TMJ Disorders

[Vivian B.]

Hello Everybody!

I haven't been on the forum much lately, busy with my daughter's wedding. Fun and stressfull time. I always know I can count on the forum when I need to. I continue to experience pain around the ear and fullness. The Neurologist says he can't explain the symtoms, my ENT says I have to stop thinking that it's the tumor or the ear and to check my jaw. I went for a CT scan last week of my jaw, it showed that my jaw is completely displaced and dislocated. They could not see the soft tissue area as it is only visual on an MRI. I see my  dentist next week. Has anyone had this experience?

Vivian

[ombrerose4]

Hi,

After my surgery I experienced terrible headaches that eventually turned into facial pain. I went to see a dental specialist in New York who specializes in facial pain. My TM joint was out of whack, I had been clenching my teeth without knowing it- probably from the stress of surgery and all that followed. I had several weeks of trigger point injections in my face and mouth on my AN side and 2 sessions of Botox. He also made me a night guard to wear to keep me from clenching. Did you know that you should never let your top and bottom teeth meet- well it's true! It took a few months, but I am 95% free of pain. I wear my night guard to remind me not to clench and it has made a tremendous difference!

[Vivian B.]

Thank you for replying. I am glad that your TMJ resolved.Did you take anything for the pain in terms of medication?

Vivian

[ombrerose4]

Hundreds of Motrin, but thankfully now I am down to 2-3 a week. Also, I take a muscle relaxer at night.

[Brewers7]

I had TMJ and wore a mouthpiece except when I ate, for about 6 months.  Then I wore it only at night for awhile.  Then not at all.  At first they also gave me an ointment to use - one for inside the mouth and one for outside.  This helped with immediate pain.  All in all, the mouthpiece kept me off pain pills.  The TMJ resolved.

[schmidtkat]

I have been experiencing quite a lot of jaw pain on my left (surgical site) side since my AN surgery on Sept 2. What has been giving me relief is my chiropractor. He has very gently been working on my jaw and believes it will not only help my jaw, but eleviate some of my headaches. He is not an aggressive manipulator, which I know I couldn't tolerate. More of what he is doing is related to the nerves on each side of my face and getting them to work together, get in synch. It does seem to be helping. I am able to open my mouth more easily and chew with less complication. As so many ANers on here say...everyone is different, so I do realize what's helping me may not work for everyone. It may be worth a try. Kathy

[Seamar]

I'm new to this forum and am wondering if Fosamax was ever implicated in the cause of jaw problems after AN surgery.  I saw my GYN recently (I went off of Fosamax in May) and he advised me to stay off for now due to possible jaw problems in my upcoming treatment.

[Vivian B.]

Hi Everybody,

Thank you so much for your replies. I will be seeing my Dr. soon to see about treatment recomendations. I will be getting a mouth guard soon also.

I wonder if the AN and TMJ problems are connected

Vivian

[schmidtkat]

Hi Vivian,
I hope the mouth guard gives you some relief. My sister-in-law works in a dental office and said it's not uncommon for people under stress to need a mouth guard. Apparently, the tendency to grit and/or grind teeth while sleeping may increase with stress and post surgical procedures of any type. She and her husband both use the mouth guards when sleeping as just a preventative. Also, my chiropractor said with jaw issues such as TMJ or whatever it is I am experiencing post-op it is best to avoid things such as chewing gum.
Hope things are improving for you ~ Kathy

[Vivian B.]

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for your reply. Do you sometimes feel throbbing pain at night around the TMJ area but feels like your ear area,  but once you get up in the morning and your teeth tend not to be clenching as much, the pain tends to fade but leaves you a little numb all day and bruised like feeling? It's funny you mentioned that stress can cause this. When I was diagnosed with my AN, I was so freaked out, I developed anxiety and was on Cipralex which was good while I needed it. For about 6 months now I have been off them and I feel the pain worse in the TMJ area. The Cipralex was used to treat the anxiety but it's also an anti-depressant, so maybe my stress level was numb when I was taking it and did not clench my teeth that much, I don't know. I need to talk to my doctor about it.

Vivian

[schmidtkat]

I think I am still clentching my teeth some and my jaw has the bruised feeling you described in front of my left ear and just below it. The chiropractor has definitely helped, but it's not gone yet. Some days it's challenging to open my mouth wide enough to bite into food and yawning makes it hurt. I have some grindy kinds of noises at times in my jaw when I move it. But there is definite improvement, so I am hopeful it will just take some more healing time. Wishing you all the best ~ Kathy

[Vivian B.]

Thanks Kathy. It's quite something the pain and discomfort but as long as there is some relief at some point.

Vivian

[kathyp]

I, too, suffer from TMJ,  It started when chewing tough bread,  However, the dentist said that a disc in the jaw seldom "pops" because of chewing whatever but because of tight muscles in that area.  We all certainly have that-----could it be not stress and grinding but the nasty tightness we experience in our faces.  Mine happened when I was overdue for Botox ?     p.s. I hate the way my mouthpiece feels.

[chloes mema]

I've worn a night guard for years.  My ENT and dentist both said that people with sinus problems tend to grind their teeth at night.  I fell into that category big time.  Just something else to consider.

Karen