TMJ and ear pain

[Natura]

Hi...have tmj for over a week. Also my ear hurts same side as jaw pain. Any recommendations? I dont bother going to GP. Hes an idiot. Should i go to ENT dr? And if so, what can they do for me? Had this before, and thought it would go away by now

[scottydog123]

Hi NATURA

I was diagnosed with this recently - it can go hand in hand with fibro unfortunately - Dr sent me to dentist. He assessed me and said I had big jaw muscles (?!)😐and my jaw moved too far side to side, who said I was a chatterbox? My budgies if they could get a word in 🐥🐦.

Dentist made a mould of my teeth and a week later I had a mouth guard to wear at night. I can't get on with it and just made my gums sore so gave up, At one point I wanted to rip my teeth out - awful pain. 😢The only thing that helped was a mini hot water bottle take the full dose of Co codamol and wait to subside. That bout lasted a week but felt like a month! If you prefer ice you could try an ice pack. Luckily it hasn't returned yet...

Whilst the attack lasted I switched to soft food - lots of ice cream 😈- which seemed to help also.

Hope that helps

Scotty

[Natura in reply to scottydog123]

Thanks scotty...i actually bought one of thise mouth guards in walgreens. Wore it one night, and i couldnt stand it in my mouth. I was up all night. Its been over a week, the pain. I am eating soft foods too and probably chewing weird to avoid pain. Which is why its not getting better probably. Thanks for advice. I will try heat and cold.

[BRdog59 in reply to scottydog123]

The condition is caused by the lower jaw being distal to where it should be with respect to the cranium. Any appliance to be effective should advance the jaw to that position; and, since it is a 24 hr a day problem, it doesn't make any sense to wear an appliance 8 hrs. (e.g. "night guard"). Distal position of the jaw is measured on a "lateral cephalometric X-ray"; and, in addition to being able to measure this position, it is usually noted that the cervical spine has lost its normal curvature and is straight, or even slightly bent forward. This forward head posture due to the retruded jaw is responsible for the "clicking" and other associated conditions due to referral in the spinal cord. Yes, I am a dentist and years ago a very wise dentist told me that "if you can measure it, it is a fact. If you can't measure it, it is an opinion." This is measureable. Hope this is of benefit.

BRdog59

[Natura in reply to BRdog59]

Brdog....thank you for the explanation. It seems to be a little better these days, but my jaw defintely feels loose..ha! Or ugh! I am having ear problems because of this which is frustrating. I take turmeric when its bad and it seems to help. Or my formula 303 which is passionflower, valerian root and magnesium. In fact, i didnt take my magnesium yesterday or today and it seems aggravated. If i sneeze, i feel like i am going to blow my ear off. It hurts. Thanks for the info.

[BRdog59 in reply to Natura]

The ear is very likely related to it also. I remember one of the first patients I treated had ear problems for two years with nothing her ENT could do and proper orthopedic repositioning eliminated it in two days. have your dentist or an orthodontist take the X-ray to confirm or eliminate the forward head posture caused by retrusion of the lower jaw. There are other conditions which may accompany this, such as cardiac arrhythmias, gastric reflux and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and a form of thoracic outlet causing pain and/or numbness down the arm. Best wishes.

[loglegmomma in reply to BRdog59]

So TMJ, arrhythmias, and TOS are related? I have them all, including severe ear pain, vestibular dysfunction, and brachial neuritis, but none of my doctors have suggested a connection. Is there a single treatment to alleviate it all?

[Natura in reply to loglegmomma]

All this went away with my anti inflammatory diet I have been on for 3 months, and will remain on for the rest of my life. No more tmj, ear pain.

[lou1063]

Change your GP, you need and deserve decent treatment. xx

[rosewine]

I have found Difflam oral rinse helps numb the gums which can help with the pain.sometimes as Scottydog says a small well wrapped hittie can help or conversely a well wrapped ice pack according to whether your body is helped with heat or cold. Very gently massaging where it is tender and I do mean gently can sometimes ease that knot of pain as can an antiinflammatory if you can take them, I know everyone can't.

Do hope that it goes soon as it is a horrible experience. X

[Natura in reply to rosewine]

Thanks rosewine. I should try the cold or warm pack. Just being lazy. Vitamin store just told me to try magnesium malate. Just took. No different. Maybe it needs to take a litle time to get through body.

Tried tumeric, natural anit inflamm....didnt help.

Thanks

[rosewine in reply to Natura]

That's interesting could be because it is supposed to have some type of antiseptic properties but I would think it would take some time to be absorbed into your system. No I have never found Turmeric works for me either but don't mind eating the curries! Fingers crossed for you.x

[Natura in reply to rosewine]

Hey rosewine....lot better today. Mag/malate working. Not gone, but a lot better.

[rosewine in reply to Natura]

Fabulous news I bet you are so relieved. X

[Natura in reply to rosewine]

Well, jaw pain better,but i am getting heat and pain in my ear. Not sure what to do about that. Dont know if its the mag /malate. Afraid to take anymore. I am getting depressed. Dont want to do anything. I am trying to get a job because i am starting to think it will be better to work with pain, than feel it all day by yourself at home. What do you think?

[rosewine in reply to Natura]

I know you think your GP is on another planet but when I had actual heat in my ear I had a bad ear infection which responded to antibiotics straight away. I went to one of these walk in clinics as my doctors surgery would not take it seriously and it was a Friday and could not offer me an appt until the following Tues. The doctor was very thorough and extremely kind and gave me he complete once over.

I dont know what to say about a job it would be whether it is part time or what you had to do. Only said to my OH yesterday that I wish I could feel I could hold one down as I used to love work. If you could find something that did not tax you too much and was a bit flexible as you say it could be marvellous as I think we all need the stimulation of being with other people on a regular basis and it is nice to be able to bring in your own money. Were you thinking of anything in particular.

