Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 14 Location: pennsylvania
Tmj Or Virus? Posted: 12-12-05 17:18pm
I.M not sure if my first passage went
through so I am trying again. About 2
months ago I started having a stiff neck.
Within a few days I was suffering
terrible fatigue, anxiety attacks, a faint
feeling along with a fullness in my ears.
I was a mess. My doctor wanted me on
zoloft right away believing it was
depression. I waited a few days and the
the attacks lessoned, but the other
symptoms come and go. The ent suggested
that I caught a virus that settled in my
ears which is creating the dizzy and faint
problems. By chance I had a dentist
appoinment recently and he could not
believe the tmj I had. I told him of my
recent problems and he fitted me with a
bite plate. The symptoms have eased a
bit but is this common to have so many
different opinions? All blood work and
mri's have been good.
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
No Big Surprise Posted: 12-13-05 14:36pm
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
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witt 5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 14 Location: pennsylvania
Thanks Catswold Posted: 12-13-05 15:08pm
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?
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 12-13-05 19:35pm
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
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witt 5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 14 Location: pennsylvania
Thanks Again, Posted: 12-13-05 21:07pm
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
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 12-13-05 23:15pm
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
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witt 5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 14 Location: pennsylvania
Carol, I Just Went to the Dentist. Posted: 12-15-05 17:31pm
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
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Good! Posted: 12-15-05 19:39pm
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)
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witt 5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 14 Location: pennsylvania
I Agree Posted: 12-16-05 12:07pm
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