Tmj Or Virus?

Yes, it is common to have so many different opinions, especially when it has anything to do with tmj. What made the dentist decide you had tmj? Did you have symptoms of tmj before you saw the dentist? Has the bite splint helped you?

Frequently, tmj symptoms will start because we are in some sort of stress. This stress causes us to grind or clench our teeth at night, which then causes things like temple headaches, neck pains, face pains, ear ache, etc., usually on one side of the head being the worst. Your one doctor treated you reasonably by giving you zoloft. I personally believe that prozac works a little better, but both work on seratonin levels in the body and that's what is needed.

I'm a little surprised that the ent didn't see the possibility of tmj. He is not the first ent I have heard of this week that skipped right over tmj. You would think that since they have to work in the same area of the human body as the jaw, that tmj would be something they would automatically look for, but they don't seem to. Anyway, I think I would disregard what the ent said and work on the stress and tmj.

If you are having problems with headaches, muscle pains, jaw popping, etc., concentrate on relaxing your jaw by using lots of moist heat (put right on the jaw joint), ibuprofen (600 mg. If able and take with food to help tummy), important - eat only soft foods for the next few weeks and no gum chewing or eating ice. Also, do not open your mouth wide for anything, including yawning. Ask your doctor or dentist for a script of low dosage of valium for a few weeks to take a bedtime, sleep on a good pillow that supports your neck and watch your posture (no thrusting of neck forward). Baby your jaw.

I hope these suggestion help if they are needed for tmj discomfort. Tmj is something that can be helped but relaxation and controlling stress is very important. At this time, I won't tell you any of the horror stories that can occur all because of 2 little joints in the head called temporomandibular joints (tmj).

Your dentist sounds like a great dentist. You are blessed. Often it can be very difficult to find even a decent dentist who is familiar with tmj.

Take care and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. And let us know how you are doing.

God bless...
Carol

I actually got my wisdom teeth out when I was 17 and ever since I have had tmj. I am now 33. My jaw has popped ever since but it never gave me a problem because it did not hurt. I have noticed that just prior to my "breakdown" of health I was clanging my teeth together and biting my nails like crazy at night. It is weird, my symptoms now seem to revolve. One day a headache, the next, full ears, pressure and slight vertigo, the next stiff neck and anxiety, and on and on. The ent still suggests that it is a virus, especially since I crashed mentally and phyisically so hard, so quickly. I was surprised when he said that my ear imbalance and dizziness could not be from tmj. It seems like a pretty common problem with other people that have posted on this sight. The bite plate has at least stopped the teeth chattering and nail biting. I have also slept great which has always been a problem for some reason. The dentist wants me to get braces so my mouth closes right. It is hard when one proffessional insists on one thing and the dentist another. What do you think?

You sound like a very typical tmj case. Your ent surprises me that he is dismissing the tmj so easily. I must admit to be surprised by that.

Removing wisdom teeth often causes tmj problems such as yours at the beginning. It sounds to me that when you had your "health break-down," the stress set off your tmj. I can't say what caused this sudden health situation, but I can say that tmj symptoms can come on very suddenly, and can make you feel like you are very sick with just about anything involving the head. I guess a virus might have been involved but there is so much "proof" to the diagnosis of tmj that it's amazing. All of your daily symptoms are so typical tmj.

One of the biggest reasons why I think this is all tmj is that the bite splint is helping you just as it's supposed to, except I think the zoloft is what is helping your nail biting. That's what it's for. The seratonin has a calming effect on the body. I'm even more convinced that your dentist is a good one.

Regarding the braces - you might want to wait until this tmj "episode" has calmed down and you have been feeling good for a few months either wearing the bite splint or not. Once you feel comfortable and stable, then you could consider braces. Braces could very well stop the popping completely that you have experienced in the past and keep your tmjs as they should be, but they might not either. But there's no need to hurry. Get yourself healthy and comfortable first and then think about what's next. Do some research on tmj and braces for awhile to help you make your decision in the future about the braces.

I know you are going to be fine. Your dentist sounds like a good one and you appear to be someone who asks questions and that is also good. I hope I have helped you. Feel free to ask anything you want whenever. Take it easy and get yourself feeling great.

