Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Jaw, Tounge & Lower Lip Posted: 01-11-06 16:42pm
I have had tmj for about 20 years and just
recently I have had a new problem. Does
anybody else lose use of their lower lip
and tongue while eating. It started
happening a couple of weeks ago. I will
be eating and pretty soon I can't hold my
lower lip shut while chewing. Then my
speech becomes slurred when my lower lip
& jaw becomes slack. I can't tell but
I think that is why my tongue doesn't
work.
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catswold
Supporter
Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 404 Location: Flint, Michigan
Posted: 01-15-06 11:41am
It sounds like either the muscles used for
eating get so fatigued (since you have tmj
and probably don't chew as a "normal"
person would) that your tongue and lower
lip just can't keep going, or you are
pinching a nerve when chewing. Do your
cheeks gets tired also when eating? I
ask that because it sure would be better
if it's just the muscles getting too
tired. If you think that it is that
problem, you might want to either go to a
good, knowledgeable physical therapist to
learn some exercises for that part of the
face and neck, or you could just do some
exercises on your own. There are a few
good books and websites that show some
excellent tmj exercises
(nismat.Org/ptcor/tmj/ is one). The
pinched nerve theory would be more
difficult to diagnose, locate and fix. A
doctor would definitely have to be
involved.
I don't think a liquid or soft diet for a
few weeks would be the answer even though
doctors tell us to do that because it
sounds like you need to build up strength,
not rest, but this is also another
"treatment" option as you probably know.
As a long time tmj sufferer, are you under
the care of a tmj dentist? Do you wear a
bite splint or anything similar? I'm
just curious as after 25 years of this
stupid tmj, I do have a tmj "specialist"
but it's amazing how few "specialists"
know very much about tmj, especially if
you develop anything different than the
usual symptoms.
I hope you are able to get everything back
working as it should soon. I'd be
curious to know what you find out if you
don't mind writing back (either here or a
private message). Good "luck" (even
though I don't believe in luck, i've never
been able to come up with a better
sentiment for what I want to say.) oh
well. :)
