I was just wondering if anyone else on here alsohas trouble with TMJ or teeth grinding?
Strangely, my dentist was the first to mention it, before RLS was diagnosed. I never put them together until I was reading that it has neurological origins. Also linked to anxiety, which I have.
I look forward to any comments
I have it and use a mouth guard but I had it for decades before I had RLS.
I also have both but the clenching/grinding developed decades after RLS. Now that you mention it, the symptoms of both seem to flare up together, but I think it’s coincidental, happening from stress or something, rather than the two being physiologically linked. But maybe! Who knows.
Interesting topic. I grind my teeth and have for a long time. I assumed it was related to my RLS.
I'm fine when I wake in the morning, but then my RLS acts up in the afternoon, and I get agitated, and start grinding my teeth. It calms down by the evening hours after I take my first dose of tramadol. I used to think it was from stress at work, but I've been retired for 3 years, and it keeps getting worse with age.
But your RLS causes stress and when you take your Tramadol your stress goes away and your grinding calms down..
Yes, thank you for clarifying. That's exactly what I was implying.
Teeth clenching during the day is definitely a stress response for me. At night, I'm not sure. But I read a couple of articles online that say it's neurological and associated with RLS and anxiety. I take Lexapro for anxiety and currently nothing for RLS, as nothing I've tried has worked.
Lexapro is a SSRI antidepressant and makes RLS worse for many people. Ones that are safe for RLS are Wellbutrin and trazodone and trazodone treats anxiety.
What have you tried?
Have you had your ferritin checked? Improving your ferritin to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their symptoms. When you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including in a multivitamin that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45% and your ferritin to be at least 100. If they are not, post them here and we can give you advice.
Iron was checked in October '22 and all within the normal levels you listed.
I've taken : ropinerole (low dose), baclofen (gave me sever headaches) and flexeril. Those last two were also a hope to treat sciatica as well as help me sleep. I have had sleep problems for a long time but no sleep apnea, per the sleep study in 2017.
I assume since you said you "have taken" ropinirole that you are off it. Gabapentin or pregabalin are the first line treatment for RLS. Beginning dose is usually 300 mg gabapentin (75 mg pregabalin). It will take 3 weeks before it is fully effective. After that increase it by 100 mg (25 mg pregabalin) every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. If you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. (You don't need to split the doses with pregabalin) Most of the side effects of gabapentin and pregabalin will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 1200 to 1800 mg of gabapentin (200 to 300 mg pregabalin) daily." If you take magnesium including in a multivitamin don't take it within 3 hours of taking gabapentin or pregabalin as it will interfere with the absorption of them. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it at Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...
i have TMJ and RLS. Had no idea they could be related.
I have bi-lateral dislocation without reduction of the discs in my jaw. I get botox injections in my jaws every 3 months, without them I have to grind most of my food in order to eat. I had no idea this could be related.
I just realized there was another post on this website about bruxism and RLS. It lists a couple of studies that link the two disorders.
Omeprazole and RLS
Thalidomide and RLS
Constipation and rls?
RLS and heat
Inflammation and RLS
