Hello sharron,

yes! In fact I had to go to emerg, as I was in such horrible pain, I could not swallow anything without tears in my eyes, also I really had no neck mobility ( couldn't turn my head to the left or right), I also had electric shock type pain going up the back of my head
i had no jaw pain.. But swelling on the right side in front of my right ear which has not gone down

this was 3 weeks ago and the right ear still has minor aching...



I also need to mention we don't know at this point if it was tmj, that caused this, but it could very well be

i'm waiting for the results of my neck x-rays, my doctor thinks it is a nerve condtion (?)

ps- I would say in regards to my "sore" throat that it was not so much as a sore throat but pain upon swallowing, it only hurt when I tried to swallow and not any other time

I also have had sore throats. Sometimes I think it is due to the inflammation in the joint, although I am not sure.

I have been recently diagnosed with tmj. It is so painful! My ear and neck hurt! I also have a sore throat and achy shoulders. I originally went to the dr for an ear infection and was given antibiotics. However, the ear ache got worse as did the pain down my neck. The pain got so bad that I went to the er. That's where I was diagnosed with tmj. That was almost three weeks ago and I still hurt. I have been taking aspirin and trying exercises to loosen the muscles around my neck/shoulders. I also went to a sporting goods store and bought a mouth guard since I have been grinding my teeth for years.

Hi sharon,
haven't heard from you for awhile. How have you been doing? Sore throats are a common problems for us tmjers unfortunately. It's usually because of the one muscle down deep that runs from the ear down to the collar bone, but not always. It does help to suck on hard candy (sugar-free or regular) frequently or I drink fluids all day long. I have been doing 50/50 here. I just started on a new dose of lyrica (pain med) and next tuesday go from the most stressful job in the police department to the least stressful one and I do so hope and pray that will help the tmj.

Humphlo - sorry about the tmj diagnosis. It is very important to work on the symptoms now at the beginning of this dysfunction in order to be possibly "cured." I highly suggest seeing a tmj specialist who can possibly make you a bite splint that will be fit to your mouth, not just a store bought one. Also, see if the dentist or your doctor will prescribe a couple of weeks of valium to take at night or muscle relaxants to help night time clenching and grinding.

Then, find out how your bite is balanced (or not). If off just a little, allow a very good dentist to make minor modifications to only one or two teeth to even out the bite, but be very careful here. Do not allow a lot of teeth to be ground or worked on. It should only need to be one or two small little spots on one or two teeth. If the bite is way off, a bite splint is your best bet until you are completely pain free. And if anyone recommends braces as the only cure, do not do it until you are completely pain free and it's obvious that your bite is way off.

Keep up the neck and shoulders stretches and find something that will help you relieve stress, like yoga or anything that works so you won't clench and/or grind you teeth at night.

Ibuprofen tends to work better than aspirin for tmj pain, but you should take what you know works for your body. 600mgs is a large dose but works well. Just take care of your stomach with food approximately around the same time as taking the ibuprofen (if you do).

Take care and god bless...
Carol

Hi gemma
my throat doesn't get sore but it does feel swollen though the doc said she couldn't see anything. I reckon it was coming from my ears and all round the jaw joint (am a diagnosed tmj sufferer). Was doin ok since getting the diagnosis and a night splint. Then I was sent off to the ear/nose/throat guy as one eardrum looked nasty etc. He said my ears needed cleaning (to cut a long story short) so he did , I have had pain ever since (it felt like he cleaned them with a lump of steel wool). My jaw hurts my face hurts my ears n then on to the throat.

I too have found ibuprofen works for the pain , brufen n codeine wen the pain is really bad. But have heard such things cause ulcers. ???????????
Have only had one migraine since I started wearing the splint (wich from getting them 2or more times a week before yes well.

Hi jewel,
how did the ent clean out your ears? Usually here, high pressured warm liquid is used. Hmm, it does sound like he used steel wool. Have you tried to lie down on some heat to help the ear pain?

The ibuprofen (and aspirin, etc.) can cause stomach problems. That's why it's important to take either with food or close to a mealtime. It's usually okay then.

How's the weather there? We're having freezing rain. Well, it is winter in michigan.

Take care...
Carol

Hi carol,

he used a vacuum cleaner type thing (didnt feel any fluid).
Ive got brufen tablets n codeine tablets from the doc n also use nurofen(not all together of course). Showering doesnt help cause of the water but I cant use plugs ........ Ouch.
My specialist wont operate cause she says thats risky surgery rebuildin the jaw joint n wont do it till the jaw doesn't function ( can see her point) . Some days more than others.

Its been stinkin hot here over xmas/new year (the weather bureau predicted a heat wave n gee they were right). 100f even hit 100% humidity at the same time.
At the moment its not toooo bad but soooo humid. We are in the middle of summer.
Thats sunny queensland for ya.

