motorcycle crashes that resulted in my jaws being slammed together during 'face plants' while wearing helmets.

I ride thousands of miles per year, but I only experience the problem once or twice a year, and it never seems to last very long. Give your jaws a chance to relax. Anti-inflamitories couldn't hurt, either. Your case is different from mine in that you've experienced the problem growing progressively worse, mine doesn't work that way. I can open my jaws and, by muscular manipulations alone, I can move my jaws sideways. The resulting popping noise from the right side joint can be heard across a room. Maybe I've just adapted over time to a problem that is chronic. Perhaps you will too.

 

[horny_giraffe]

...Sometimes my jaw gets sore because I was grinding my teeth while sleeping. It sounds like that may have been your problem - especially if you have not had this problem this bad before. A good TMJ specialist should be able to tell what your problem is, but if someone recommends surgery be sure to get a second or even third opinion. I did for my daughter - I brought her up here to Seattle to see one of the better specialist around.

I sometimes grind my teeth when I get stressed. The dentist showed me that my incisors and canines are starting to wear down. As it is, I've taught myself to chew my tongue (it hurts to bite down hard!) which has discouraged me a little bit, and helped me from getting a sore jaw or hurting my teeth.

You can also get a fitted mouthguard--sort of like one that fighters use--which enables your teeth to slide rather than grind. Watch the wear patterns on your teeth especially your canines and incisors, to see if you are grinding your teeth. That way you can at least eliminate that as a possible cause.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Bumparooni

 

[The Heretic]

The TM joint itself is slowly being pushed out of the position it is supposed to be in, and is causing more and more pain as it goes, the problem currently is that I havent discovered wheather it is the tissue around the joint that's inflamed or if it's the disc in the joint itself that is deteriorating or damaged some how.

Malignment of the TMJ is typically not something that happens on its own without some other cause such as injury. If the TMJ is now popped out, and it is not some ongoing problem from the way your jaws formed while growing up - then it may be possible that this is a one time thing that may not require surgery. I hesitated to mention this before because it can make things worse, and not all doctors are will to do it, but some chiropractors and orthopedists are willing to realign the jaw back into place. I have had that done to me, and sometimes it has helped.

I hope you find a solution that alleviates your pain permanently.

 

[ksmybuttons]

I have the problem a couple of times a year. My muscles in my jaw tighten up and It pushes my lower jaw out of alignment.

I take Valium as a muscle relaxant for it and it settles down in one day. I take an extra day of Valium because I like it and to keep it relaxed.

Valium is the only one of the muscle relaxants that seems to work. I have tried flexeril and zanaflex without relief.

 

[Guest]

 

[ksmybuttons]

I am a jaw clencher. It is where I keep my stress. I wake up with the problem in the morning. My whole bottom jaw is thrown forward so my bite is completely off. It hurts because the muscles are in spasm. The first time it happened, I called the doc and got the Valium the same day. We tried the other muscle relaxants, but they don't work like the Valium does. Now when it happens, I take the Valium when I wake up. I don't wait for days to take it since I know it works for me.

I discussed with my doc the bite plate thing, but for the infrequency of it all, I just don't want to put something in my mouth every night...and did I mention I like the Valium?

edited for a missed question: No, my teeth do not meet and I cannot totally close my mouth when it happens. As an aside: it has never happened after giving a blow job or any other sex related time - those don't make me clench my jaw.

 

[freakygirl]

Does your jaw joint make a popping, clicking or snapping sound when you move it?

Do you hear and/or feel a grating sound in your jaw joint on movement?

Is the joint tender to external pressure? This can be assessed by manually pressing the area in the front of the ear.

Do you clinch and/or grind your teeth at night or during the day?

Do you sometimes have difficulty opening or closing your mouth?

If you have tinnitus (ringing in your ears), does the ringing sound change in any way as you open and close your mouth while applying external pressure to the joint?

Do you have frequent episodes of vertigo and/or nausea?

Do you have ear sensitivity and/or pain associated with sound?

Do you have recurring ear aches for which the doctor can find no apparent cause?

Do you have recurring migraine-like headaches that do not respond to migraine medicine and for which the doctor can find no cause?

Are your neck and shoulder muscles constantly tense and/or painful?

Do you have a recurrent knot in the muscles on the edge of your shoulder blades closest to the spine?

Do you feel chronically fatigued and/or depressed?

 

[freakygirl]

Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome

 

[onewingedangel]

I have had TMJ since I had all of my wisdom teeth extracted when I was 16. It was sooo painful my senior year of high school that I lost alot of weight because I would not eat. Five years later, I am doing just fine; the thing tends to clear itself up over time.

What you might want to try is to get a perscription of 800mg tablets of Motrin (not just IBProfin), this stuff is awsome, it stops swelling and makes joints feel better. It really works for me. Ever few months I have a problem with my jaw, but I just take some of those Motrins and I am fine Goodluck and dont stress.

 

[April]

I can't help you, but you have my sympathy.

I'm a grinder/clencher. Popping sounds and grinding in the joints. Sometimes the whole joint almost comes apart. Hurts like a motherfucker at times. I carry stress in my jaw, neck, and upper shoulders. I never relax. Ever. I've learned to live with it.

You, however, need to see a doctor right away if it's getting worse.

 

[Guest]

 

[tswyk]

TMJ sufferer here...

I have been through 3 different appliances - or splints - as they may be called. Each one was different and I wore them only at night.

The first one was made of a rubber-like substance and was made to conform to my bottom teeth.

The second one was an experimental type that fit only over my front lowers, but still kept my back teeth from meeting.

The last one was a metal retainer with a hard resin model of my teeth set onto it. I was still clenching so hard that I eventually just broke all the stuff off.

So...here's my advise. Visit a TMJ specialist. DO NOT HAVE THE SURGERY until you have exhausted all other avenues. Try the retainer thing or meds first. RELAX - whatever that takes - massage, meds, meditation - whatever.

I have actually finally stopped the clinching/grinding, and only suffer the pain when I get really stressed.

Most insurances will NOT cover any of these avenues, except maybe the surgery.

Good Luck!


t

 

[erosman]

I've never been diagnosed with TMJ , but I have had sufficient problems with my jaw to stop chewing gum, and seek some relief. I have had some massage done that helped considerably. The most effective was done with her hands inside my mouth. Pressure is applied to the muscle area around the jaw joint between your teeth and cheek. I have actually done this to myself, as well, but not with as much success. See if you can find a massage therapist who can help. They aren't usually as expensive or arrogant as specialists.

 

[Shaq]

Uhh...we haven't learned that yet...ask Vinny...I think he's a medical type or something...

 

[Siren]

 

[bknight2602]

I hope you get to feeling better IR! Unfortunatley I don't have any help for you.

 

[Guest]