Carol

I am so glad I finally have another person to relate to. I did fail to mention that I did not take the zoloft mainly because I am not one to jump into meds, especially an anti-depressant when I am normally a very upbeat and active guy. Sorry to mislead, however I was talking to my wife about the "fits" that I get and just tonight after an anxiety filled sit down for dinner with the kids, we both feel that maybe it is time to admit to it. The anxiety is definately there, but not near as sharp as it was weeeks ago. They seem more like bouts of being lost and doomed to this uncertain issue. When I was at my worst, I had feelings of hopelessness and mortality issues--add to that the other bad symptoms. Do you have any suggestions on who I should see next? The dentist or doctor? Also, if I excersice and keep very busy, the symptoms don't seem as strong--except the fullness in my ears but is this also typical? Thank you again so much, you don't know how this has helped me. Witt

This is a little harder to answer. I'm not upset that you didn't take the zoloft. That only changes my thinking about the nail biting. :) i'm only s little unsure about what you call "fits" and "doomed to this uncertain issue." I hope I am correct in thinking you are talking about tmj as being the uncertain issue.

So, to try and answer your question, I think you need to be seeing both the dentist and a medical doctor (not the ent doctor). The dentist should be treating your tmj. He sounds like he is doing his part so far with the bite splint. If the bite splint was made recently, you will need to get it adjusted occasionally by the dentist.

A medical or family doctor should be treating the more medical part of any help you need, but it's definitely not the ent doctor. He just doesn't sound like he is doing anything to help you. Since you got the bite splint, all of your symptoms have been getting better. Am I correct? The stuffy ear seems to be the only problem that still bugs you on a regular basis. Well, that is one of the major symptoms of tmj and usually doesn't come and go like the other symptoms, but stays more often than goes. It's because the disc, which is probably out of joint slightly is causing pressure against the ear canal. They are amazingly close to each other so any slight problem in the tm joint is going to affect the ear canal. You don't know how many times I went to the doctors over the years because of my ears and have them say, "well, the ear appears to be a little red, but that's it." that's because nothing was wrong other than the jaw joint pushing against the ear canal a little bit. I almost had tubes put in my ears and that would have been a huge mistake. Thank god I get stubborn sometimes and just decided not to have the tubes put in. Stuffy ears is just something you have to learn to live with if you have tmj.

I do think that you should be taking zoloft or prozac though. You will be surprised at how much it helps you. The anxiety, the tmj, both will love you if you take one small dose every day. You really will feel better emotionally and physically. I do totally understand where you are coming from when you say you don't want to take meds. That's one reason I didn't take pain pills the first 23 years I had tmj even though I was in excruciating pain. I realize how silly I was now, even though I must admit that I am somewhat proud that I survived those years. They just could have been better years.

I did break down and start taking prozac about 10 years ago. That was initially for depression, but I ended up being blessed in that it helped my tmj by taking the pain completely away for about two years. It was a wonderful time in my life. So I do and will advocate meds, but only under a doctor's supervision.

That's where I think your family doctor should come into the picture. With your dentist working on the dental part of tmj (bite splint) and your family doctor working with you and the dentist with the proper medications, you probably won't even have to think about your tmj.

Is that what your goal is? I'm glad you and your wife sat down and talked about all this. It's very important to have your family involved in health issues, especially something like tmj which is so unusual. Too many tmj patients live lonely lives because no one can possibly understand what tmj is, what kind of pain is involved, what it does to our lives. Unless you experience severe chronic pain, you can't understand. But your family can still support and love you no matter what.

Regarding the hopelessness and morbidity issues - try having tmj for 25 years and be 51 years old. Two years ago my tmj decided to come back full force into my life and that's because big time stress took over. I had never thought about morbidity until then (i had also just hit that half century mark). It was an awful feeling and so depressing. You do feel hopeless when you think there is no help, no cure, that there is nothing that can be done.

