For 2 years now I have experienced an odd occurence whenever I try to sleep. Just before I drift off and fall asleep, when I am very relaxed and peaceful, my jaw violenty "jerks" and gnashes my lower and upper teeth together. I have caught my tongue in between which very much hurts. This only happens when I lie down and try to go to bed. It first began only while I was sleeping on my back, but it since has reacted the same way in whichever postion I choose. It's very discouraging because when it happens I am seconds away from falling off into a peaceful sleep. So relaxed. When this happens I of course wake up, rather my drifting off ceases. This concerned me so that I did seek the help of a TMD specialist and although my xrays should my joints to be in great shape he did note some airway concerns. For about the last 6 months I have been wearing a night time splint on my upper and lower teeth to better reposition my jaws. Still this strange "jerk" continues to happen. He doesn't have a great explanation for it either. It concerns me and really interrupts and hurts my quality of sleep.
Any ideas what is going on? My doctor did reference "myoclonic jerk", but after reading up on that I am not positive that is what's happening either. I appreciate any feedback.