TMJ Issues - anyone else dealing with this?

[Ann]

For decades I've had ear pain. I always contributed it to sinus and allergies. Last year it was so bad I went to an ENT. He told me it was TMJ - see a specialist. So I did. And yes, all the test and exams point to TMJ. The ear pain is like a level 6-7 and lasts for 2-3 days. Heat, massage and Tylenol - but it takes 2 days for that to really help. Anyway, I now know how the TMJ affects my ears and that is what is causing all the pain. I am being fitted with a special mouth guard next week. And I have a boatload of exercises to do everyday. Does anyone have any experience with this and if so, how are you treating it?

 

[icy_jade]

Wearing the mouth guard daily at night to sleep helped to stop the horrid headaches I used to get regularly from TMJ.

Dentist has also said that Botox for the masseter muscle would help but personally have not tried that as am not sure who to go to. (Any Singapore based PS-ers with recs for good Botox doc?)

 

[Ally T]

I went through a phase of this for a few years when my girls were babies. I ground & crunched so hard that my front top teeth were starting to click & come slightly lose. The dentist fitted me with a mouth guard for wearing during the night & is helped immensely. She also suggested the Botox to the jaw if there was no change, but things thankfully improved.

Good luck & i hope you can get sorted. It’s a pretty unpleasant condition.

 

[HockeyMama]

The mouth guard doesn’t stop the grinding but distributes the pressure evenly over your teeth to help lessen the impact in one area and hopefully lessen the pain and inflammation.

If you do want TMJ Botox I wouldn’t recommend any Botox person, you really should see an oral maxillo facial surgeon (OMFS) with expertise.

I’m not an OMFS, just an ED doc who sees lots of earaches that aren’t always the ear.

 

[mayaINaU]

For decades I've had ear pain. I always contributed it to sinus and allergies. Last year it was so bad I went to an ENT. He told me it was TMJ - see a specialist. So I did. And yes, all the test and exams point to TMJ. The ear pain is like a level 6-7 and lasts for 2-3 days. Heat, massage and Tylenol - but it takes 2 days for that to really help. Anyway, I now know how the TMJ affects my ears and that is what is causing all the pain. I am being fitted with a special mouth guard next week. And I have a boatload of exercises to do everyday. Does anyone have any experience with this and if so, how are you treating it?

Yes! I had the same symptoms, ear pain too. I got a custom mouth guard and it helped a little, but what completely cured it was occlusal adjustment (teeth shaving to correctly align my bite). It’s been completely gone for more than a year now.

 

[Ann]

The mouth guard doesn’t stop the grinding but distributes the pressure evenly over your teeth to help lessen the impact in one area and hopefully lessen the pain and inflammation.

If you do want TMJ Botox I wouldn’t recommend any Botox person, you really should see an oral maxillo facial surgeon (OMFS) with expertise.

I’m not an OMFS, just an ED doc who sees lots of earaches that aren’t always the ear.

My TMJ specialist does not like the Botox injections. Her point is it just masks the true issue. I know the guard will be customized for me and adjusted every few weeks. This is a slow process and definitely not cheap.

 

[Ann]

Yes! I had the same symptoms, ear pain too. I got a custom mouth guard and it helped a little, but what completely cured it was occlusal adjustment (teeth shaving to correctly align my bite). It’s been completely gone for more than a year now.

Yikes, I hope I don't have to have the teeth shaving. I have noticed my pain seems to increases when I have allergy reactions. I mentioned that to both my ENT and TMJ Dr's. My theory (!) is fluid backs up into the Eustachian tube and creates further pressure. One jaw does click and I understand the mechanics of that. The "disc" is slipping and that bugs the heck out of me. Supposedly the exercises help but must be done all the time. Ugh!

 

[danusia]

I had TMJ back in 2015 and thought it was a sinus issue at first, so on sinus meds. Then went to a dentist who wanted to fit me with a mouth guard. He also told me to take copious amounts of Advil to deal with the pain. I decided not to listen to him and listened to my DH who steered me to his chiropractor, but not for an adjustment. The chiro had a phenomenal massage therapist whose specialty was trigger point massage. I went twice a week starting in 2016, initially for a 30 minute treatment. Excruciatingly painful, but I stuck with it. At around the 5 week mark I felt like stopping but DH encouraged me to continue with these massages. Around to 6 to 7 weeks I started to feel better. It was around 8 weeks that I went once a week, then around 12 weeks to once a month. I stopped needed any further treatment around 8 or 9 months, but decided to do once a month for a full body and have her do my face last and TMJ area as well. I have not had any problems whatsoever since I stopped treatment and that was in December 2016. I would not wish TMJ on anyone.