I just found this board and am very grateful to find others out there with this disorder.

I was diagnosed about a year ago with TMJ. It just so happened I was talking to a dentist while working on his computer (I repair computers for a living), we started talking about his speciality, TMJ, and next thing you know I was telling him of my symptoms. He had me come into his office and did x-rays and said, yep, pretty bad case here. He made a mouthpiece for me and did some tens treatments in his office. I've had issues off and on over the past year, however, nothing really too bad until about Halloween. I made a big mistake and ate a tootsie roll. My jaw made a cracking sound the next day and I haven't been the same since. Now my jaw cracks about every time I eat or talk. When I wake up in the morning, I have to move my very tight jaw around until it sort of cracks into place so I can talk. I've had a constant earache since and have had what I think are migraines. The ear opposite the earache feels like it's full, I can't hear out of it, then it starts a ringing, then this all goes away and a headache starts. This has been happening about 1-2x per week. In addition, now I have a sore throat that feels like a gland in the affected side is swollen, everytime I swallow. My original dentist has retired and I don't know where to go from here. I may very well be catching a bug that's going around, (the sore throat), however, after finding this site, now I'm wondering if maybe it's related to my TMJ.

I'm going to try and find a doc who knows something about TMJ just in case it's the cause of the throat pain.

I guess I just wanted to put my troubles into words somewhere where others can relate. My husband, although sympathetic, doesn't really understand what's going on here.

Thanks for listening.

this is called referred pain--it can effect any part of the body--though it really comes from the jaw. the shooting pain or earaches and sore throat is just your jaw referring pain. use heat and ice to alleviate some of that pain--apply to the joint as applying it to the neck would do nothing as its not the problem.

Ibuprophen can causes ulcers but only if it is taken too much. take it with food and plenty of water and you will be fine.

if any of you need a good doctor i can help you find one. BE careful of "specialists" as a lot of them dont know what they are talking about.

Thank you for your post tmddyan.

I've been taking 4 ibuprofens every eight hours for about 2 weeks now.
I hope this isn't too much.

I will try the heat/ice on my jaw right now.

Thanks again.

also, I forgot to mention, I live in the mountains in Colorado, 10,000 feet. It's been very cold here lately, average highs in the teens. I spend a lot of time outside in and out of my car. I feels as if the cold is making my jaw ache even more. Is this typical?

yes I notice that i hurt more in the cold--im in the mountains in Idaho. I find that shivering doesnt help at all. weather changes make my jaw ache too.

4 Ibuprophen isnt too much--make sure that you take it with food and lots of water. Ive actually switched to aleve because it lasts longer and it releives more pain for me. you might want to try it. So youd be taking less of it. I think you can get a one a day. My surgeon had me taking it 2 times--when i get up and when i go to bed.

if you need anything let me know--Im here to help.

Hi all
I have TMJ from an auto accident this March. Just started a sore throat a few weeks ago, mostly on 1 side and hurts more to swallow. I am so glad I found this site. I didn't think I could have a sore throat from this. I also have 2 compressed discs in my neck due to the accident. I have a 24/7 headache, the muffled ears, tightness on sides of head and jaw, ear aches, lots of neck and shoulder pain.

Be careful of TMJ specialists. I went to one that said I may have to have all my lower teeth crowned so they met up w/the upper jaw. He also said I would never get over this. And the charge to just get the mouthpiece was $3900 - the rest would have been $20K and who knows how much more. Found another TMJ specialist, supposed to be one of the best in town, and he uses alot of different methods, including holistic, so he is where I go next. So call different dentists in town and see who they recommend for this issue - don't go to a regular dentist, find someone that specializes only in TMJ. And just be conservative - you always have the right to make a decision that can include the word "no".

Find a good osteopath or chiropracter that does touch adjustment (no twisting the neck or lots of cracking) and is a cranial specialist. Use acupuncture - this will help the pain and relax the muscles - it does work. I use both and helps alot. If you have a holistic school in town you can go for accupuncture for less money. The teacher shows the students how to do the acunpuncture on you.

Consider that your neck is out of place as well since evrything is connected. My regular dentist told me that I have to get my neck better to really resolve the TMJ. And I have talked to one TMJ specialist that said the proper adjustment w/a cranial specialist can get the jaw into place. The mouth piece will help keep things aligned. However, I understood it is supposed to be worn all the time not just at night. NEVER surgery there is no need to go this far.

I also teach Tai Chi/Qigong - learn to breathe and do moving meditation to relax especially before bed.

If you can find a Body Stress Release Practitioner - rare in this country- if you are in Phoenix there is one here. This is a specialty that comes out of So Africa - combo of light touch, energy and relieving stress in the back, neck ,etc has really works for me, too.

Good luck to all of us!