I am finally getting out of this dark hole. A positive attitude is so important to succeed in this life and mine is coming back, thank god. Being active as you are is also great!! It will definitely help you cope with any pain, particularly tmj, so keep up the activity and the positive outlook. Don't let tmj drag you down. Get all the knowledge you can about tmj and beware of the different methods of treatment (most totally useless). Find support such as your wife, dentist and health boards such as this and keep working at keeping yourself as painfree and healthy as possible. Never give up. Take any medication you have to that helps you. Don't allow your pride to hurt your health.

I think you are on the right road. Continue seeing your dentist regarding the bite splint. See your family doctor and under his guidance, consider taking zoloft, prozac or valium for a short time at bedtime. Continue with your physical activity, wear your bite splint, use moist heat if any pain decides to sneak in, research tmj and braces, and talk things out with your wife. I will say here that if you need to talk with someone and you don't feel that your wife should be that person, there is nothing wrong with seeing a therapist of some sort. We all need an objective ear sometimes to hear us and give their educated opinion.

Take care. You are doing fine. I am glad to have met you. Sorry for this long posting. I'm a secretary, so I can just type forever it seems sometimes. I do mean it when I say to take care of yourself. Do everything you can to take care of yourself.

God bless...
Carol

Yesterday I had a great day. I would say I was 90%. Today was a different story. I woke up with neck pain and was a little tired and lightheaded all day. I have recently developed tinnitus in my left ear as well but on top of all of this I still feel better than I did. Do you feel that this is common to feel great then fall back a little? It seems this happens every few days.

Anyway, my dentist told me to keep up with the bite plate and strongly urged me to take a valium before bed as well as another muscle relaxer--i think it is flexorall. I don't like the idea but if you suggest it as well as the dentist-- I guess I should. He then adjusted my jaw only a little. However, I seem to feel more tipsy than I did.

One thing that my dentist stressed is that it is very important not become obsessed with all of this. He said he has seen people in his practice fall completely apart mentally and physically do to these types of problems. I hope other people read this and take note. I beleive that I was quickly falling into this trap. Take care, witt

What your doctor said at the end is very true. It can become infuriating when the pain comes whenever it wants to and has complete control over how we feel for that day. Where it really starts to get to you, is when you can't find the help you know you need. In your case, I am impressed with your dentist. He does seem to want to help you and give you the help that you need. That is great!

You will need to get used to the valium and flexerill. That is what is making you feel a little tired and lightheaded. If you feel that you are too tipsy and at it's bothering you too much, you can either reduce the flexerill or valium, or just take one or the other, and always take just before bedtime. I have never had any luck with muscle relaxers, flexerill included, but our bodies are all different especially when it comes to medications.

Reference your question at the very beginning - that is the one thing about tmj that is so absolutely strange - how we can feel great one day, or in the morning or whenever, and then feel like crap the next day or later in the after or again, whenever. This is probably the most unique and irritating aspect of tmj there is.

Along with wearing the bite splint and taking the two meds, don't forget to use moist heat when needed and find a good massage therapist and go to regular appointments (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly). They really do help keep the tmj on a more even level.

Lately I have become more obsessed about tmj and I hate it. I've had this stupid disorder for 25 years. The first few years almost killed me, but I survived. Then it calmed down enough to handle it, pain ranging from 2 to 8, but stayed more in the middle, plus I had some pain-free times, thank heavens. Then two years ago, the pain decided to come back and I older now (50) and the pain is just too much to take this time. I tried to find help and was amazed at how many medical personnel still knew nothing about tmj (after 25 years) and wouldn't help. The rejection was almost killing me this time rather than the pain. But the pain was bad enough and I almost became suidical. But, i'm too curious about tomorrow.

I also know that I can be pain-free again, so I am doing everything I can to get there and i'm pretty sure I will get there (or else close).

Well, thanks for letting me know how you are doing. Keep me informed about how you are doing. I think you are going to be a pretty good success case. Relax and enjoy...
Carol

(no spell check or proof read - hope no huge mistakes)

I have become obsessed too, which is more maddening than the symptoms at times. I am going to try to put all of the fears of the last 2 months behind me and move on---dizziness or no dizziness. Good luck and many thanks again. Witt