After having mild to moderate tinnitus for many years, about a month ago it suddenly became more intense. After seeing a family doctor and an ENT, the possibility of a TMJ disorder was raised -- my wife says I grind my teeth at night, and I've also experience pain and soreness in my jaw and sides of head along with the tinnitus. Last week my dentist fitted me for a nightguard, which I've been wearing nightly since then. This has helped, but I still have a ways to go.

One of the main features I notice about the tinnitus has to do with body position. In general it's louder when I'm reclining, less loud when I'm sitting, and less loud still when I'm standing.

But the strange feature is that it is also related to my sleeping position:

-- If I sleep on my left side -- so that my right ear is up -- the right ear gets far worse symptoms (and the left ear may be remarkably symptom-free).

-- And vice versa, if I sleep on my right side so that the left ear is up, the left ear (the upward one) gets far worse symptoms, and the right side is often symptom-free.

-- If I sleep on my back, both ears are affected about equally. I traditionally have avoided sleeping on my back, though, due to a mild tendency to sleep apnea.

Is this relationship to symptoms ever seen in TMJ disorders? Is there anything I can do about it? For example, I've heard "TMJ pillows" mentioned -- would this possibly help?