This is possiblle--i know others that have it. tmd can effect other parts of the body--you may feel pain in other parts of the body where there is no pain--this is called referred pain. You should probably go see a chiropractor---he could help wiht thes sensations and the sciatica. he would also be a big herlp with the tmd.

oh and if you need anything or need help finding a good doctor--let me know--im here to help

thanks for the quick response! i have definitely been considering a chiropractor and maybe acupuncture too, guess i should go ahead and do that.

I havent had much luck with acupuncture---i would try massage therapy first and then try the acupuncture--what all have you tried? and what are all of your symptoms?

i really appreciate the help, this has been quite a weird and unpleasant experience. when i first got the bite guard it seemed to take care of things for several months, but lately its been resurfacing in different ways, so things seem to change before i can really adjust to them.

that quite often is the case. a splint will help and then it will resurface or get worse. a splint compresses the joint.

i haven't tried much of anything aside from bite guards, motrin and aleve, and valium. my wife and I are going to a spa in asheville next week as kind of a post chrsitmas thing, so i'm definitely getting a massage there to see what happens. when i first started having tmj it was very localized, a sharp pain on the left side of my jaw, to the point where i actually thought it was a tooth or gum problem. the bite guard got rid of that symtom completely and its never come back. now its more of a dull stiffness on both sides of the jaw, along with this stuff in my arm and leg, which is the only thing that really messes with my head and freaks me out a bit. some slight neck pain too. i sit in front of a computer for work all day which i'm sure contributes. and as I work in the field of multiple sclerosis, the numbness stuff has given me a scare, but it all happens in such conjunction with flareups of jaw pain that i'm pretty reassured its nothing neurological. i've had a hard time with the tmj in general this week, but for some reason my jaw loosened up on christmas day and i didn't have any of the arm and leg stuff that day either. the next day it was all back and still is there.

it sounds muscular---you should try a neuromuscular dentist--i can find a good one in your area---when you go to the spa get a massage and see if that helps you any--also if they have it you should see if they offer cranio-sacral therapy. i know this has helped many--I had no luck with it but that is just me

i've never even heard of a neuromuscular dentist, but sounds like it would be worth a shot...i live in Durham, NC if you know of anyone.

Idaho huh? I'm jealous, i'd love to live in that part of the country.

you can always visit pm me your zip code and ill get started-----If i recall i know a couple in that area.

Hi, I'm cindy. Tmj can cause sensations right down the arm and the leg also. i have had it alot. sometimes the sensation can even travel fast, right down the arm and WOOSH right down the outside of the leg. it is a nerve pathway i think, that is somehow linked to the jaw. also a bad neck can do that. and the neck is very close to the jaw. but it(tmj and a neck) can make the finger tips numb and tingly. i know it is a scarey sensation. weird huh, i hope you feel better!!!! love cindy

Hi, I am Lynda, I have had so many different issues with my TMJ, it can creat problems throughout your whole body.. If you are wearing a bite plate, that is a great start. Be sure to see a chiropractor who is familiar with TMJ and get adjustments ( Not just one, may take anywhere from a few weeks to few months of treatment with a chiropractor in addition to the splint) and trust me , you truly will start to feel better...
There are so many other things to help but these are definately first and most helpful with me..
Lynda

yeah chiro rocks lol