[Natura in reply to rosewine]

Rosewine....it was actually heat on the outside of my ear....and anti biotics is probably why my body is so messed up in the first place. It doesnt stay hot. It goes away in the day. And now i have pain in my left ear a little. I believe it is stress on my body. As soon as i take some herbal treatment for lessening stress, i feel better. Unfortunately, it doesn t last long. I am getting shots of pain everywhere today. Especially in my head. It is cloudy and very, very humid.

Job wise, i took a civil service test, and there are openings for temporary clerk typist positions. I was only interested in the part time position. 17 hrs a week. I need to help bring in some money. It is pretty low stress as long as you dont get a psycho partner to work with. Happened to my friend recently. She finally got moved after 8 mos. that kind of stress would be bad for me.

Just exhausted with all these new pains. Thought i was getting a handle on it all. Changes.

Looking for a place to move to after kids finish high school in 4 yrs. Excited because i think i found the place, but hope that this body pain doesnt get worse.

[rosewine in reply to Natura]

Stress can do funny things.

Job sounds like a good bet to me as being temporary it would be a gentle way in to see how you manage. I did two job shares and both were marvellous and I am still friends with both job share partners.

Wonderful if you have found where you would like to move to as you will have plenty of time to find out everything about the place before moving.

Hope pain eases by tomorrowx

[Natura in reply to rosewine]

Thanks rosewine....took all my vitamins, took mag, relaxant, and couldnt get my terribly anxious teenage daughter to school today...ugh! So many problems at home....going on 3rd week with tmj. Ear hurt real bad last night....took a bach rescue pastille and was able to doze off.

Thank you for the hope.

[rosewine in reply to Natura]

Glad you managed t get some rest. Teenage daughter problems can't be helping matters as you are probably clenching and grinding your teeth with the stress of it all which won't help your tmj. Hope you get an even better night tonight.x

[scottydog123 in reply to rosewine]

Hi rosewine

Is Difflam available without prescription in the UK? I wouldn't mind getting some in.

Thanks

Scotty

[rosewine in reply to scottydog123]

Mine was prescribed by my doctor. I wonder if there is something similar that Boots stock as I have a feeling it is prescription only perhaps dentist could help? Good

Luck x

[scottydog123 in reply to rosewine]

Ok thanks I will see what he suggests next visit.

Time for bed perchance to dream! Huh chance will be a fine thing 😴😴😴

Night to all still awake

Scotty

[Hidden]

I have had TMJ for about 5 years now and it comes and goes. Deffo gets worse when I am stressed or if I talk too much...or eat something like steak. I went to maxillofacial unit and given a dental guard but I used to heave everytime I tried to wear it so gave up.

Doing some sort of relaxation and calming exercises helps as does using a warm lavender wheat pad. but mostly I learn to manage it, it hasn't gone unfortunately.

Take Care

[Natura in reply to Hidden]

Thanks sandy...i want to get a lavender heat pad, but i dont have a microwave to warm it. I bet that feels good!

[Hidden in reply to Natura]

aahh it does...You'll just have to use a warm flannel maybe, maybe I'm going back to my childhood now...does anyone use a flannel anymore? ha ha

[TheAuthor]

I am so genuinely sorry to read that you are suffering in this way and I sincerely hope that you can find the answers that you are looking for. It is not something that I have ever suffered with but I want to gneuineyl wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Lisahelen]

Seems like you need to see your dentist. It could be a tooth needs work or infection in gum/ root.

Tmj is often made worse by stress, especially as most people are unaware of the fact that they are grinding their teeth or clenching their jaw- mostly during sleep which is why people wake up with an ache rather than go to bed with it. A dentist can normally tell if you clench/ grind because of the way the teeth are wearing.

Mouth guards are only ever really any good if you have a personal one made and if there are problems with it go back and have it adjusted.

[Natura in reply to Lisahelen]

Thanks lisa...i tried one from the store. I couldnt do it. I had it on one night and was up all night. I should probably go to. Dentist. Havent been to one in years. Cant afford it. No ins.

[Willow51]

Hi, I've had TMJ for a couple of months now on and off, some days it seems to go altogether and others it is quite painful. It affects my ear, jaw and up into my head, if it gets really bad I take 1 Ibuprophen and 2 paracetamol, it lessens the pain but doesn't relieve it totally. The annoying part for me is the ringing in my ear, I never had it before and can only assume it's from the TMJ. That comes and goes as well but is never totally gone. Something new to put up with . Isn't Fibro great , hugs Linda x

[Natura in reply to Willow51]

Thanks linda. I cant take ibuprofen anymore. I have scarred kidneys. But, thanks for sharing. The pain in my ear is terrible. Amazing how it goes from jaw to ear.

[Darlene219]

Hi, I have jaw and ear pain.....ear nose and throat dr said.....it's TMJD....temporal mandibular joint disfunction....the jaw is a Joint so it can be involved since we have Lupus. The ear pain comes from the jaw, nothing to do about it!

Good news right? Hugs. Darlene

[Natura in reply to Darlene219]

Darlene...great...thats what i was thinking too. I put cotton balls in my ear. It helps a little. Do you have it all the time? It seems to be getting better with chiripractor adjustment. I dont grind my teeth since doing yoga has taught me to relax my jaw. The nerve pain in my ear is irritating. It is not 24/7, so i guess that is good. Take care

[naturalnikki]

Have you tried stretching your neck shoulder muscles to see of it helps? it may just take the edge off but I know how painful that can be. And the edge is sometimes better than nothing so, it wouldn't hurt a try if you haven't.

Good luck. ××