 

[mayaINaU]

Yikes, I hope I don't have to have the teeth shaving. I have noticed my pain seems to increases when I have allergy reactions. I mentioned that to both my ENT and TMJ Dr's. My theory (!) is fluid backs up into the Eustachian tube and creates further pressure. One jaw does click and I understand the mechanics of that. The "disc" is slipping and that bugs the heck out of me. Supposedly the exercises help but must be done all the time. Ugh!

It sounded weird to me, but it was minor and just a little off the back molars (you can’t see any difference in the teeth, just feel it).

 

[vintageinjune]

Botox into the masseter, deep masseter, and temporalis was a game changer. I wear a night guard, but clench 24/7, even after braces and balancing my bite. I also tested for sleep apnea twice, which the tests said I do not have.

I went from 60 units every 3 months , and 4-5 years later I'm down to 30 units every 4 months now that the muscles have atrophied. I could probably go longer between visits but just don't want to risk it.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Sister has mouth guard + Botox. When she first started the Botox I asked if it helped...she said it was to soon to tell. Wishing you success.

cheers--Sharon

 

[PhilosopherStone]

I used to have TMJ and my jaw would occasionally lock when eating. Fortunately, the TMJ symptoms were relieved after correcting my bite and tongue posture.

Wishing you success and hope all goes well

 

[Ann]

How did

I used to have TMJ and my jaw would occasionally lock when eating. Fortunately, the TMJ symptoms were relieved after correcting my bite and tongue posture.

Wishing you success and hope all goes well

How did you correct your bite and your tongue?

 

[PhilosopherStone]

How did


How did you correct your bite and your tongue?

I had orthodontic treatment with braces and TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices) installed. My tongue posture was incorrect to begin with, I did a few exercises to ensure it would rest on the roof of my mouth rather than go straightforward.

 

[ame]

I've had botox to my masseters several times, and I will stick to doing that--it made a huge difference. I will say this--get it done at a plastic surgeon (it won't be covered by insurance regardless) because they can inject it without it screwing your whole damn face up. If an Oral Surgeon does it, they are not concerned with how your face looks after or if they nick the wrong spot or it migrates.

 

[Ann]

I've had botox to my masseters several times, and I will stick to doing that--it made a huge difference. I will say this--get it done at a plastic surgeon (it won't be covered by insurance regardless) because they can inject it without it screwing your whole damn face up. If an Oral Surgeon does it, they are not concerned with how your face looks after or if they nick the wrong spot or it migrates.

Good points! I did sleep in my new mouth guard last night, no issues at all. I have/had a lot of clicking on one side. The disc in the joint is slipping. Curious. how the Botox would help that? I can see how the Botox helps the muscle relax, but if the disc is slipping - I dunno. Glad it helped you, I know how painful this issue can be.

 

[mayaINaU]

I've had botox to my masseters several times, and I will stick to doing that--it made a huge difference. I will say this--get it done at a plastic surgeon (it won't be covered by insurance regardless) because they can inject it without it screwing your whole damn face up. If an Oral Surgeon does it, they are not concerned with how your face looks after or if they nick the wrong spot or it migrates.

Good point.

 

[ame]

Good points! I did sleep in my new mouth guard last night, no issues at all. I have/had a lot of clicking on one side. The disc in the joint is slipping. Curious. how the Botox would help that? I can see how the Botox helps the muscle relax, but if the disc is slipping - I dunno. Glad it helped you, I know how painful this issue can be.

Yea I don't think that will help much there, but it basically prevents you from clenching as hard, or grinding as much.

 

[hayleyc]

+1 for the chiropractor! I suffered for 2.5 years without being able to yawn, constant clicking, couldn't open my mouth fully or without pain, and awful headaches and jaw discomfort. The dentist wasn't much help. I went to the chiropractor once and felt relief immediately. She popped my jaw back into place and I am almost back to normal. I go every month or so and feel so much better. Although I haven't tried the guard or Botox, I definitely think it's worth a shot if you have a good chiropractor in your area