Does anyone suffer with face and ear pain ?

[tottyanne]

It usually happens towards evening,increasing in severity and sometimes head pain,I've been to my dentist to have my teeth checked and also tell E.N.T consultant but can't find a reason,my doctor has recently put me on Duloxetine twice a day which does help but doesn't take the pain completely away

[MissDistress]

Yes. But it’s not related to my fibromyalgia or arthritis. I have trigeminal neuralgia (nerve pain in the trigeminal nerve of the face. It has different triggers and learning yours can help a bit. You should try to see a neurologist. Duloxetine might not be the best medication to help. They can also use imaging in case there’s a physical cause (sometimes they find something impinging on the nerve- like a blood vessel, but sometimes there’s no visible cause).

[tottyanne in reply to MissDistress]

Hi who is supposed to refer me to the neurologist,I sound funny,it's just I go to my gp ,he refers me to dentist,then back again,do I need to ask to be seen by a consultant ? I never seem to get anywhere

[Winnie123xxx]

Hi there! This is the first time I’ve posted anything on here but saw yours and had to reply.I have the same exact thing I’ve had loads of ear infections which they think is related to fibromyalgia.

I get aches and pains with my teeth and we’ll all the bones in my face.

So I just wanted you to know you’re not alone with that and I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with it too x

[Dizzytwo Moderator in reply to Winnie123xxx]

Hi there, I have never heard of any kind of repeat infections connected to fibro. Not sure why your GP would say that. I would definitely be seeking a second opinion if it was me xx

Momo

[Jacksono]

Hi. Yes I do, but as missDistress, it's not fibromyalgia. I have TMJ from constantly biting down/clenching my jaw. I didn't even realise I was doing it. I do it in my sleep when anxious, when I drive, when I watch TV. I have pain in my face, jaw and when I have been particularly stressed I get pain in my ears, which feels like I have an ear infection. I have to constantly check myself as I was diagnosed with TMJ but never given any help on how to deal with it. Temporomandibular disorder is its full title. It might be worth asking your doctor about it separately to fibro in case it is unrelated.

[MissDistress in reply to Jacksono]

Ah yeah, TMJ is another likely culprit, us fibro folk do get very tense.

[Lupusrelative in reply to Jacksono]

Ask your dentist to make you a night guard. It does help once you get used to it. My dentist told me to also use it during the day if my TMJ was really bad. Helps you relax your jaw a little and makes you more conscious of when you aré clenching.

[Mrspainting48]

Hello.....I get dull sore head like a massive hangover....only no drink taken.Each tooth feels like I have an abscess with very painful jaws...the bone around my ear aches...inside my ears are sore....

No pain relief

[Jasmos]

Me too. My pain feels like its in my ears but if you press the sides of my face they are so tender. A ENT specialist diagnosed TMJ and a sinus problem as well. I have had a gum shield fitted for night time and the pain has eased. I was advised to put ibuprofen gel on the swollen facial points and use heat regularly. TMJ is very painful. I have had an xray and been referred to a maxofacial specialist. I take duloxetine for fibro but it has not helped with my TMJ at all. The gel does help. I would seek a second opinion. You could see swelling under my eye and on the side of my face. I am unable to open my mouth fully and if I do it often makes an awful crunching sound which my family can all hear. I sincerely hope you get sorted and get your pain managed better. Take care.

[tottyanne in reply to Jasmos]

I have a dental appointment in February and honestly dreading,it hurts so much to keep my mouth open for any length of time,I'm going to go back to my gp I think as the duloxetine has help with pain in my arm and hands but not with my face thanks

[Labrat80]

From my experience I'd suggest looking into bruxism (tooth grinding). I had a night brace/splint and was scheduled to have Botox in my jaw muscles to reduce their force, but trained myself to reposition my tongue instead which was enough to avoid needing an external intervention for an undeniably internally created problem.

It even partially resolved nerve problems in my arms and hands. Such was the muscular impact of years of jaw and neck tension.

[Hidden in reply to Labrat80]

Hi, I have really bad Bruxism and TMJ.

