TMJ

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Many people with Fibro also have TMJ

Members: 15
Latest Activity: Apr 26

TMJ disorders

TMJ disorders cause tenderness and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) — the joint on each side of your head in front of your ears, where your lower jawbone meets your skull. This joint allows you to talk, chew and yawn.

Between 5 and 15 percent of people in the United States experience pain associated with TMJ disorders, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. Women are more likely than men to develop TMJ disorders.

In most cases, pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders can be alleviated with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments, but more-severe cases may need to be treated with dental or surgical interventions.

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Discussion Forum

Jaw hurting right below ears

Started by Rachel Wagner. Last reply by MikefromsouthNZ Sep 19, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes

Recently I have noticed over the last 2-3 months that I will have pain in my jaw right below my earlobes. It wasn't everyday just every now & then. I was diagnosed with TMJ in 2006 but didn't…Continue

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Comment by Gabriella on July 8, 2011 at 12:01am: So yesterday I bought a $20 mouth guard from the drug store. I woke up in the morning and the part where the two plastic parts were glued together - had been split apart. Granted, I got home late and didn't do the whole "fitting" process first - so maybe that's why.

However, if after the fitting process this happens again, I have a question for you guys. Is there a way that insurance would pay for a custom-made mouth guard for TMJ/bruxism? I have straight Medicaid, if that helps..

Gabby

Comment by Chris on July 6, 2011 at 2:51pm: I have TMJ...diagnosed about 7 years ago. I wear the mouth splint at night and sometimes during the day when stressed or have a migraine. It is very helpful. I didn't realize that the TMJ and the Fibromyalgia were related but it all makes sense now. Thanks for the information and I look forward to using this board along with the Fibro board.

Comment by MikefromsouthNZ on June 10, 2011 at 11:07pm: Hi, I was diagnosed with TMJ about 7 years ago when I visited my GP, as I thought that I had an ear infection and bad earache. I'm not sure if it's related to my having fibro but I've never had this problem before my fibro diagnosis in 1998.

Since 2004 I have been a patient at the ENT and Dental unit at Southland Hospital and have a very good Maxelo Specialist. I'm now on my 5th mouth splint and need to wear it 24/7, just to take it out when I eat my meals... The click or popping of my joints are now major clunks that make my ears ring, as if a loud gun had gone off. I also get jaw-lock and have to close my mouth with my hand or get someone close to shut it for me, as it hurts real bad if it's left too long. My jaw gets achy with the colder weather and I always wear a scarf over my lower face when I have to go outdoors, so I try and stop the cold air getting to my mouth and jaw. The cold is my biggest problem as I get bad pain, almost identical to awful earache. My Specialist doesn't want to try surgery as he would have to use a nerve blocker to stop the pain in my face, as my CP (spastic type of movements) would break off the wires to hold my jaw in place, until my jaw joints had time to heal. He is concerned and may inject steroids into my joints but is reluctant to, as it may breakdown the cartilage and leave bone on bone pain and he said it's a possibility that I will be in even more pain. My meals are all soft diet now and everything large to eat I'm not aloud, as I may dislocate my jaw again...

Has anyone got any good advice or sensible ideas to help my situation as wearing a mouth splint for the rest of my life doesn't really seem fair?

Comment by Scott Orn on April 18, 2011 at 3:16pm: TMJ is the worst, I still have it. I find it's also linked to tightness in my neck. it makes the TMJ worse.

Comment by Mary on April 15, 2011 at 10:11pm: Didn't realize that this popping noise everytime I open and shut my mouth had to due with my illness until now. Thank You guys for starting this group up, because of it, now I know more about what's going on.

Comment by Amy A Dye on April 28, 2010 at 10:56am: Dear Scott, Thank you for that information. I'm in Sharpsburg, GA which is just South of Atlanta. I will certainly try the massage along with the thing they are fitting me for tomorrow (I know it's a big deal--don't know the name of the device (-:) but they said it can be worn at night and even during the day when I am stressed, so I think that will help a great deal. I will start the massage today --wonderful idea. Anything to get relief. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Comment by Scott Orn on April 28, 2010 at 10:38am: Hi Amy - where do you live? I have a dentist in SF that might be able to help you.

I found that the mouthguard and massaging the sides of my jaw (especially when I was exercising and my muscles were warm) made a huge improvement! It was getting unbearable until I started those two things.

Comment by Amy A Dye on April 28, 2010 at 10:20am: I am starting to wonder if I have TMJ too. Literally all of my teeth and jaw hurt when I wake up. Tomorrow I go to the dentist to get fitted for that jaw thing where they take the impression. Big bucks we DON'T have. Before fibro I did the grinding but it's worse now==way worse.

Comment by Diana Parker on November 10, 2009 at 7:32pm: No, you have to get a script from the doc for the Cyclobenzaprine! But the counter back relief stuff has something in it that helps with the TMJ, I had the pain from the TMJ and my back was hurting and I took back relief stuff LOL don't remember the brand that I discovered the relief with but I have the brand back-aid and it works just as good as the others.