I have the mouth guards and massage my jaw. I also have Osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. I'm interested in how you managed this "but trained myself to reposition my tongue" I could do with doing the same!😏

[tottyanne in reply to Hidden]

Thanks yes I had a mouth guard made as my dentist did think I may be grinding my teeth but it didn't help with the pain,but I think I will get a second opinion,

[Labrat80 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry for being so slow in replying. It's nearly impossible to learn to not do something, such as toothgrinding. But learning to keep your tongue in the way seemed to click for me. I'd count my teeth or arch my tongue to force my jaws apart. Anything that I was 'doing' rather than 'avoiding', which kept my upper and lower jaws from contacting. And there seemed to be something in the counter actions of the muscle groups that really tired my jaw far more than if just grinding. Which reduced the bite force too. Hope that makes sense!

[Hidden in reply to Labrat80]

Thank you!

[KytttyKatt]

My sister and myself both get face ache. I suffer with stabbing pain, numbness and tingling in varying degrees of severity. The pain can spread down to my neck. Not sure whether it Fibro related but we have both been diagnosed with it.

[Dizzytwo Moderator]

Hi there, I think I would be getting a second opinion if it was me.

I am not aware that type of pain is fibro related. There are many other reasons for that kind of problem. Like the great replies I see you have had already xx

[Latics1989-90 in reply to Dizzytwo]

Yes, I agree with you Mo. Definitely get a second opinion. Hope you start to improve very soon tottyanne. Lots of love Lynne xxxx 😘♥️

[Hogsingarden]

Yes I have! My dentist gave me a night guard.. total game changer unles I forget to put it in. But i have to wear a mask all day at work and any elastic ear mask makes it horrendous. I get terrible pain. I now have to wear tie on masks!

[BlueTofu in reply to Hogsingarden]

Me too! Any pressure near jaw!

[Hogsingarden]

My dentist did say it was related to fibromyalgia

[BlueTofu]

Jaw joint disfunction 'TMJ'? I have it. Though I would have thought your dentist would have been aware of the possibility? It can cause referred pain all over the place. Cheek muscle/ear pain/below eyes etc. Also told by my osteopath that my jaw causing pain around shoulder blades. Everything being connected?! Sinus problems can cause pain above nose top of cheekbones and around cheekbones. I find any kind of pain can cause a domino effect of more pain because of tensing up/worrying and focusing in it/ changing the way I use my body.

[Ladame]

So sorry to hear that - I get jaw pain which goes to my ear, head and down under my chin. My dentist told me it was temperomandibular joint disorder and fitted me with a guard to wear at night which has really helped. He also said cut food up small and eat softer food until it settles down, which has really helped as well. If out I make sure to keep a scarf covering my jaw joint as the cold exacerbâtes it. Hope this helps. Best wishes x

[Jint71]

Hi, yes I have face pain and stabbing pain in my ears too. I have neuralgia and currently saliva gland stones. Also Sjögren’s syndrome too. I’m under facial maxillary consultant but I find any temperature change on my heads causes a flare up. Hence, I wear a trapper hat to cover my head, ears and glands when the weather changes in the autumn. Even summer wind can cause flare ups, which leads to a swollen face and awful gland pain, especially under my tongue, it feels granular with aggravated nerves too.

[Flo60]

I have been having face pain since about 2014.I also get a heavy saliva flow along with it.

It never goes away although some days are better than others.

It makes my ears hurt and the glands under my chin get tender.

I find caffeine mixed with a pain killer helps a bit when it gets too bad.

I also rub in tiger balm around my ears .

My doctors have no idea what it is.

I have seen dentist and have zero problems with my teeth, gums etc.

I have seen a maxillary specialist and no problems, apart from tenderness, with salivary glands.

The only thing I have been offered is that it might be migrainous in nature.

[Hidden]

I do. Tinnitus also. My fibro affects all of my body but mostly the upper, arms,shoulders,chest,face.

[tottyanne]

Thanks everyone for you kind words and advice,I hope we all have a better year xxx